Biggest remaining needs for each NFC West team

San Francisco 49ers – Pass-catchers

Everything changed for this franchise when they traded for backup quarterback Jimmy Garappolo in the middle of last season. The team was 1-10 when the former Patriots QB was inserted into the starting lineup and boy did he turn things around. Jimmy GQ rattled off five straight wins, while proving command of the offense and giving his teammates hope. San Francisco’s defense is loaded with young talent, such as DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster and others.

With Richard Sherman to go with some of their young corners, they seem to be set on the perimeter and I’d like to see Jimmie Ward move back into the slot, now that they added the rangy Tarvarius Moore out of Southern Miss in the third round of the draft. Having signed Garoppolo to a massive 137.5-million dollar contract, they need to build around their franchise investment.

The offensive line in front of him was a focus early on, signing center Weston Richburg and drafting Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey with the ninth overall pick. Now it’s time to surround their new signal-caller with weapons. Garoppolo was asked to do a lot with very little last season. However, Pierre Garcon is coming back from injury as a dependable possession receiver, there seemed to be a really good connection with the quick Trent Taylor in the slot, Marquise Goodwin emerged as more than a pure deep threat and they added another speedster in Washington’s Dante Pettis by trading up in round two.

I think Pettis will make his mark primarily in the return game though and none of those guys I just mentioned is a true featured guy in the passing game. I like some of the young tight ends on the roster, especially second-year man George Kittle, but give your guy some more weapons and he will light defenses up.