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Which players should the San Francisco 49ers build around for the future?

What is the core of this team? If the Niners become good again after a few seasons of rebuilding, how many players from the current roster still will be around? Who is absolutely irreplaceable?

San Francisco may not have a single irreplaceable player. The future looks bleak. General manager Trent Baalke has not drafted well since 2012, and as a result most of the Niners’ core players either are old, like 31-year-old left tackle Joe Staley, or diminished due to injury, like inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

The Niners need to identify the young core of the team. In ascending order, here are the top-five players the 49ers should build around for the future.