Sometimes things happen that change the course of your thinking, and that was certainly true for me. The San Francisco 49ers’ late Sunday (for me) hire of Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator shook up this column immediately, and it’s probably made it a much happier column. Let’s ride.

My Hottest Take: Raheem Morris is a fantastic hire

Let’s start with that defensive coordinator hire. I think this might be my favourite thing the team has done in quite some time. There was a lot of external joy at Robert Saleh’s return last year, but I didn’t quite share the same enthusiasm, and I guess I never have really. I respect Saleh a lot, but I’m not a fan of the rigid schematics and passive approach to defense. I always feel the 49ers have been best, in my lifetime at least, when paired with an aggressive defensive coordinator, like a Vic Fangio or even a DeMeco Ryans.

To that end, there’s a lot to love about the Morris hire–he’s smart, connects well with players, but is also pretty aggressive, ranking among the top five in both "extra rushers" sent and blitz percentage. I’m looking forward to seeing some havoc in defensive backfields next year, particularly if the Niners can draft the right pieces to put around their kingpins like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

His relationship with Kyle Shanahan won’t hurt either–Shanahan undoubtedly grants more autonomy to those he truly trusts, and I think Morris, a long-time friend and former colleague, fits that bill. I look forward to seeing what he can do with this defense.

One place that will benefit, in my view? The defensive backs. After a year of poor safety play and middling cornerback play, a coach with a background of coaching up great defensive backs like Ronde Barber and Jalen Ramsey comes to town. Get with the program quick, or we’ll find some guys who will. Possibly with the help of Joe Woods, who interviewed for the defensive coordinator job, but who may get lost in the churn of the Raiders’ coaching changes. Woods was last seen in the Bay Area coaching the defensive backs and as a passing game coordinator in 2019, aka one of the 49ers best seasons in the defensive backfield, and with longtime assistant Daniel Bullocks seemingly moving on, watch this space for more changes there.

You should know: The NFC West will be one of the best divisions in football

To that end, the NFC West is now increasingly becoming a battle between some of the best minds in football. Kyle Shanahan, Klay Kubiak and Raheem Morris head up the Niners quotient, but the Rams hold Sean McVay, Chris Shula (likely for another season) and a bevy of great offensive minds too. Add in the Cardinals hire of Mike ‘don’t call me Matt’ LaFleur, and rumours around current 49ers defensive assistant Gus Bradley heading with him as defensive coordinator, and Mike McDonald and (for now) Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks revolution, and I think you’d be hard-pressed not to see one of the best divisions in football from a coaching point of view.

What’s staggering about it is how much is seeded from the Shanahan/McVay tree–the two Kubiaks and LeFleur are both particularly strong branches (to say nothing of LeFleur’s brother), but the likes of Bradley and Morris have also been intertwined with the Shanahan tree and its offshoots for multiple seasons at this point. Add in the likes of KJ Wright crossing the Seahawks-49ers divide, and you’ve got some severe cross-pollination of football minds. These tactical battles on the field are going to be legendary, to say nothing of the immense egos involved. I can’t wait.

Before you go: Tough decisions ahead

In amongst all the fun, there’s some interesting days ahead. The 49ers have twenty-eight (count em) pending free agents, and while some make more sense to retain than others, there’s a reasonable argument for every single player on the list, especially considering that most players got to play this season as our team began to double as a MASH ward. That said, starters from punter Thomas Morestead to versatile guard Spencer Burford land on the free agent docket, and it’s hard to know where we’re going with each of them.

Even with that, by far the most difficult decision will be the future of Jauan Jennings, who is slated by some to pull in as much as $25m a year in a free agency contract. I have some scepticism about his–besides a hot run in 2024, he hasn’t ever really shown No. 1 wide receiver potential, and he’s already 28–but there’s no doubting he’s proven to be a heart and soul part of this 49ers era, and it’d be a wrench to see him go.

I’ve oscillated back and forth on whether the team will, or should, keep him in the fold, even at such a high price, and in truth, I’ve still not come to a definitive answer–but that’ll change next week. Assuming there’s no earth-shattering news in between, we’ll take a look next week at all the team’s free agents, and what might be likely to happen with them. We’ll even discuss the possibility of some big incomings, too, as the 49ers look to be able to play with some cap space for the first time in a couple of years. See you then!