John Lynch - 49ers GM

Originally posted by Heroism:
This draft looked really good in 2024, but if we're being honest, it looks really bad today. Pearsall might be the saving grace if he can stay healthy, but I have no faith in the other guys.

I'm not as high on the 49ers 2024 draft as I once was pic.twitter.com/jg88xaJ153

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 19, 2026

At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by Heroism:
This draft looked really good in 2024, but if we're being honest, it looks really bad today. Pearsall might be the saving grace if he can stay healthy, but I have no faith in the other guys.

I'm not as high on the 49ers 2024 draft as I once was pic.twitter.com/jg88xaJ153

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 19, 2026

At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Every pundit that had the 9ers drafing a WR universally mocked them to take McConkey. Don't think I saw a single one that had us taking Pearsall.

Originally posted by mcwoot:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by Heroism:
This draft looked really good in 2024, but if we're being honest, it looks really bad today. Pearsall might be the saving grace if he can stay healthy, but I have no faith in the other guys.

I'm not as high on the 49ers 2024 draft as I once was pic.twitter.com/jg88xaJ153

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 19, 2026

At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Every pundit that had the 9ers drafing a WR universally mocked them to take McConkey. Don't think I saw a single one that had us taking Pearsall.

Pearsall has the talent; he just had a lingering injury this year. Unfortunately that's the theme with this regime - injuries. They need to draft bpa. They need to actually play their rookies on offense.

Originally posted by dj43:
At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Whoa! Puni a stud!!!???

I have no faith in the niners building in the draft. Lynch and Shanny got lucky with Warner Kittle etc. can the niners steal an exec from under Seattles front office?

Originally posted by socalfan21:
I have no faith in the niners building in the draft. Lynch and Shanny got lucky with Warner Kittle etc. can the niners steal an exec from under Seattles front office?

To be the GM you mean?

When was the last time we hired an experienced GM-in-waiting candidate from outside the organization? 2005 - Scot McCloughan. Brought in as VP of player personnel under HC/GM Mike Nolan, and ultimately promoted to GM in 2008.

Originally posted by socalfan21:
I have no faith in the niners building in the draft. Lynch and Shanny got lucky with Warner Kittle etc. can the niners steal an exec from under Seattles front office?

Sustained success is not luck.

Originally posted by Koldo:

Originally posted by dj43:
At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Whoa! Puni a stud!!!???

Last year he was. This year he was Brendal Jr. Dude had a horrible season. He's a big reason the run game regressed. Last year he was mauling dudes. This year he got tossed around all season.

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by socalfan21:
I have no faith in the niners building in the draft. Lynch and Shanny got lucky with Warner Kittle etc. can the niners steal an exec from under Seattles front office?

Sustained success is not luck.

Gotta admit they got pretty dam lucky with Purdy

Is Kevon Thibodeau available snag eem, yay or nay?

he's not wrong

Originally posted by JoseCortez:


he's not wrong

He's right about a lot of that. Like it or not. This is a rebuild. This team can't just run it back next year. No way.

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by Koldo:

Originally posted by dj43:
At the time of the draft, the picks made were understandable.

With Aiyuk being a big question mark, Pearsall was the closest thing to replace him at #31. In hindsight, we can say it should have been Ladd McConkey but that is hindsight and only because Pearsall has not yet had an injury season to evaluate. He still may be the guy.

Green was a need pick who has also been slowed by injury.

Puni is a stud.

Mustapha was a Hufuanga replacement. Hasn't played to that level yet but injuries have slowed him as well.

Guerendo looks like a dud. Speed but fumbles.

Cowing is still an unknown.

Kingston looked like a steal but somebody else stole him from the PS. FWIW, he saw very little game time this year.

Bethune is good depth.

So, the common theme is injuries, not necessarily bad picks. Next year I expect four starters from that group, one potential Pro Bowl level, maybe two (Puni and Pearsall).

Only time will tell.

Whoa! Puni a stud!!!???

Last year he was. This year he was Brendal Jr. Dude had a horrible season. He's a big reason the run game regressed. Last year he was mauling dudes. This year he got tossed around all season.

He got embarrassed against Seattle

It's time for a change. "Promote" Lynch and get a real GM that knows how to run a draft. Everyone knows this needs to happen but I doubt anything changes…

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
He's right about a lot of that. Like it or not. This is a rebuild. This team can't just run it back next year. No way.

I'm very fearful a run back is exactly what will happen. We are staring at .500 football at best next year. It's one of the most pivotal off seasons in recent memory and the tea leaves predict we will make a splash on ONE free agent like an Isiah Likely and then grab 3-4 budget guys to fill in some roster spots. In the draft, Lynch will continue to reach for players taking guys 2-3 rounds higher than they should have been drafted because "they fit the Niner culture."

Many of the players drafted will wallow on the bench and will never be given an opportunity to develop or contribute. It's the same endless loop as always.

The time of relying on aging superstars and good coaching is fast expiring. Something needs to change. The team needs direction but do we have the management, desire and skill to get it done?