John Lynch responds to claim that 49ers disrespected Davante Adams with lowball offer

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams recently spoke with Michael Silver of The Athletic, revealing that the San Francisco 49ers showed interest in him after his release from the New York Jets. However, Adams claims he didn't seriously consider joining the team, alleging the 49ers' offer was underwhelming.

"I was entertaining the Niners," Adams told Silver, "but they were like, 'We're paying wholesale. We ain't paying retail.' I didn't talk to them, but that's what my agent told me — like five times, that quote. And I was like, 'OK, well, I'm not a wholesale-type dude.'"

RELATED Davante Adams felt disrespected by 49ers' free agency pitch: 'I'm not a wholesale-type dude'

The 49ers were relatively quiet in free agency, allowing several key contributors to leave with minimal effort to retain them. The team appears to be undergoing a roster reset, aiming to clear future cash commitments in anticipation of a shift in its roster-building strategy, largely driven by quarterback Brock Purdy's upcoming contract extension.

On Tuesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed the allegation that San Francisco disrespected Adams with a lowball offer.

"I saw the quote, and it said his agent had told him that," Lynch said. "That wasn't me [who said that]. I've always had a great deal of respect for Davante. That didn't line up."

Lynch also acknowledged the challenge of now having to face Adams twice a season.

"He's on a division rival," Lynch said. "We're going to have our work cut out [for us], covering him and playing against him. He's a really good player. So, if there was any disrespect taken, none was intended."

When asked if head coach Kyle Shanahan might have made the comment, Lynch jokingly responded with a laugh, "I'm sure." He added, "Kyle doesn't talk to agents."