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Joe Staley is entering the final year of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers, but that doesn't mean 2019 will be the end of the road for the veteran tackle. Staley, who spoke with reporters on Wednesday, will be 35 years old when the 2019 regular season kicks off. He isn't looking toward life after the NFL just yet. Instead, he is focused on his 13th NFL season.
Staley wants to play as long as he can. That includes the possibility of playing in 2020. He hasn't yet discussed with the 49ers whether or not that will be in San Francisco.
"We really haven't had any discussions, but I've made it very clear, I think, to everybody that I want to play as long as I can," Staley said. "I still love the game and still feel like I can play at a high level. I still feel like I'm valued on the football team.
"I know this is my last year under contract, but I'm not going to worry about that. I'm just going to go out there and try to do everything I can to help us win games this year."
The 49ers made Staley, who played college football at Central Michigan, the No. 28 overall selection in 2007. Staley has 174 starts through his 12 NFL seasons and is a six-time Pro Bowl selection.
One thing Staley is looking forward to is going against new pass rusher Dee Ford in practice. The 49ers acquired Ford via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in March. Staley believes the upcoming offseason battles will make both he and Ford better players.
Staley is already familiar with Ford. The two went against each other during the 49ers' Week 3 matchup against the Chiefs last season. In fact, Staley confirmed on Wednesday that the 49ers staff spoke with him about Ford before the team made the deal to acquire the pass rusher.
"It was a challenging game," Staley said of that Week 3 matchup. "He got me early on with that sack. That first step, that quickness, I was like 100 percent certain that he was offsides. It was that fast. But going back to the film, he just timed it up super, and he was right on it.
"There were plays where I was edgy. There were plays where I got the better of him. That's kind of what you expect when you have guys that are — pump my own chest here too — guys that are some of the top in the position. It's going to be one of those games where guys get one player or the other here or there.
"I'm excited to go against him in practice. I mean, it's going to be great for me and then also great for Mike (McGlinchey)."
What did Staley tell the 49ers when they asked him about Ford?
"He's one of the most explosive players I've played against, and he was definitely a challenge to go against last year and every time I've ever played him," he answered.
Staley was supposed to work out with second-year tackle Mike McGlinchey before the team reported back to Santa Clara. That, however, did not happen.
"You know, he actually didn't even work out with me," Staley said. "So I don't know if there's something in the relationship that needs mending or maybe he's just moved on. He wanted to go to EXOS (in Carlsbad, California). He's more of a guy that kind of likes the spotlight life.
"Who I train with [in San Diego], I've been training with for four or five years, and it's just me and him. It's not the glitz and glam of EXOS. He was there with his guys. Quenton Nelson was down there, Taylor Lewan, and he just kind of felt like maybe he could learn some more things from them as opposed to me. I've got a ways to go before I catch up to those guys, apparently."
Staley said he and McGlinchey did make the time to get together for a few yoga sessions, though.
Rumors have swirled regarding the situation between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is entering his fifth NFL season and is slated to earn $14.124 million on a team-executed fifth-year option. Despite the 49ers publicly declaring a desire to sign Aiyuk to a contract extension, keeping him on the roster for the foreseeable future, many rumors have focused on potential trade interest.
On Monday, general manager John Lynch held his annual pre-draft press conference, addressing the Aiyuk situation without revealing any information on the conversations that have taken place behind closed doors. Once again, he emphasized that the 49ers want Aiyuk to remain with the team for the remainder of his career.
When asked if there was a chance Aiyuk
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was a teammate of Brandon Aiyuk for one season (2019) at Arizona State. It was Aiyuk's final season with the Sun Devils and Pearsall's first, before transferring to Florida after the 2021 season.
Now, the two are teammates again after the 49ers selected Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick.
Speaking to reporters after the first round, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that they received a text from Aiyuk after the pick was made.
"Fire pick. Can't lie," Aiyuk said in the text, much to Lynch and Shanahan's delight.
Shortly after hearing his name called, Pearsall spoke to reporters via Zoom and was asked about his relationship with Aiyuk.
"We
New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall arrived in Santa Clara this morning, ready to tour his new NFL home before speaking with the media. Pearsall briefly spoke to reporters via Zoom on Thursday night after learning that the 49ers had selected him as the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. During that conversation, he revealed that he had once played against Brock Purdy in high school, acknowledging that the now-49ers quarterback had put up about 70 points against his team.
Pearsall had an opportunity to speak to Purdy after learning they had become teammates.
"He just reached out to me this morning, just congratulating me, saying, 'We're going to get to work,'" Pearsall shared. "... We're gonna get to work, for sure. And he's from Arizona,
