So, I was thinking about what the 49ers starting lineup would look like if the season started today. Just because of how my brain works, it helps me to put the lineup down on paper so that I can see where the potential needs (and changes) are.
Here is what I came up with:
QB: Colin Kaepernick
HB: Frank Gore
FB: Bruce Miller
WR: Michael Crabtree/Anquan Boldin
TE: Vernon Davis
O-Line: Joe Staley/Mike Iupati/Jonathan Goodwin/Alex Boone/Anthony Davis
D-Line: Ray McDonald/Glenn Dorsey/Justin Smith
ILB: Patrick Willis/Navarro Bowman
OLB: Ahmad Brooks/Aldon Smith
CB: Nnamdi Asumogha/Tarrell Brown
SS: Donte Whitner
FS: Chris Culliver
K: Phil Dawson
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
KR: LaMichael James
PR: Kyle Williams/Kendall Hunter
In all reality, do you see anyone taken in the draft changing this base lineup? I can see FS and MAYBE DT, but I don't think they would have invested in Ian Williams if they didn't think they would get anything out of him. Think about it: Asomugha gets a one-year deal, while Ian Williams gets two years? They have more confidence in Ian WIlliams than Nnamdi Asomugha? Or at least they feel that Asomugha has more to prove than Ian Williams? They must see something in the guy...
Anyway, that isn't the point. I can definitely see drafting for depth this year, but who do you realistically see being drafted and changing this lineup?