Source: DeMeco Ryans, Mike McDaniel in line for 49ers staff promotions

Before landing with the San Francisco 49ers, the longest Mike McDaniel had spent with an NFL team was three years. That came with the Houston Texans between 2006 and 2008. That's also where he started working with Kyle Shanahan. Then-Texans head coach Gary Kubiak gave Shanahan his first shot as a position coach and McDaniel his first shot as a paid assistant. Then Kubiak threw the two in a room together. That's where the relationship started, McDaniel shared with NBC Sports Bay Area. The two went on to work together in Washington, Cleveland, and Atlanta. Shanahan built so much trust in McDaniel that he brought the assistant to San Francisco when Shanahan was named the head coach in 2017. McDaniel has been with the 49ers since — his longest tenure with one

The San Francisco 49ers, a team in the Super Bowl just over a year ago, could be entering the 2021 NFL Draft with several needs to fill. The Niners finished the 2020 season with just six wins, mostly due to a roster devastated by injuries. Included among those injuries were pass rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, who both exited the lineup for good by Week 2. Bosa is coming off a torn ACL, while Ford's status remains a mystery. The defensive back situation has to be a concern, too. The only starter who is signed is safety Jimmie Ward. Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K'Waun Williams, and Jaquiski Tartt are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Then you have the uncertainty at left tackle (and some would say right tackle, too). Veteran Trent

Around The NFL writer Nick Shook examined the upcoming free agency landscape and played matchmaker between players and teams. In his latest feature for NFL.com, he picked "one fun free agency fit" for each NFC team. The San Francisco 49ers could see several defensive backs depart, including Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K'Waun Williams, and Ahkello Witherspoon. The potential losses at cornerback led Shook to pick Mike Hilton of the Pittsburgh Steelers for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's defense. "The 49ers are

The Athletic's NFL writers conducted a first-round mock draft, with Matt Barrows selecting for the San Francisco 49ers. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan own the No. 12 overall pick, and could go in several directions. Some wonder if the team might even make a move to add a rookie quarterback. This mock draft, like many others, has the top four quarterback prospects long gone before the 49ers' first selection. Not that Barrows would have gone in that direction anyway. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II of Alabama heads to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 10. The New York Giants select tight end Kyle Pitts of Florida at