The 2016 free agency signing period gets underway Wednesday afternoon, at which point some of the big names will fly off the board. Free agency does not provide all the answers, but teams can hit on a critical need with the right signing. Of course, teams like the San Francisco 49ers need help in a lot of ways, so both free agency and the draft can help them get back on the right track.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper released his third 2016 NFL mock draft the day before free agency, and he used it to assess how free agency might impact each pick. He had the San Francisco 49ers picking Cal quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 7 pick. Here's what Kiper had to say about the pick, and what free agency might mean for the 49ers.
Even if Colin Kaepernick remains at quarterback I don't know if Goff would be out of the equation here. I think he could develop into something special for Chip Kelly and would provide insurance for Kap.
Free-agency effect: While a rebuilding team needs to be thinking "best player available" here, the 49ers have a lot of money to spend -- and needs all over -- so I do think priorities could shift.
The 49ers quarterback situation is the one area of free agency that could have some impact. Whether Colin Kaepernick leaves or stays, I think this team is looking QB on day two or day three. I know some of us will hype ourselves up on Jared Goff or Carson Wentz, but it's hard for me to see Trent Baalke pulling the trigger on quarterback at No. 7. Maybe he surprises us, but I am skeptical at this point.
Here are Kiper's top six picks:
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
2. Cleveland Browns - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3. San Diego Chargers - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
4. Dallas Cowboys - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The Chargers re-signed Joe Barksdale to a four-year contract Monday evening. The Chargers have dealt with numerous injuries, but with he and King Dunlap on the roster, I'm not entirely sure I see them drafting an offensive tackle in the first round. Maybe they surprise us, but I think we see them going defense with that pick. I'm guessing Kiper submitted this mock prior to the news of Barksdale's extension.
Other than that, all of those picks are very realistic possibilities no matter what happens in free agency.