The San Francisco 49ers have Jim Tomsula at head coach and into 2015, names like Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Mike Iupati and Ahmad Brooks could be gone in free agency or in cap saving moves and this comes as Colin Kaepernick is looking to rebound after a tough season in 2014 with Jim Harbaugh that saw the Niners miss the playoffs.
The 49ers mentioned continuity multiple times in the press conference with Tomsula and they are hoping that extends to the roster as well. But with so many players coming up for free agency, including significant names like Crabtree, Gore and Iupati, there is a good chance some of those players will be gone in 2015. According to Pro Football Talk, the Washington Post reports that the Redskins will be interested in Frank Gore, as Scot McCloughan drafted him and could look at him as a backup option to Alfred Morris in DC.
The Niners come into 2015 after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years and that was one of the main reasons why the team moved on from Jim Harbaugh. The team was wildly successful, but Harbaugh rubbed the front office the wrong way and now they have more of a team player in Tomsula. The team won 44 games in four seasons with Harbaugh and that means Tomsula will have plenty of pressure heading into 2015.
The 49ers missed the playoffs for the first time under Harbaugh and he previously took the team to three straight NFC championship games, including one Super Bowl. Harbaugh helped turn
Kaepernick still looks to be the starter after signing him big deal last year, but he regressed in 2014 and now Tomsula will have to find a way to get him back on track. The team ranked 30th in the league in passing yards per game and Kaepernick will have to find a way to get better, as he will have even more pressure of Gore leaves and Hyde starts.
The Niners like what they have in Hyde, as he is a hard runner with good hands and he comes in after putting up 33 yards this season and one touchdown on 83 carries. Gore comes in after another solid year and he had over 1100 yards and has been as consistent as anyone in the league. The Niners will be making some changes though and players like Iupati, Gore and Crabtree could be gone. Crabtree came back after dealing with an injury last year and had 68 catches for 698 yards and four TDs and that was a disappointment after what he did in 2012.
CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco wrote that Vernon Davis and Ahmad Brooks could be salary cap casualties, as they both are coming off of down seasons. Davis had just 26 catches last year while dealing with injuries and ended up with 245 yards and just two touchdowns. Davis has the potential to bounce back, but at his salary and with the players the Niners need to sign back, there's a good chance he gets cut and the same goes for Brooks.
