Here’s a look at the perceived draft needs of the San Francisco 49ers, with heavy input from Matt Miller and David Gardner of NewEraScouting.com.     

Wide Receiver:  The addition of Issac Bruce and Bryant Johnson will help, but this passing game needs more than just a little spark.  They ranked dead last in nearly every statistical category last season —  yards (2,685), sacks allowed (55), and yards per attempt (4.08).  A quarterback controversy is in full bloom.  Regardless of who wins the starting quarterback job, the team needs more playmakers on offense.

Tailback Frank Gore could use some pressure from the passing game to keep defenses from sneaking up to the line of scrimmage.  At No. 29 in round one, they should be able to get a guy who can upgrade the wideout position.Defensive end:  The two starting defensive ends from a year ago are gone.  Marcus Douglas, who led the NFL in tackles for losses last season left for Tampa and Bryant Young, the last remaining piece of their era of dominance, retired. 

The acquisition of Justin Smith will give the 49ers one starter at defensive end, but he is an underachiever who plays the run better than the pass, and behind whom there is little experience.  The 49ers could look for a starting defensive end as early as round one, and it would be a surprise if they didn’t have one by the end of the third round.

Strong safety:  The 49ers desperately need to remake their safety position.  The pass defense last season was almost as bad as their passing offense.   Opposing quarterbacks had an astonishingly good 89.9 passer rating against them (fifth-worst in the league), and they intercepted only half as many passes as they allowed touchdowns (14 to 28). 

It wasn’t supposed to be that way, given the addition via free agency of safety Michael Lewis and cornerback Nate Clements.  Clements is a legitimate top-ten corner in the league, but Lewis looked a little slow last season, and he seems like a different player than the guy who went to the Pro Bowl in 2006.

Dashon Goldson was pressed into action as a rookie in 2007, and he played pretty well.  He should compete for the starting free safety job. The 49ers are thought to be interested in UCLA strong safety Chris Horton and Miami free safety Kenny Phillips.  Horton would probably need a year or two to develop, but Phillips would be able to start from the first day, and possibly help Mike Nolan’s defense start to turn the corner.

Guard:  The 49ers suffered from a lack of depth on the offensive line, and those pains were only compounded by the loss of starting right guard Justin Smiley to free agency, and starting left guard Larry Allen to retirement.  David Baas replaced Justin Smiley for eight games after he was injured in 2007, and the former second-round pick should have no trouble filling that spot.  Backup tackle Adam Snyder has filled in for Larry Allen, but since left tackle (who likely will end up at right tackle) Jonas Jennings has missed 14 games in the past two seasons due to injury, Snyder’s value is more as a backup to Jennings.

Regardless, going into this season, the 49ers have no reliable depth for their line. They’ll need to address the line at least once in the draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them pick multiple linemen.  A better offensive line is a necessity in the Martz passing attack, as the QB has to hold the ball longer to wait for deep routes to open up.

Outside linebacker:  Tully Banta-Cain was a big disappointment in 2007 after showing promise as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in New England the prior year.  Although Patrick Willis pretty much made up for the deficiencies of this group all by himself, the 49ers linebacking corps was less than stellar last season.  With Willis patrolling the middle, the 49ers will need to turn their attention to the outside.

A pass-rushing specialist to pair opposite Manny Lawson (as he comes back from injury) would be vital to the team’s success next season.  G.M. Scot McCloughan attended Auburn Quentin Grove’s Pro Day personally; Groves could excel in the defense and instantly beef up the pass rush.