Patriots may not be able to compete with 49ers for Thomas

Ambry Thomas can't wait. He can't wait to find out what the NFL has to throw at him. The former Michigan cornerback did not play in 2020 and is itching to get back onto the football field. Last week, the San Francisco 49ers made Thomas a third-round draft pick. He was the first defender selected by the team in this year's draft. Ambry appeared in 12 games as a junior in 2019, recording 38 tackles, three tackles for a loss, three interceptions, and three passes defensed. He joined 95.7 The Game on Thursday morning to share what he brings to the 49ers defense and how he labels his style of play. "I'm a straight man corner, honestly," Thomas said on the Morning Roast. "... I'm going to get in your face, and I'm going to challenge you at the line of

The good news is that the San Francisco 49ers are projected to be awarded two draft picks next year for the losses of defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Kerry Hyder. That could help, considering the team doesn't own a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts. The bad news is that the selections are projected to be seventh-rounders. As they say, something is better than nothing. Each year, 32 compensatory picks are awarded across the league. Who gets them is based on which players were lost and added the previous offseason. Basically, if you lost more qualifying free agents than you gained, you are awarded compensatory picks. The bonus selections come in Rounds 3 through 7 and deciding who gets which pick is based on an internal formula

One thing is abundantly clear so far about 49ers rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas -- he's in no danger of falling short on confidence. Thomas, who was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan, spoke with reporters Wednesday, two days before the 49ers kick off their rookie minicamp in Santa Clara. His confidence was on display throughout the media session, particularly after being asked about what he thought regarding the increased cost of living that will come from moving to the Bay Area from the Midwest. "Immediately once I got the phone call (during the draft), I was happy, excited. And I thought about everything," Thomas said. "California, the taxes, and I started thinking about all that -- the cost of

The connections to some of the all-time great safeties are strong for 49ers rookie Talanoa Hufanga as he begins his NFL career. Hufanga, who was selected by the 49ers in Round 5 of the 2021 NFL Draft after a standout career as a safety at USC, is currently at 49ers facilities with other members of his draft class as he prepares for rookie minicamp this weekend (Friday-Saturday). He spoke to reporters on Wednesday about his relationship to three legendary safeties in particular in Troy Polamalu, 49ers legend Ronnie Lott, and 49ers general manager John Lynch. Hufanga first spoke about Polamalu, with whom he has a well-documented relationship after the