San Francisco 49ers fans who grow tired of hearing that their favorite team was aggressive in the pursuit of a big-name player and falling short may want to skip this one.
49ers CEO Jed York spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area at the NFL owners meetings on Sunday and discussed how close his team came to trading for former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was eventually dealt to the Cleveland Browns.
"We were definitely in it," York said via Matt Maiocco. "We were aggressive. But I think [the Giants] wanted different things than we had to offer. I think it would have been very hard for us to just give up a first-round pick and not get a ton in return, other than just the player, knowing that the second pick in the draft is a very, very valuable pick."
The 49ers own the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft, which the Giants reportedly wanted. They weren't, however, willing to give up the No. 6 pick in return.
San Francisco did manage a trade as free agency approached. On March 12, the team agreed to exchange a second-round pick in next year's draft for former Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Dee Ford. The trade was finalized the next day when the 49ers signed Ford to a new five-year deal worth up to $87.5 million.
The 49ers didn't completely ignore the wide receiver position. They signed Jordan Matthews on March 14.
The Giants ended up holding on to their No. 6 and received the Browns' No. 17 overall pick in this year's draft, their second of two third-round picks (No. 95 overall), and two players while giving up Beckham and defensive end Olivier Vernon.
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York made headlines earlier this month when he called Brock Purdy a top-10 NFL quarterback. The timing raised eyebrows, as the team is currently engaged in contract negotiations with Purdy. Some speculated that York's comments could bolster the...
Alfred Collins says 49ers drafting him is 'not gonna be a mistake'
By David Bonilla
Apr 25
New San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins, a standout from Texas, spoke with reporters virtually on Friday after being selected in the second round (No. 43 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. Grateful for the opportunity, he expressed appreciation to the organization...
The Good, the Bad, and the Head Scratchers: Grading the 49ers' Draft
By Jack Stewart
1 hr
Multiple factors go into judging a draft. The simple quality of the players is paramount. However, key categories are also needed: what other players were still available at the time, and value (would he have been available later?). Below are my assessments of the players the...
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan discuss the 49ers drafting Mykel Williams; Williams speaks to reporters
By Site Staff
Apr 24
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters after selecting Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick. Additionally, Williams spoke to reporters via Zoom. Here is everything they said.
Transcripts...