Quarterbacks: Last year at this time, the 49ers felt they needed a quarterback. However, they are now convinced they have the right man to run their offense in Jeff Garcia.

Running backs: Free agent Charlie Garner would be making a big mistake if he prices himself out of San Francisco, but he still might, and while the 49ers like Paul Smith's potential, I am not sure they are going to put all their eggs in either his or Terry Jackson's basket. A comeback by Garrison Hearst to the point where he can be a feature back is very, very unlikely.

Receivers: The 49ers can afford to lose Jerry Rice, as long as the good Terrell Owens and the acceptable J.J. Stokes show up.

Offensive line: No team gets more from less. Players who can't play for other teams, undersized late-round picks and free agents seem to thrive in the City by the Bay. But what happens if the mirrors break and the Scott Graggs and Matt Willigs start getting exposed?

Defensive line: With Junior Bryant very iffy for the future, the Niners need another good player to take some pressure off Bryant Young.

Linebackers: After letting Ken Norton Jr. and Winfred Tubbs go in order to get under the cap, the 49ers need at least one stud. Julian Peterson can be a star as an outside 'backer and pass rusher, and Jeff Ulbrich shows promise as a run-down middle 'backer.

Defensive backs: In 1981, Bill Walsh and Tony Razzano drafted three-quarters of a secondary in one year (Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson). Now Walsh and Terry Donahue may have done the same thing with Ahmed Plummer, Jason Webster and John Keith. If they are half as good as the '81 trio, they will be plenty good.

Special teams: Both young kickers, PK Wade Richey and P Chad Stanley, really struggled, but both have strong legs and should get better. As a return man, Kevin Williams never broke anything big, averaging 8.5 yards per punt and 17.9 yards per kickoff, and he probably will be replaced.

Summary: Last year the 49ers needed an entire defense, a quarterback and some offensive linemen. This year they need two or three missing parts to complete the defense and some OL help. They also would like to become a faster team that does a better job on special teams.

2000 draft analysis: The 49ers' first four picks were defensive starters (when they were healthy), and their second-, third- and fourth-round picks also were starting when they got hurt. In between injuries, LB Julian Peterson showed Charles Haley-type pass-rush traits, and that he could be a factor in pass coverage as well. Ahmed Plummer started from Day One at cornerback and played much of the year with a broken wrist. It took Jason Webster a few weeks to win the other starting CB position, but he made more impact plays than Plummer when he cracked the starting lineup. Plummer is a bigger corner who is very smart but not that explosive. Webster is smaller, but a little more gifted athletically. John Engelberger started at defensive end but wore down over the course of the year and seemed to hit the proverbial rookie wall. Jeff Ulbrich started at middle linebacker before he was injured, and he showed promise, as did powerfully built John Keith at strong safety. Paul Smith is a big, beautiful-looking running back who showed flashes of ability at times as a rookie, and he could be the guy if Garner leaves. DT John Milem is a project, but he looks the part. Free agent Ronnie Heard could wind up as Keith's chief competition at strong safety. This will be a make-or-break year for QB Giovanni Carmazzi, who looked lost as a rookie. Tim Rattay has a smaller body and weaker arm, but he is more in the Garcia mold. While Carmazzi looked clueless, Rattay looked like a veteran during the preseason.