Fill in the blanks

What do the Niners still need? Just fill in the blanks...

QB Smith
RB Gore (Hicks is a serviceable backup)
FB Norris
WR ____, Lelie, Battle (a No. 1 receiver is still needed...Look to the draft. Brandon Williams and Bryan Gilmore are the backups.)
TE Davis
OL Jennings, Allen, Heitmann, Smiley, Synder (Harris, Wragge, Bass all good backups)

DEs Young, Douglas (Fields is supposed to be a good backup, but we need a _____ who can put pressure on the QB from the end position, even in the 3-4)
DT Franklin (____ back-up, or maybe the starter. Look to the draft)
LBs Moore, Banta-Cain, Smith, Lawson (Ulbrich, Haralson and ___ back-up...another tackler, perhaps, through free agency?)
SS M. Lewis (K. Lewis is a great backup)
FS M. Roman (K. Lewis will backup here too)
CB Clements, Harris (Spencer is a good backup)

So, the Niners have a whole bunch of picks...but only four glaring areas of need.

The most glaring is clearly wide receiver. Without a top target, the team is going nowhere next year. Everyone will clamp down on Gore if Smith can't throw the ball. The team MUST find a potential No. 1 receiver in the draft. If Calvin Johnson can't be had, look for the team to trade up to the late first/early second to draft Jarrett. At least, I hope...)

As it stands now, I see the Niners front 3 putting minimal pressure on the QB, which means that Moore, Haralson and Banta-Cain (and maybe Green) will be in charge of getting the QB. It's risky to have all of your rushers line up behind the line. The Niners need a rushing end who can play the 3-4. Look to the third and fourth round here--or, potentially, Adam Carriker in the first round.

I see the Niners toying with the idea of bringing in another linebacker through free agency. There are a lot out there...maybe Donnie Edwards? He was coached by Manusky at San Diego...with Banta-Cain signed, we could use an all-purpose linebacker, not simply a pass-rusher...Edwards could be a Gary Plummer-like signing...(and not simply the San Diego to San Francisco connection...)

Finally, I'm not totally sold on Franklin. We need another option in the middle. Nose tackles wear down quickly, even mid-game. If we don't trade up for Calvin Johnson, I see us going DT in the first round, either by trading up for Branch or taking Okoye.