49ers free agent targets: Top free agent targets for San Francisco 49ers in 2023

Any discussion about the San Francisco 49ers would be complete with praising the offensive genius that is Kyle Shanahan.

The 2023 NFL Coach of the Year snub managed to do the impossible with the 49ers, as he dragged a team that had no business in the playoffs into their Conference Championship game. He did that while having a "Mr. Irrelevant" as his starter deep into the playoffs.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let's look at three free agents that the San Francisco 49ers can add to give them a better shot at that elusive Super Bowl game. Here are the three potential free agent additions that Shanahan and the 49ers can make this off-season.

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Top Three 2023 Free Agent Targets for San Francisco 49ers

Here are our top three free agents, ranked from least important to most:

#3 Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Cornerback

Let's start by imploring the San Francisco 49ers to poach a star cornerback from their Divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The elite CB we're talking about is Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, a player who's hardly talked about but deserves a host of praises. While the Niners have young options like Samuel Womack and Ambry Thomas, signing a veteran like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson could be wise.

That's especially true, given his affordability. With a projected value of $5.6 million, the 49ers should sign him up quickly with little difficulty.

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#2 Marcus Davenport, EDGE

The New Orleans Saints are in cap room hell, and the team is scampering around to cut off any perceived deadwood so that they can get ready for the 2023 NFL draft. One such casualty will be Marcus Davenport, and the San Francisco 49ers should be ready to pick him right up.

The 49ers only have one elite pass rusher on their roster: Nick Bosa. Adding Davenport would help reduce Bosa's workload, and he's coming from a team with longer-term playoff success.

Signing him would be a solid move to double down on the defense. It would give the team another option for a No. 2 pass-rusher. He should complement Bosa, who is poised to receive a massive contract. This signing could help take the 49ers to the next level on defense.

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#1 Jessie Bates, Safety

Yet another player from a top-notch NFL playoff-leaning team. What's with these top teams and releasing premium talent anyway?

The Cincinnati Bengals' potential loss could be the San Francisco 49ers' comprehensive gain. Jessie Bates is fast, can cover, and is known to be as ruthless as they come when it comes to winning.

He has accumulated 14 interceptions in his career. Bates is also one of the few available safeties who can merge coverage skills downfield with the unique ability to fly downhill and make tackles in and around the line of scrimmage.

Did you know he has only missed a single game in the last five seasons? The question is: what the 49ers' head office is doing. They should sign Bates to a contract fitting the dawg in him.