Williamson: Why the 49ers are the least appealing landing spot for a new coach

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns, and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."

Coaching vacancies are popping up left and right, as always is the case in the NFL this time of year. As you can expect, most of those situations are going to need an awful lot of work by the incoming head coach and his supporting cast to get back to being a competitive team. But one opening stands above, well below really, the others. Without question, the 49ers coaching position should be the least appealing.

Of course, there are only 32 NFL coaching jobs. In the football world, that's the pinnacle. But if you are an attractive candidate for one of those positions and several teams have contacted you, including San Francisco, the 49ers have to be last on your list.

First of all, ownership hasn’t exactly proven to be patient and we all know it takes time for a head coach to come in and put his stamp on the program. In fact, since Jim Harbaugh’s time ended after the 2014 season, San Francisco’s ownership has fired their coach in each subsequent year. Jim Tomsula quickly gave way to Chip Kelly, who was only given 16 games to try and turn a team around with a dismal roster.

Secondly, Kelly runs a much different offensive system than most NFL coaches. If you were to come into San Francisco, undoubtedly the offense would need to built from scratch. Not to mention, you would have to unlearn what Kelly spent a year teaching them.

Lastly, and most important, is the personnel. Excluding possibly Cleveland, no roster is more barren of talent than the 49ers. Fortunately, San Francisco has earned the second overall pick in this upcoming draft and will have valuable picks to add talent in the new coach’s likeness. Also encouraging, the 49ers should have more salary cap room than just about any team in the league to acquire free agents.

The problem is an issue Cleveland, Jacksonville, and Oakland have all run into in recent years: This isn't an attractive landing spot for free agents. Overpaying (which is always a terrible idea long term) might be required in order to get players signed. But, as you can imagine, San Francisco has little in the way of their own upcoming free agents that should be priorities to retain.

Again though, this roster is barren of talent. And that is especially true at quarterback. San Francisco would save about $17 million if they moved on from Colin Kaepernick, who should opt out of his contract. But someone, either through the draft or free agency needs to be added. Of course, getting some plan of action at the league's most important position, and one that coincides with the new coach's philosophy, will be the top offseason priority.

The rest of the roster is just as ugly though. When analyzing everyone else that could return to San Francisco next year, who are you really excited about long term? That list is a short one.

Carlos Hyde is one of the most underrated running backs in the league. He is a true number one in the NFL. But how about the rest of the offense? Where else do you feel comfortable with the current starters?

Up front, Joshua Garnett and Trent Brown have potential on the right side of the line. Joe Staley has been a rock for San Francisco, but he will be 33 years old to start the 2017 season and trading him for draft picks might be prudent. The rest of the line, as well as pretty much the entire wide receiver position, is in shambles and needs attention.

The most promising pieces on defense are San Francisco's past two first-round picks, DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead. Both are clearly best suited to play in a 3-4 at defensive end on base downs, though, and there's no telling what scheme the new coaching staff will employ.

NaVorro Bowman returning off injured reserve is very encouraging from a leadership standpoint, as he's long been the face of the defense. Gerald Hodges filled in admirably at inside linebacker and Aaron Lynch has shown potential off the edge, but it can't be ignored just how terrible this front seven was this season, especially against the run.

Antoine Bethea and Jaquiski Tartt are a solid pair of starting safeties and former first-round pick Jimmie Ward returns off injured reserve to reinforce the secondary. Plus, Eric Reid also returns and he is probably San Francisco’s best defensive back. At cornerback, Tramaine Brock also played well this year and Rashard Robinson made a splash in his rookie year. All in all, the secondary isn’t in dire straights.

Whoever inevitably accepts the 49ers head coaching job is going to have a large hill to climb just to reach mediocrity. The offensive side of the ball needs a lot more attention than the defense, but by no means should the new front office turn its nose up on an impact player at any position. Hopefully San Francisco's ownership gives the new man in charge enough time to make a difference.

In the end, if one year from now (even if San Francisco is 0-16 in 2017), it would be a massive win for this organization if we could say that at least they have their head coach and quarterback in place for the future.