The other day, I wanted to make a note of DeMarco Murray’s success before and after Chip Kelly. It felt pertinent, considering Kelly hasn’t exactly helped this 49ers offense overachieve and Murray is again at the top of the league in rushing.
Then I realized, wait a minute: What about all the players Trent Baalke let walk under his watch?
We’ve been critical of his draft picks, but Baalke’s negligence of free agency in both retaining his own players and signing quality depth to his roster is a chief reason why the 49ers are 1-8.
Of course, the organization was paralyzed from a rash of retirements after the 2014 season –Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Justin Smith and the ongoing Anthony Davis saga.
Which makes it even more frightening that Baalke relied so heavily on his own draft picks. You need veterans to bridge the gaps. You can’t just have a roster full of young players.
Michael Crabtree (49 catches, 596 yards, 6 TD)
Okay, he clearly wasn’t a No. 1 receiver when he left for Oakland in 2014, but he’s had a revival in the second half of his career. Crabtree signed a one-year, $3.2 million “prove it deal” with the Raiders, and ever since, he’s been a key playmaker in one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses. Baalke replaced him with Torrey Smith — who also is not a No. 1 receiver — a decision that has not worked out well for the 49ers’s offense. Earlier in the year, Smith was welcome to the idea of being traded to Philadelphia.
Delanie Walker (42 catches, 571 yards, 5 TD)
Always underutilized next to Vernon Davis, Walker finally broke out of shell as soon as he left San Francisco. He’s become one of the toughest matchups in the league with the Titans and a favorite target of blossoming young quarterback Marcus Mariota. You know it’s getting bad when we’re envious of Tennessee’s roster. The Pro Bowler’s two-year, $13.3 million deal is one of the better bargain contracts in the league, but apparently too rich for Baalke’s blood, so he bolted after the 2012 Super Bowl run.
Anquan Boldin (35 catches, 286 yards, 5 TD)
Given the state of this year’s passing offense, was Boldin really not worth a security blanked one-year, $2.75 million contract? It’s understandable to want to let a 36-year-old walk in free agency. But counting on a combination of Eric Rogers, DeAndre Smelter or Dres Anderson to replace him was not a questionable plan back in the spring.
Mike Iupati (Cardinals have a top rushing attack in the NFL)
The 49ers have since repaired their offensive line to a respectable measure, but Iupati’s departure in 2015 threw San Francisco’s offensive line in a tailspin. Arizona gave Iupati a five-year, $40 million contract with $22.5 guaranteed. You could also add Frank Gore to this list, if you really wanted to.
Bruce Ellington’s injury was a big blow for Baalke that Kelly has to now deal with on the football field. Luckily Baalke added Jeremy Kerley to the fold in August, arguably the best newcomer on the roster (40 catches, 424 yards, 3 TD).
But Baalke’s disregard for the skill position is a trend that started long ago, it branches far and wide, through the NFL Draft and free agency.
At the end of the day, this is his resume. There’s no hiding from it.