As a first-round draft pick, the San Francisco 49ers have the option to add a fifth-year to defensive lineman Solomon Thomas' rookie deal. That decision needs to be made by Monday's deadline.
General manager John Lynch joined 95.7 The Game on Thursday and was asked whether or not the team has decided to execute the option.
"We haven't, and we've communicated that with Solomon and his camp," Lynch responded. "I think the one thing we shared with him, that was the same thing that we did (not use the option) with Laken Tomlinson, yet we extended Laken Tomlinson the next year.
"I don't think [potentially not executing the option is] any absolute, or it doesn't mean that we don't love Solomon. I think we're incredibly encouraged. Solomon's going to be a big part (of our defense).
"We brought in (Javon) Kinlaw, but everybody who's watched us knows we rotate a lot of players there. We believe in going as hard as they can, and then we'll rotate, kind of like hockey lines. Solomon's going to be a big part of that rotation."
Lynch feels Thomas "quietly" had a really good season last year, but more is expected from him in 2020. Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in 2017, and Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's first-ever draft pick together, registered 21 tackles and two sacks last season.
"We've kind of charged him with putting a little weight on," Lynch added. "Last year, he got really light, which helped in his quickness, but I don't know if he had enough substance, just in terms of weight. So, he's going to come back a little heavier."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
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