49ers desperately need new additions to help old ones

The San Francisco 49ers need to win now. If they don’t, they face the potential of upheaval in the front office and coaching staff.

The good news? San Francisco went out and attempted to upgrade significantly this offseason via free agency and trades. General manager John Lynch certainly can hear the clock ticking loudly in his head, and the former All-Pro safety went out and added linebacker Kwon Alexander in free agency before acquiring outside linebacker Dee Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2020 second-round choice.

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In the draft, Lynch once again struck. He landed defensive end Nick Bosa with the No. 2 overall selection before choosing wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the second round.

Ultimately, San Francisco is hoping to have landed four high-profile difference-makers, including three on the defensive side. Now, the 49ers must hope the new additions can blend seamlessly with the old, particularly quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Looking at the NFC West, the top and bottom appear set barring catastrophic injuries. The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a 13-3 season that landed them in the Super Bowl where they lost to the New England Patriots. Los Angeles lost defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, center John Sullivan and guard Rodger Saffold, but the rest of the group is largely back. While it’s true running back Todd Gurley’s arthritic knee is a concern, the Rams remain the best in the West.

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Conversely, the Arizona Cardinals are trying to climb out of the basement. It’s going to take some time. Arizona drafted a quarterback in the first round for the second straight year, this time selecting Kyler Murray before jettisoning Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins. The Cardinals also hired head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who failed to post a winning record at Texas Tech, despite having Patrick Mahomes for many of his years there.

In between, the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has continuously lost talent throughout the last two offseason, but remains a playoff contender. San Francisco must find a way to leapfrog the Seahawks and begin its ascent by competing for a wild card spot.

With Bosa and Ford added on the edge, and Alexander roaming between the numbers, Lynch has added ample talent to the mix. In addition, Samuel now joins Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis to give Garoppolo a trio of wide receivers to target when Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle isn’t getting them.

The 49ers have been building for years. It’s time to see results.