The San Francisco 49ers may part ways with Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati and Vernon Davis in free agency this offseason for Colin Kaepernick and in the future those players could be targets for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns or New England Patriots, as those teams have needs at various positions into 2015.
Gore is a free agent after a long run with the Niners and while general manager Trent Baalke has said the team wants him back, there is a chance they could let him go and let Carlos Hyde start. Gore is 31 years old and while he has been a very consistent back, which is the age when most players at his position start to break down. Crabtree is coming off of a down season, while Davis could be a salary cap casualty after dealing with injuries this past year.
Iupati should be a target for a number of teams, including the Redskins and Browns, as both need help on the offensive line. Crabtree had his best season in 2012 with 85 catches and over 1000 yards, but since them he has been injured and has been mostly a disappointment. The Niners need to turn things around on offense, as Kaepernick took a step back and now new head coach Jim Tomsula will have to find a way to get him back to where he was a couple years ago.
Gore is the main target to watch on the market, as teams like the Redskins and Colts could be options to sign him. CSN Bay Area reported earlier in the offseason that the Redskins are expected to be a main target, as their new general manager Scot McCloughan drafted Gore when he was in San Fran and has spoken high praise for him. The Redskins need a solid backup for Alfred Morris and he could be a fit.
Matt Miller from Bleacher Report writes that Gore also could be a target for the Colts, as the team is expected to move on from Trent Richardson. Gore could be the perfect option, as he is considered one of the "good guys" and with the way things have been going off the field for the Colts, they could use one of those. The report says that both coach Chuck Pagano and associate head coach Rob Chudzinski want to bring Gore in and they could be one of the main targets for his services.
The 49ers are coming in after missing the playoffs for the first time under Jim Harbaugh and that was enough for the team to move on from him. The team won 44 games in four seasons and now Tomsula will have some big shoes to fill. If Gore and Crabtree leave that would be two key offensive players and that could lead the Niners to some options in free agency.
The team could end up keeping Iupati, Davis and Ahmad Brooks, but it's likely all those players are on other teams next season. Davis and Books both could end up as cap casualties. Baalke has said that he expects the team to be in the mix next season and could return to the playoffs.