San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch recently joined the "NFL Total Access: The Locker Room" podcast. The full interview will be released this week. A preview aired on NFL Network today. During the clip, Lynch discussed his team's blueprint for success, which was laid out in 2017 when he and head coach Kyle Shanahan started their roster rebuild.
"It starts up front," Lynch told Michael Robinson and Bucky Brooks. "So, that's something, from day one, we tried to build here. That's why when we already had (Arik) Armstead and (DeForest) Buckner, we went and drafted [Solomon Thomas] that high."
Thomas, the first draft pick by Lynch and Shanahan, was selected No. 3 overall in 2017. He is now with the Las Vegas Raiders after spending his first four seasons with San Francisco.
"And people can say what they want about the Solly pick; we thought he could be a great addition. But the point is we just keep throwing resources up front," Lynch continued.
San Francisco went on to use another high first-round pick, this time in 2019, on defense end Nick Bosa. Last year, the team selected defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw at No. 14 overall.
Former Denver Broncos general manager John Elway, now the team's president of football operations, used to invite Lynch to help with draft preparations while the 49ers general manager was still a commentator for FOX Sports.
"To me, I remember Elway saying one of those times in that draft room — Ernie Accorsi, I believe, had said it to him — it's an oversimplification, but you've got to find that guy at the quarterback position," Lynch shared, "and you've got to find the guys to knock them down. And that's a pretty simple roadmap to success in this league and something I believe wholeheartedly. And defensively, it starts up front."
Lynch explained that the simplicity but effectiveness of the Seattle Seahawks-style defense convinced Shanahan to bring it to the 49ers. The coach knew how difficult it was to game plan against.
"You can get really good at what you do because you don't try to do everything," Lynch added.
