In the span of a couple of years, general manager John Lynch helped turn around one of the most talent-deprived rosters in the league and build a contender. That roster made it to the Super Bowl during its 2019 campaign. That's pretty impressive, and it was an effort good enough to contribute to Lynch being ranked No. 9 in Gregg Rosenthal's recent general manager power rankings for NFL.com.
Sure, Lynch and company have made some blunders along the way. There were much better options than selecting defensive lineman Solomon Thomas or linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round of their first draft in 2017. But that same draft also saw San Francisco adding All-Pro tight end George Kittle in the fifth round.
By the way, Kittle and defensive tackle D.J. Jones are the only ones from that initial 10-player 49ers draft class remaining on the roster. Thomas, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, and quarterback C.J. Beathard recently left in free agency.
"The 2018 class included tackle Mike McGlinchey and linebacker Fred Warner, while 2019 picks Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel helped the team get to a Super Bowl," wrote Rosenthal. "Brandon Aiyuk, a 2020 first-rounder, looks like another foundational piece. Since the 2017 misfires, the 49ers have mostly made their premium picks count."
Lynch is the highest-ranked NFC West general manager. The Seattle Seahawks' combination of Pete Carroll and John Schneider came in at No. 12. Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead came in at No. 15. Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim came in at No. 19.
Lynch and the 49ers head into the upcoming draft with the hopes of acquiring a quarterback of the future and maintaining a competitive roster. In March, the team traded up nine spots from No. 12 into the top three and will likely choose between Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones.
While injuries plagued Lynch's roster in 2020, resulting in a disappointing six-win campaign, the 49ers hope for better luck on the health front in 2021.