Five of the biggest questions for the 49ers this offseason

Despite coming into the game with full confidence, the San Francisco 49ers suffered a crushing defeat to the Eagles in Philadelphia.

A season filled with so much optimism, the Red & Gold now have to go back to the drawing board filled with heartbreak once again. With that comes a number of off-season questions, especially with free agency looming.

The Niners have 23 players scheduled to hit free agency this spring, many at key positions on the team. And with only $16.39 million to spend in 2023, general manager John Lynch will need to get creative in order to rebuild the roster.

49ers’ key unrestricted free agents this off-season: OT Mike McGlinchey, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, S Jimmie Ward, DE Charles Omenihu, OL Jake Brendel, K Robbie Gould, S Tashaun Gipson, DE Kerry Hyder, DE Samson Ebukam, G Daniel Brunskill, CB Emmanuel Moseley.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2023

An offseason full of mystery, here are five of the biggest questions the 49ers are facing right now.

What to do at quarterback?

This is the biggest question for the 49ers heading into free agency: What to do with your young QBs?

News Monday made that question murkier, with an MRI confirming that Purdy tore his UCL in the NFC Championship game. The injury will require surgery for Mr. Irrelevant, who is seeking second opinions on the next course of action.

Often referred to as the Tommy John injury for pitchers, the 49ers are hopeful he can be back in six months if only a repair of the ligament is necessary, not a reconstruction. If the former is true, the timeline puts Purdy back on the field around the start of training camp in August.

Now with Purdy shelved for the time being, what do the 49ers do at signal-caller?

Thanks to a small amount of cap space, the likeliest scenario is renaming Trey Lance as QB1 for San Francisco. Lance is still recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in Week 2, undergoing a second surgery on his ankle to remove hardware installed last month. While he is expected to be ready to go for OTAs in May, Lance still has a boot on his right foot.

The 49ers could also look at bringing Jimmy Garoppolo back in a similar deal to the season. 

Jimmy G signed a restructured contract at the end of the preseason to remain with San Francisco. A performance-based deal, Garoppolo played in 11 games before fracturing his foot this season. He is now a free agent and will likely look for the best deal possible, regardless of staying with Kyle Shanahan or not.

San Francisco also has the option of looking for a big-name QB on the market, including Tom Brady. But again, that would require some serious financial movement with only $16.39 million to spend at the moment.

A lot of options for the Red & Gold, we’ll see who’s under center come August.

Are Jimmie Ward’s days numbered in the Bay?

With limited room to work with in the salary cap, the 49ers will be forced to say goodbye to a few key players. That likely includes safety Jimmie Ward. 

Ward, 31, has spent his entire career with the Red & Gold, drafted by the organization in 2014. This season has been a challenge for him, moving over from his role as free safety to play nickel corner for the 49ers. The emergence of Tashaun Gipson Sr. in Ward’s absence made it tough for him to regain the starting position, the main reason he was moved to the slot. 

Now scheduled to become a free agent, Ward will most certainly look for a big payday on the market. That means his time in the Bay could officially be over. And from the looks of it,  he’s already said his goodbyes.

#49ers LB Fred Warner to pending FA Jimmie Ward:

"Whatever happens, I love you dawg."

🎥: @KNBR

pic.twitter.com/SAVaVJSe95

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) January 30, 2023

“Great team player. That’s who I was. That was my role here. And I think I took advantage of that. I feel like I made plays wherever they put me,” Ward told the media after the NFC title game Sunday.

While Ward isn’t against the idea of coming back to the 49ers, both parties may believe it’s time to move on. 

Tashaun Gipson complicates that a bit, also hitting the open market after being signed on a one-year deal in training camp. San Francisco could also look in free agency, with a slew of productive safeties available this spring.

Again, that’ll take some moolah and the Red & Gold don’t have that luxury at the moment. 

Who’s replacing Mike McGlinchey?

Another key position for the 49ers: Right Tackle

That spot has been manned by Mike McGlinchey since getting drafted by San Francisco in 2018. Taken 11th overall, the Notre Dame product has been wildly inconsistent in the NFL. On one play he’ll make a key double block on a zone run, the next he’ll get tossed by Micah Parsons.

Now due up for a big extension in free agency, the Red & Gold may not have the money to spend this spring. 

