49ers Mailbag: Market will decide Rogers' future

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Free agency is scheduled to begin in a week, and we open up the 49ers Mailbag this morning to a few questions asking us to speculate on what might occur.Do you think the 49ers sign Carlos Rogers? And if not, what is the plan at CB? (Joel Ellis)
The 49ers have sole negotiating rights with cornerback Carlos Rogers -- and each of their scheduled free agents -- until March 13 at 1 p.m. (PT).As of this moment, it looks as if Rogers will hit the open market. Then, the market will dictate what happens. Rogers will be 31 when the season begins. And if he can't get the kind of deal he desires from any of the other teams in the NFL, then the 49ers will have a good chance of retaining him.As for the backup plan: The 49ers drafted Chris Culliver in the third round last year. The team believes he will be ready to step in as a starter. Tarell Brown is already pretty solid on the other side.

RELATED: 2011 game logs: Chris CulliverTarell Brown
So if Rogers does not return, look for the 49ers to sign a veteran cornerback at a bargain rate, perhaps add another draft pick, and have those players compete, along with Tramaine Brock, for their roles.Do you think the 49ers are more likely to target Vincent Jackson or Mike Wallace? Or is another WR more likely? (Patrick Surad)
Both.That's right, both. The 49ers have targeted both Vincent Jackson and Mike Wallace at a specific price.RELATED: Maiocco -- A look at NFL free-agent class
The 49ers do not get into bidding wars for players, though. So if one of those players accepts the deal that the 49ers have budgeted, then they'll get it done. If not, the 49ers will move on to the next player at the next price that they've determined fits with what they're trying to build.Not a lot of depth behind Aldon (Smith) and (Ahmad) Brooks if they let (Parys) Haralson go. Will the 49ers address OLB in FA or draft for depth? (Matt Polverari)
The 49ers have to figure out if 2.75 million is too much to commit to Haralson as a backup this season. (After all, general manager Trent Baalke already said that Smith will be an every-down player in 2012.)Regardless, the 49ers can be expected to add to the outside linebacker position in free agency. They'll be looking for some veteran depth. And, depending on how the draft falls, they could look to add a piece in the middle or late rounds, too.The 49ers had only one developmental player at outside linebacker last season. After Brooks signed his contract extension with the 49ers last week, Monte Simmons (Kent State) decided his best chance was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Simmons was an undrafted free agent who spent all of 2011 on the 49ers' practice squad.
Any chance the Niners go after G Carl Nicks or would the price be to high? (Matt Santos)
I believe the price would be too high. The 49ers would likely have to make Nicks their highest-paid offensive player to get it done. The 49ers could add more of a bargain veteran for competition. And they could use another draft pick on an interior lineman. Look for the 49ers to re-sign Adam Snyder and have him compete with Daniel Kilgore, who shows good promise. He spent most of his rookie season inactive on game days.

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