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5 Biggest San Francisco 49ers Rumors Heading Into January

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By @Kevin_Saito

5 Biggest San Francisco 49ers Rumors Heading Into January

Niners
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 season was filled with arrests, alleged dissension among the ranks, and a highly successful coach who seems to be getting run out of the Bay Area on a rail. With so much drama – and without a trip to the playoffs – for the 49ers, it's not surprising that there will be sweeping changes coming to San Francisco very soon. The team will likely look much different in 2015, and here are the five biggest rumors heading into January.

5. Vernon Davis Victim of Salary Cap Cuts?

Davis
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

5. Vernon Davis Victim of Salary Cap Cuts?

Davis
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Vernon Davis' 2014 season has been abysmal, his decline in productivity precipitous, and given the fact that he will be 31 in 2015, he's not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Davis' game relied, in large part, on his speed, and he showed this season that his speed is in decline. The 49ers could opt to cut Davis, saving room under the cap in the process, and turn the starting TE duties over to a younger and cheaper option in Vance McDonald.

4. Frank Gore Back In 2015?

Gore
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. Frank Gore Back In 2015?

Gore
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Given his age (31), and the fact that his contract expires at the end of the season, most people believe that 2014 will be Frank Gore's last in the 49ers red and gold as they look to get Carlos Hyde increased touches. That may not turn out to be the case though. It's no secret that Gore wants to be back, but he was recently quoted as saying he'd met with GM Trent Baalke, who indicated that he wants to keep the veteran in the backfield in 2015.

3. Michael Crabtree Out of San Francisco In 2015?

Crabtree
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Michael Crabtree Out of San Francisco In 2015?

Crabtree
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Crabtree has developed into a solid, reliable target for the 49ers. Despite the fact his production has slipped in 2015 – though that speaks to the struggles of the offense as a whole – the organization has yet to engage Crabtree in talks to extend his soon-to-be-expiring contract. He feels like he has plenty of football left in him, and has recently said that he is looking forward to the next chapter of his career – wherever it may be.

2. End of the Jim Harbaugh Era In San Francisco?

Harbaugh
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

2. End of the Jim Harbaugh Era In San Francisco?

Harbaugh
Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

It's been talked about all season long, and though most seem to accept that Jim Harbaugh is out as the 49ers head coach, it's not necessarily a done deal just yet. Given all of the drama and strife within the organization this season, waiting until the end of the year to declare the Harbaugh era over may only be a formality, but until the deal is done and he's cleaning out his office, it remains just a rumor.

1. Who Will Be Leading the New Era In San Francisco?

McDaniels
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Who Will Be Leading the New Era In San Francisco?

McDaniels
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

If everything plays out as expected, Harbaugh will be gone sooner rather than later – though until it's official, it's not a certainty. So with a highly successful coach being forced out, who will the 49ers be looking at to replace him? Some reports have San Francisco looking at a “young, offensive specialist” such as Denver OC Adam Gase or New England OC Josh McDaniel to lead them into their post-Harbaugh world.

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