The last time the 49ers were a red-hot destination, they boasted a super-charged slogan: "Who's got it better than us? Nooo-body!"
The modern-day adaptation: "Who's got Jimmy Garoppolo? Nooo-body but us!"
By retaining Garoppolo last month with the richest contract in NFL history, the 49ers unabashedly used their unbeaten quarterback as their key selling point to potential free agents.
"We wanted to make sure we had good signaling, that we had Jimmy done before free agency," Paraag Marathe, the 49ers contract czar, said last month. "We wanted the good mojo that comes with having it done."
Free agency talks can begin Monday. Contracts can be ratified as early as Wednesday. Newcomers can join Garoppolo & Co. in the offseason program starting April 16.
A year ago, new coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch promptly whisked in a slew of free agents. Six players arrived on Day 1: wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, quarterback Brian Hoyer, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, kicker Robbie Gould, linebacker Malcolm Smith and tight end Logan Paulsen.
How much more attractive are the 49ers this time around, with Garoppolo — and not Hoyer — the quarterback?
"We were in good shape but I think we're in great shape now, because the moves we made solidified a few positions and made some clarity," Goodwin said Thursday upon signing a three-year extension. "The more people we add can only make us that much better."
Last season's 5-0, Garoppolo-fueled finish is a nice recruiting tool. But the 49ers' 0-9 start shouldn't be dismissed, as it exposed deficiencies they can address in free agency.
Lynch vowed to be "aggressively prudent" in free agency, and the 49ers have been very aggressive in extending their own players: Garoppolo, Goodwin, center Daniel Kilgore, offensive tackle Garry Gilliam, defensive end Cassius Marsh and linebacker Mark Nzeocha. (Hey, where's Joe Staley's deal?)
They had over $66 million in salary cap space before Goodwin's deal (three years, $10 million guaranteed) and Elvis Dumervil's exit ($3.5 million in cap savings). A healthy amount remains for this year's free-agent class. Where should the 49ers spend their money and who should they pursue? Here is a position-by-position glimpse:
— Cornerback: The 49ers must add a star — or at least a starting — cornerback, especially now that the Rams set up trades for Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. One countermeasure could be signing Trumaine Johnson, a Stockton native with ideal size (6-foot-3) and a big-play capability that made him the Rams' franchise player in 2016-17.
Several 49ers recruit-tweeted Malcolm Butler after his Super Bowl benching by the Patriots. Do the 49ers make a run at long-time nemesis Richard Sherman? Other names to watch: Bashaun Breeland (Washington), Rashaan Melvin (Colts), E.J. Gaines (Bills), Aaron Colvin (Jaguars), Prince Amukamara (Bears), Davon House (Packers) and Pierre Desir (Colts).
— Running back: Carlos Hyde's exit would create the need for a veteran rusher to complement Matt Breida and Joe Williams. Three prime candidates with experience in Shanahan's system are Alfred Morris, Isaiah Crowell and Dion Lewis. Morris would be a great fit, as he not only set Washington's single-season rushing record (1,613 yards) as a rookie in 2013 under Shanahan, he's stayed fresh as Ezekiel Elliott's backup the past two years in Dallas.
Crowell ran for a career-high eight touchdowns in Shanahan's scheme with the Cleveland Browns in 2014, when he beat out Lewis, a 5-foot-8 dynamo who emerged this past season as the Patriots' primary back.
Replacing Hyde with his legendary predecessor, Frank Gore, would melt 49ers fans' hearts but isn't likely. Jerick McKinnon (Vikings) and Orleans Darkwa (Giants) might fit well, too.
— Wide receiver: Adding a veteran receiver is not out of the question despite Goodwin's extension, Garcon's return and the emergence of Trent Taylor, Aldrick Robinson and Kendrick Bourne. But how aggressively prudent will they be with the Jaguars' Allen Robinson, who's coming off knee reconstruction? Other top wideouts: Paul Richardson (Seahawks), Sammy Watkins (Rams), Jordan Matthews (Bills), Donte Moncrief (Colts) and Marquise Lee (Jaguars).
— Offensive line: Every team could use help on the offensive line, but it's not as if marquee tackles hit the market, and the 49ers are in solid shape with Staley, Trent Brown and Gilliam. Top free-agent guard Andrew Norwell (Panthers) is reportedly ticketed for the Giants, so maybe the 49ers bid on Josh Sitton (Bears) or re-sign Brandon Fusco to compete with Joshua Garnett and Laken Tomlinson.
— Linebacker: Reuben Foster could be facing suspension because of his domestic-violence and weapons-related arrest, so a contingency plan could include a low-cost veteran temp to pair with Malcolm Smith, and that could mean re-signing Brock Coyle. Other options: Zach Brown (Washington), Nigel Bradham (Eagles), and Paul Posluszny (Jaguars).
— Edge rusher: Shanahan should have an inside read on Adrian Clayborn (Falcons) and whether last season's 9.5 sacks can be maintained. Maybe Lynch calls on a fellow Stanford man in Trent Murphy or his Washington teammate Junior Galette. The in-house options are Marsh, Dumervil, Arik Armstead, Eli Harold and Pita Taumoepenu.
— Tight end: When it comes to adding competition for Garrett Celek and George Kittle, do the 49ers go so far as pursue a high-end free agent? Jimmy Graham (Seahawks), Trey Burton (Eagles) and Tyler Eifert (Bengals) would make nice red-zone targets.
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