The San Francisco 49ers closed 2017 on a five-game winning streak with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback, giving the team very high hopes for 2018. However, they are still looking to add an impact player or two that can help propel them into the postseason. San Francisco has some key free agents of their own they need to re-sign, but also need to bring in some other players to fill needs. Here are the four biggest free agents the 49ers should target this offseason:
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1) WR Allen Robinson
Marquise Goodwin and Trent Taylor have proven to be quality wideouts that should be major factors in San Francisco's offense next season, but let's not kid ourselves - the 49ers are still without a true top option at the position. If you want this offense to reach its full potential, you have to give Garoppolo more weapons and a go-to guy. Enter Robinson, who has proven to be one of the best wideouts in the league. He missed virtually the entire season after tearing his ACL in Week 1, and (as long as his medicals check out), could wind up being a great bargain.
2) OG Andrew Norwell
The offensive line is arguably San Francisco's biggest weakness or area that needs to improve. Keeping Garoppolo upright and comfortable in the pocket is one of the 49ers' biggest keys to success in 2018, and they weren't great at it last year. According to Football Outsiders, San Francisco's offensive line ranked in the bottom half of the league and gave up a sack on nearly seven percent of dropbacks. Norwell figures to be one of the best interior linemen available and would be a great start at fixing that line.
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3) CB E.J. Gaines
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Dontae Johnson has proven he is not a starting-caliber player in the secondary (he may not even be on SF's roster next season), and given the team's lack of depth at the position, they need to find players they can rely on in the back end of the defense. Gaines may not be a true No. 1 corner, but he's definitely a quality starter. San Francisco has over $100 million in cap space, so they have the money to give him something close to the contract he is looking for.
4) RB Jerick McKinnon
At this point in his career, Carlos Hyde has proven he's not a bell-cow back, and the team may be willing to let him walk in free agency with a loaded draft class at running back. Still, in their quest for more offensive weapons, they'll likely give McKinnon a look. He's an explosive athlete (the kind of back the 49ers haven't had in a while) and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, catching 94 passes combined over the past two seasons.
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