The San Francisco 49ers have big names hitting free agency in Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati and Frank Gore and those players could be targets for the Washington Redskins this offseason along with Vernon Davis, who could be a salary cap release and this comes as a future trade with Colin Kaepernick could be explored under head coach Jim Tomsula if he doesn't improve.
The 49ers have Gore and Crabtree hitting free agency for Kaepernick and if they don't return, it means Carlos Hyde and other young players will have to step up. Crabtree is not expected to be back, as he had a down season and has dealt with injuries in the past. The 49ers offense needs to do better passing the ball and that puts pressure on Tomsula to get Kaepernick back to where he was a couple years ago. This past season Kaepernick regressed and the offense was one of the worst passing offenses in the league.
Gore has been wildly consistent, but he is getting older and could leave. CSN Bay Area reports that Gore along with Vernon Davis could be potential targets for the Redskins, as former Niners GM Scot McCloughan is now with the team. Davis is a player that could get cut as a salary cap saving move. Gore could fit in well as a backup for Alfred Morris, while Iupati also could be an option.
Kaepernick is in an interesting situation and while it's a long shot to happen, he could get traded or released after this season if he doesn't improve. According to Pro Football Talk, the contract Kaepernick signed with the team gives the Niners the chance to get out of his deal after each year. Kaepernick could be expendable after this year, as the team can "walk away" from the deal each April without any financial issues after that. Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News describes Kaepernick as the next Harbaugh, meaning the team plans on keeping him now, but will evaluate in the offseason.
According to CSN Bay Area, Gore is likely going to be a major target for the Redskins, as they need a solid backup for Alfred Morris and he has connections to new general manager Scot McCloughan. Matt Maiocco writes that McCloughan has very high praise for Gore and that he was the one who drafted him in San Francisco and he would not be surprised to see the Redskins sign him. Gore could be a compliment to Alfred Morris, who has been worked hard over the past two seasons in Washington.
Harbaugh left some big shoes to fill though and now Tomsula takes over after the Niners went to the playoffs in three of the four seasons under Harbaugh. Harbaugh won 44 games in four seasons with the Niners, but after going 8-8 this year and missing the playoffs, they felt it was time to move on. Harbaugh took the team to one Super Bowl and took them out of a decade of mediocrity and he also helped bring in Colin Kaepernick, who is now the starting quarterback. Kaepernick did not have as good of a season as the previous year and now it will be up to Tomsula to stop the regression.
