We’re officially in the "dead zone" of the offseason, as the hubbub of free agency starts to die down, and the only unanswered 49ers question of the offseason so far, is, for the 89th week in a row, Trent Williams’ contract. Sigh. Let’s delve into some Ninerland topics, before I get too depressed:

My Hottest Take: Most 49ers draft options are still open

It’d be tempting to think the 49ers are narrowing down their potential picks for the NFL Draft at the end of this month. That’d be particularly true if you’ve seen how the oft-criticised wide receiver room has been bolstered in the last two weeks. Mike Evans’ addition speaks for itself, but it was the one-year, cheap deal afforded to veteran Christian Kirk, seemingly to play the slot role, that looks like it may have closed the door on a receiver in round one.

That said, I do think there’s still an opening there. The 49ers most glaring hole is undoubtedly at EDGE, with no defined pass rushers behind nominal starters Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, but they could also look to offensive tackle (yeah right…) and possibly even the defensive backfield. Receiver, however, could also intrigue them – I think it will entirely depend on the options available to them. In truth, the 49ers would likely be best served adding a veteran edge rusher, possibly Joey Bosa, to shore up their depth there, and fixing Trent Williams’ contract situation. That would leave them much more open to be able to select the "best player available" in the opening round, possibly even someone like Texas A&M weapon KC Concepcion.

With a month to go, though, just be wary of anyone telling you it’s absolutely ‘locked in’ who the 49ers will or won’t select in the draft. Unless you somehow have John Lynch’s number, or something. Realistically, I think any position outside of quarterback, linebacker, and hopefully running back, could still be a possibility. For example, who’s complaining if the 49ers somehow get to land Kenyon Sadiq at pick 27?

I personally think it’ll be an EDGE, in the Akheem Mesidor/Cashius Howell range. But there’s long enough left before the annual festivities that I’m not gonna bet my house on it just yet. Maybe in a few columns time.

You Should Know: Linebacker battles are going to be brutal

One reason, besides value, I don’t see a pick at linebacker in the first round is the sheer amount of players who will be vying for three starting spots. From Fred Warner to Garrett Wallow via Tatum Bethune and Dre Greenlaw, there is a pretty healthy number of NFL-experienced linebackers, as well as two recent mid-round draft choices, vying for spots on the team. I’m a sicko who loves preseason football, so watching those battles unfold will be good fun. A blend of size, speed, and coverage ability would be very useful to the 49ers, and while I expect it will be Warner, Greenlaw and one other to open the season, I hope the likes of Nick Martin and Dee Winters make a solid impression, as it’ll be their team very soon–possibly even next year.

Before You Go: An official announcement of a draft crush, at a position the team ignores

Okay, so I think I’ve probably said it on here before, but just to put it across again, I’d love to see the team acquire a ballhawking safety. The last one I can remember starting games for the 49ers was Jimmie Ward in 2022, before he departed for Houston in free agency. It’s scary to think he was a draft pick from over a decade ago, too; I feel very old. Nonetheless, since then, the 49ers have trotted out a variety of "big-hitting" (read: dumb) safeties at the position, largely cycling through a number of also-rans or players who didn’t quite hit their potential, a la Talanoa Hufanga and current incumbents Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha.

I have some hope for Mustapha as a difference-making hitter on the back end, but he needs to be paired with an intelligent coverage safety who can read opposing offenses and make some explosive plays in coverage. It’d also improve the team’s turnover differential, which is currently terrible and has been for a few seasons. Marques Sigle has potential, but seemed to fall foul of the coaching staff later in the 2025 season, so perhaps we’ll look further afield in the upcoming draft.

If that is the case, I’d like the 49ers to take a look at Dillon Thieneman.The Oregon safety checks all the boxes of the type of player I’m looking for, and he’s had great production over his college career to boot. Unfortunately, I suspect I’ll have to hope he falls to the second round, as the current 49ers brass seems allergic to valuing the safety spot–all the more odd considering our general manager’s football background!

Still, all that, and more, in the coming weeks. See you soon.