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If you were an NFL team in need of a good quarterback, this offseason might have been one of the best in recent years to go out and get yourself one. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has even admitted that head coach Kyle Shanahan's master plan was always to try and land Kirk Cousins.
The situation changed when the 49ers traded for New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on October 30, 2017. Even with that move, Garoppolo had to prove himself to Shanahan and the 49ers, and it still took the head coach weeks to get over the thought of not being reunited with Cousins.
"The reason it took a few weeks was because we weren't going to lock ourselves into an unknown," Shanahan told ESPN's Adam Schefter in April. "We knew a guy, possibly like Kirk Cousins, was going to become available most likely in free agency. We also didn't have one win so we thought we might have the first pick in the draft and a bunch of good quarterbacks are coming out.
"So we knew we were in a good situation and we weren't just going to jump in (and say), 'Hey, we've got Jimmy. He's played in two games. Let's sign him long-term and just bypass maybe the first pick in the draft or someone like Kirk in free agency.'
"So we just played it out [to] see what would happen. Jimmy went out there and played very well. In the first game, I was extremely excited. In the second game, I was even more excited. By the third game, I think we all kind of forgot about free agency and about the draft and we're like, 'Alright, we can isolate on one guy right now.' And we were very happy that it happened."
The 49ers locked up Garoppolo to a five-year deal worth up to $137.5 million and Cousins is now in Minnesota.
While the future looks bright for the 49ers with Garoppolo, back in New England, rumors continue to gather steam that Tom Brady, among other players, may not be thrilled with Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Rich Eisen spoke with Lynch this week and asked him if the 49ers would be going after Brady (again -- remember, they asked Belichick last year if he would trade him) if they did not already have Garoppolo.
"I'm just glad we have Jimmy G," Lynch responded after laughing. "I'm glad that thing worked itself out. I sure was glad as this draft was going on, this whole process, that we, in our minds, have our answer there.
"It wasn't a bad year to be needing a quarterback because both in free agency and the draft, there were a lot of options – more so than typical. But we were sure pleased to have Jimmy. Not only to have made that trade but to lock him up long term. He's a part of us, and we're thrilled about that."
Eisen asked Lynch if he has noticed Garoppolo being a free agent draw.
"No doubt about it," he answered. "Last year, you talk about having to sell people, there was one point when we landed Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin and didn't have a quarterback. That's a difficult conversation. 'Just trust us guys. We're going to get you a guy.'
"Fortunately, they listened, and they believed in us. And fortunately, things fell our way with Jimmy, and we were able to land a guy. It is becoming a destination. The way to continue to make that a destination is win football games, and that's what we're working really hard to try to accomplish this season."
Breaking down the 49ers drafts under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan
By Marc Adams
Apr 20
We are less than one week away from the NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers have their first day-one draft pick since 2021. That was the year they selected QB Trey Lance number three overall. The trade-up to get Lance cost the 49ers their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. And now that they are back in the first round, at pick 31, fans are anxious to see what the team does with the pick. And with former assistant GM, Adam Peters, now in Washington, it will be interesting to see how well the 49ers draft without Peters in the room.
We looked back at the seven drafts GM John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan have led to see what information we could pull from those drafts. There were plenty of hits, plenty of misses, and a few surprises along the way. The draft picks are
John Lynch wants Brandon Aiyuk to remain with 49ers for rest of career
By David Bonilla
Apr 22
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
"Thank God for Mr. Irrelevant": John Lynch reflects on 49ers drafting Trey Lance
By David Bonilla
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The decision to trade up in the 2021 NFL Draft and select quarterback Trey Lance could have had significant consequences for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. With the team lacking first-round picks in the last two drafts due to this move, and Lance no longer on the roster after being traded to the Dallas Cowboys before last season, it's clear the gamble didn't unfold as expected.
Lynch held his annual pre-draft press conference on Monday, reflecting on the decision to take such a big chance on Lance. While such a bold move might have jeopardized jobs elsewhere, Lynch and Shanahan were blessed with some good fortune in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Acknowledging the support of the team's ownership, Lynch stated, "They believe in Kyle and I, and our
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By David Bonilla
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As customary, NFL teams engage in preliminary discussions about potential draft trades during owner meetings. The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 31 spot in the first round but appear receptive to moving either up or down. The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night.
General manager John Lynch addressed reporters on Monday and acknowledged the wide range of possibilities. However, he noted that any potential discussions about trading spots with other teams will likely intensify later in the week.
"It's going to be an interesting year," Lynch stated. "I think it's an interesting draft class. I was just looking at my notes and one interesting thing to me, dynamic, and the way of the world right now, we put a grade on players in the fall if we think
