A week into the 49ers offseason, and already we know things will look very different next year. Okay, Brandon Aiyuk being gone is no surprise, and even Robert Saleh’s departure wasn’t unexpected, but it’s a busy offseason ahead for all of us. Fortunately, I’ll be right here to cover it with you. So let’s get started.

My Hottest Take: The 49ers' needs aren’t what you think

I hope to be able to break this down more completely in other columns this offseason, perhaps outside the structure of this weekly one, but for now, let’s take the statement as read; the 49ers needs aren’t necessarily what you’ve been told.

Most focus on the seemingly eternal need for a complement to Nick Bosa, and while that does ring true to an extent (and I’d expect additions there, given the paucity of depth currently), I believe the 49ers defensive needs stretch a little further, although only moving one position inside.

Defensive Tackle looks a far bigger, glistening need for the 49ers this offseason, with three players (Kalia Davis, Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens) expected to be free agents there, and none of them ever having produced more than average play while in the Bay Area. I had high hopes for Kalia Davis, but his occasional splash plays haven’t translated into consistently good play.

It’s true that the 49ers drafted both Alfred Collins and CJ West this year with an eye on the future of the position, but I’d love to see a genuinely impactful veteran or rookie added there, someone capable against both the run and the pass.

If Mykel Williams is to be the Arik Armstead of this "era" of the 49ers, I’d love us to find the DeForest Buckner equivalent. In a world where interior rushing is becoming increasingly important and prevalent, the 49ers’ lack of noise on the interior has proved troubling. Both Collins and West look like fine prospects, too, leading me to suggest that the 49ers should continue building the defensive line as they did for their 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl rosters – fast, versatile, and uncompromising.

Where we’re adding brawn, I’d also like to see some brains, particularly at the safety spot. You’ll all be familiar with my complaints about the 49ers safety play by now, but in truth, I don’t blame the players themselves, more the archetype that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have wedded themselves to–largely that of the fast, impact-hitting safety, most often seen in Malik Mustapha, previously Talanoa Hufanga, and occasionally, Ji’Ayir Brown.

These players produce splash plays, viral highlights, and ooh moments, but too often are found wanting at the basics of the game–preventing big plays, making smart plays on the ball, and oh yes, tackling. Hitting is not tackling, Malik.

I’d love to see a field general safety come to the Bay Area–someone with genuine range, intelligence, and ball skills. The 49ers defense has lacked that since Jimmie Ward left town, but in truth, hasn’t had it for a consistent basis since the days of Dwight Hicks or Tim McDonald. Whether in the draft or free agency (Andre Cisco of the Jets could be an intriguing flyer), I’m begging the 49ers brains trust to invest something in this spot this offseason. Mustapha can be a fine strong safety, but the team badly needs an experienced ‘eraser’ while Marques Sigle develops.

On offense, the obvious situation to call out is wide receiver, with a boatload of free agents, a disappeared Brandon Aiyuk, and a complete lack of team speed. I’ve no issues with the 49ers addressing that spot, although I hope it’s not in the first round of the draft.

Elsewhere, though, please let this be the year the 49ers change course on their offensive line. I’ve banged the drum since getting into sportswriting, but the 49ers neglect and seeming contempt for good offensive line play has been their undoing for almost as long as Kyle Shanahan has been the head coach. Their best lineman is 37, has the most leverage in the league (because if he retired, the team would have the worst offensive line by miles), and has almost no long-term building blocks outside of Dominick Puni, who is coming off a patchy sophomore season. Enough. Get some building blocks for the future, and get a second Williams-level talent now ... perhaps a Tyler Linderbaum, if the Ravens let him go to free agency.

What You Need To Know: The defensive coordinator search has few fireworks so far

Well, as we all saw, Robert Saleh eventually left for a second head coaching job. Quelle surprise. The biggest surprise, honestly, was him taking the Titans job–with him being in for multiple openings, that probably wasn’t the one I’d have jumped at. But, whatever, I’m not his agent, nor do I care now he’s not here. I’ve never been big on Robert Saleh; check my old columns and the amount of yelling people do on social media at me about it.

This is a chance for a rethink of the 49ers defensive setup, and perhaps a chance to bring in someone aggressive, who really attacks with the tools at his disposal, like Jim Schwartz. Someone who can fire up and develop the team’s young players, like Raheem Morris. Someone who can avert the slide of the 49ers young defensive backs, like Jim Leonhard…which will make it all the more depressing when the 49ers stick with continuity and promote the vanilla option in Gus Bradley to the job.

Bradley has been run out on a rail of his last several defensive coordinator jobs (to say nothing of his Jacksonville tenure, where his defenses were atrocious) and is possibly even more passive than Saleh in terms of putting offenses on the back foot. It’s safe to say I’d be underwhelmed. However, with no interviews to speak of (sans a blocked attempt to interview the Falcons’ Justin Hood for ‘some role on the defensive staff’), there’s not much to say other than I expect the 49ers to run the clock out while promising a wide search and then do just whatever they wanted to do in the first place: promote Bradley. Ho-hum.

Before You Go: There’s one rookie who can be a star

The good news for whoever takes charge of the defensive unit (it's going to be Bradley), is that they have a couple of burgeoning stars to work with. I’ve already been impressed with the defensive line trio of Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and CJ West (all of whom should improve next season if they can recover from various injuries and knocks), and Marques Sigle has potential too.

However, the biggest star in the sky might be young nickel corner Upton Stout. In the starting lineup from Week 1, Stout battled some "welcome to the NFL" moments in the first half of the season, but his second half of the season was right up there at All-Pro level, making plays that stand out every week.

A smart player with feistiness and nastiness, and a tackler much greater than his size would suggest (something his fellow defensive players could learn from), all the signs point to Stout becoming a star, and quick. With the likes of Nick Emmanwori reinventing the slot position in the NFL, Stout can be right there behind him, and will surely be a boon to the new defensive coordinator.

See you next week…