Unlike Jimmie Ward, it may not be a mutual parting. McGlinchey has enjoyed his time in the Bay Area, emotional after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.

“It sucks that this league has such turnover that you can’t keep the whole squad together. I hope we can,” McGlinchey stated Sunday.

The 49ers may be forced to let the 28-year-old walk due to cap constraints, with reports surfacing that notion into fruition.

Interesting thought from Matt Maiocco:

Believes that Mike McGlinchey doesn’t return and that the #49ers are grooming Colton McKivitz to start, which seems like the likeliest option.#49wz

— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) January 30, 2023

Truth be told, OL Colton McKivitz is also a free agent in March, but he’ll be considerably more affordable than his counterpart. For those reasons, Mike McGlinchey has likely played his last down as a San Francisco 49er.

What about Nick Bosa?

I hate to bring this up, but Nick Bosa is due for the brinks truck very soon. And the 49ers know it.

The former Ohio State Buckeye has been otherworldly in his fourth season in the NFL, producing a league-leading 18.5 sacks, 51 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2022. The best player on the NFL’s best defense, Bosa has been nominated for the defensive player of the year.

With that comes a whole lot of money.

Scheduled to make $17.859 million in the final year of his rookie deal, the 49ers have been well aware of their star pass rusher’s contract for some time. San Francisco is eager to lock down a long-term deal, but they may have to set a record to do it. 

Los Angeles’ Rams DT Aaron Donald is the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the sport, making an annual salary of $31.66 million. A lot younger than Donald and at a more valuable defensive line position, Nick Bosa could become the richest defensive player in football in the next 12 months.

Rumors: #49ers are likely targeting a contract extension for star pass rusher Nick Bosa this offseason, per @RapSheet

Bosa could become the NFL’s highest paid defensive player.

— JPA (@jasrifootball) January 22, 2023

This is one of the underlying reasons the 49ers are so cap-strapped right now. They can’t afford to let a player like Bosa’s caliber walk, especially after seeing DeForest Buckner shine with the Indianapolis Colts. 

It’ll cost them a VERY pretty penny, but the younger Bosa brother has to be a top priority for this organization in 2023.

Who’s the next DC of the 49ers?

Within 48 hours of the 49ers’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans had one foot out the door.

DeMeco Ryans has been a hot candidate for head-coaching positions for two years, transforming the 49ers’ unit into the best defense in football. Now ready to take the next step, Ryans is expected to be named the new head coach of the Houston Texans by the end of the week.

Reports have mentioned a second meeting between the two sides before finalizing a deal, but his former teammate, J.J. Watt, already threw gasoline to an open flame Monday.

pic.twitter.com/06Ceicho2u

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 30, 2023

Coincidence? I think not.

San Francisco has been preparing for this all year, with his players realizing the time had come right after the final whistle Sunday.

“I owe everything to him. He’s the reason I’m the player I am today. He’s fully deserving to go on and be a head coach. It hit hard today, for sure,” linebacker Fred Warner said emotionally.

Now the big question: Who replaces him?

Reports surfaced over the weekend that former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio was getting hired by Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins to be the highest-paid DC in the NFL. But right when the deal looks to be done, an entirely different report surfaces. 

For what it's worth, Vic Fangio told me late last night, "Nothing has been decided on my end." There is a huge amount of mutual respect between Kyle Shanahan and Fangio, a highly successful Niners DC under Jim Harbaugh. And it appears the 49ers will have an opening soon.

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 30, 2023

Setting Twitter ablaze, various outlets in South Beach seemed to stick with the initial report. While others, like Mike Silver of the SF Chronicle, stood their ground.

For the time being, Fangio is a free agent. All we know is that he told Silver and Mike Klis of 9News.com in Denver that he hasn’t finalized a deal with any team yet. But the timing sure is convenient.

A former 49ers’ DC under Jim Harbaugh, Fangio has a lot of respect for Kyle Shanahan, working alongside one another in 2006 on the Texans. Spending half of the 2022 season with the Eagles as a defensive consultant, Fangio and Shane Steichen produced a Super Bowl-caliber unit in Philly.

While only time will tell how this stalemate plays out, the 49ers would be taking a big step toward another deep playoff run if Fangio returned to the Bay.

Follow @AmilianoFragoso

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