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49ers' defensive coordinator search top of their to-do list

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Nicholas McGee | Last updated 2/22/24

The road back to the Super Bowl following their agonizing defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs will not be easy for the San Francisco 49ers.

But their path back to it has already begun, and the Niners hopes of being on the biggest stage again next February will hinge at least in part on the decisions they make during the offseason.

As the 49ers plot their path forward, there are three tasks that stand out above the rest as the most important on their to-do list.

Hiring a defensive coordinator

Accusations that head coach Kyle Shanahan used former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as a scapegoat for the Super Bowl loss appear dubious when you dive into the tape from the overtime defeat, with a series of curious play-calls from Wilks actively helping Kansas City move the ball at critical junctures.

Indeed, Wilks, by getting overaggressive with pressure looks and man coverage, went away from what was working in the first half, when sound zone coverage and disruption from a four-man rush had Mahomes and Chiefs largely bereft of ways through which to move the ball.

Wilks was reported to be on “shaky ground” going into the game, and his decisions late on against the Chiefs only gave credence to the school of thought he was always a bad fit for the 49er defense.

Now the 49ers must find the right fit for an extremely talented group that did not play to its standard down the stretch and for much of the playoffs. Whether it’s and internal hire or a coach from outside the building, no decision is more important for the Niners’ 2024 success than the hiring of Wilks’ replacement as defensive coordinator.

Settling the Aiyuk saga

Such is the level of talent on the 49ers’ roster, that it seems like every year they have a contract saga over one of their star players.

This year, that star player is wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is coming off his second successive 1,000-yard campaign.

Aiyuk is set to play the 2024 season on his fifth-year option, but talk of him being a potential trade candidate for a 49ers team up against the salary cap has swirled in the days after the Super Bowl, in part fueled by his girlfriend posting on social media that the Niners’ exit interviews might be the last time they are at Levi’s Stadium.

Brandon Aiyuk’s girlfriend and another close friend imply he might not be with the 49ers next season

The 49ers picked up Aiyuk’s fifth-year option for 2024 last offseason at $14.12M pic.twitter.com/3cfiUXKatt
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 13, 2024

For his part, Aiyuk said he would stay with the 49ers “if that’s the right move” when asked about his future.

The 49ers have been clear in speaking of their desire to keep Aiyuk, a second-team All-Pro in 2023, on the roster. General manager John Lynch said at the 49ers’ end of season press conference: “We’ve developed a cadence over the years, Kyle and I, where he focuses on the season, we do all the planning, and then we present things to him and we work through it, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. But of course, you want a guy like Brandon Aiyuk to be a part of you going forward.”

San Francisco’s situation is complicated by the level of high-price veterans the Niners have on the roster, and by the fact they signed wideout Deebo Samuel to a three-year, $71 million contract in 2022.

That has led to suggestions the 49ers could trade Aiyuk for a first-round pick and draft his replacement. But finding a replacement for one of the finest route-runners in the NFL is no guarantee, and San Francisco would surely rather tie its best receiver down to a long-term deal. An Aiyuk extension would help the 49ers lower his 2024 cap number, and the best solution to this looming saga for the 49ers is to find a way to sign the 2020 first-round pick long term.

Firming down a draft approach

The 49ers are projected to have 11 picks in the 2024 draft, including their first selection in the opening round since 2021, when they traded three first-round picks for Trey Lance in what ultimately proved an ill-advised decision.

Having missed out on premium picks the last two years and sent further draft capital to the Carolina Panthers to land Christian McCaffrey in a substantially more successful trade, the 49ers desperately need to take advantage of their number of picks in this year’s draft to add depth to a top-heavy roster and ensure that, when they do have to pay quarterback Brock Purdy and potentially lose some of their high-priced veterans, they have contributors on team-friendly deals who can help them stay competitive.

In terms of holes, the 49ers must address an offensive line that struggled mightily in the Super Bowl, while the defensive side of the trenches could also use help. Finding a starter at slot cornerback this offseason would also be a huge benefit to the 49er defense.

What the Niners need to do is firm down their draft approach. Are they going best player available, or are they prioritizing one need above all others? What they decide could go a long way to determining their fortunes in the 2024 season and in the years to come.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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