Best, worst offseason moves for the San Francisco 49ers

BEST | Seven Compensatory Draft Picks

Does a team get credit for receiving draft compensation? In the case of the 49ers, they do. Compensation picks are typically given to teams for losing free agents or specific staff members the previous year.

According to David Connors of blitzanalytics.com, teams that embrace the compensatory pick formula are more likely to be successful. Teams are allowed four compensatory picks each year, but thanks to exceptions related to minority hiring, the 49ers have seven extra picks in this year’s draft. In this regard, San Francisco has always done a good job and deserves credit.

WORST | Jimmie Ward’s Exit

Ward was a captain and the team’s longest-tenured player before signing with the Texans. He had 50 tackles and three interceptions despite missing five games last season. He was mainly a nickel back in 2022, but he’s played all secondary positions throughout his career. 

Pro Football Focus ranked Ward as free agency’s sixth-most valuable non-QB for 2022, but the team decided to sign Isaiah Oliver from the Falcons rather than Ward. Oliver will make much less than Ward, but San Francisco could get what they paid for.

WORST | Losing Robbie Gould

You know you have a good team when the kicker makes the list of bad moves. Gould made over 87% of his field goals and 96% of his extra points in six years with the team but really earned his money in the playoffs. In nine postseason games as a Niner, Gould never missed a kick. 

Gould said he wouldn’t be back after the 2022 season so the team swapped late-round picks with Carolina to acquire Zane Gonzalez. Gonzalez missed last season with a groin injury, making him a risky addition.