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          49ers' free agency grade will ride on Richard Sherman's return from injury

          Richard Sherman's ability to bounce back from his Achilles injury will go a long way in determining how effective the 49ers were this offseason. AP Photo/Tony Avelar
          • Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterMar 30, 2018, 12:00 PM
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              Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
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          A breakdown of the initial wave of free agency for the San Francisco 49ers:

          Overall grade: B. The 49ers stuck to general manager John Lynch's "aggressively prudent" philosophy by handing big deals to a couple of their primary targets and then mixing in some short, low-cost deals on players with upside who look like scheme fits. They filled many of their needs, but there's some risk here, as much of this grade will ride on the ability of cornerback Richard Sherman to bounce back from a ruptured right Achilles.

          Most significant signing: Sherman. Cases also can be made for running back Jerick McKinnon and center Weston Richburg -- both of whom will be instant starters -- but Sherman fills what was clearly the Niners' biggest need entering the offseason. Sherman is instantly the most accomplished player on the defense and should help a pass defense that ranked 28th in the NFL in DVOA last season, provided he can get healthy and return to form -- or close to it. As a bonus, Sherman will immediately step into a prominent leadership role.

          Most significant loss: G Brandon Fusco. Fusco didn't exactly dominate in his only season with the Niners but got better as the year went on and proved durable enough to start all 16 games. Losing Fusco to the Atlanta Falcons isn't significant so much because of who he was as a player but because he was a starter at a position where the Niners still need help.

          Player they should have signed: WR Allen Robinson. It's understandable why the Niners didn't want to get into a bidding war for a receiver coming off a serious knee injury, especially given coach Kyle Shanahan's ability to get the most out of his skill position players via scheme. But Robinson offered a rare opportunity to add a 6-foot-3, 211-pound receiver who is only 24. With Pierre Garcon set to turn 32 in August and Marquise Goodwin's concussion history, Robinson would have filled an immediate need for a big red zone target for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo while also providing long-term upside.

          What's next: At minimum, the Niners added a body at almost all of their positions of clear need. While they got starters at running back, cornerback and center and competition at guard and defensive end, they still need help at the latter two positions. They also could use more depth at corner and linebacker. Lynch's preference is to fill needs in free agency so he can take the best players available in the NFL draft, regardless of position. The outside additions combined with the players they re-signed should allow the Niners the flexibility to do that.

          Additions: CB Richard Sherman (Seattle), RB Jerick McKinnon (Minnesota), C Weston Richburg (New York Giants), DE Jerry Attaochu (Los Angeles Chargers), G Jonathan Cooper (Dallas).

          Losses: RB Carlos Hyde (Cleveland), DE Tank Carradine (Oakland), G Brandon Fusco (Atlanta), TE Logan Paulsen (Atlanta), C Daniel Kilgore (traded to Miami), DE Aaron Lynch (Chicago), TE Logan Paulsen (Atlanta).