Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
49ers considered trading Mike McGlinchey last year
Mar 25, 2023 at 8:36 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Mike McGlinchey received a life-changing payday, signing a five-year, $87.5 million deal with the Denver Broncos. The offensive tackle has known for a while that he would not return to the San Francisco 49ers, the only NFL team he has played for and the one that made him the No. 9 overall pick in 2018.
General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear to McGlinchey that he was likely playing his final months for the team. There was too much money invested in other spots, and the 49ers knew they couldn't compete with other interested teams.
Behind the scenes, Lynch and Shanahan kept McGlinchey in the loop of what the team was thinking, and everything pointed to the tackle playing elsewhere in 2023 … maybe even sooner.
"
There were no surprises, that's for sure," McGlinchey told ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "… After the 2021 season, they both told me, 'We may even look to move you at some point. We're projecting into the future, and we think you're going to get priced out. We want to get something in return.'"
Of course, nothing ever came of that. McGlinchey played his fifth and final year in the Bay Area, which he and his wife, Brooke, called home.
Once the 2022 season started, Lynch and Shanahan continued to be honest with McGlinchey.
"They were clear that, barring something out of the ordinary, I wouldn't be back," McGlinchey said. "It was a money thing, and they told me point blank. 'We'd love to have you back, but we can't stretch ourselves too thin.'"
Trent Williams was already averaging about $23 million per season. There was no way the 49ers could match a deal like the Broncos', which offered McGlinchey $17.5 million.
San Francisco liked McGlinchey. He was undoubtedly one of the best players on the open market this offseason. For 49ers fans, though, he could sometimes be frustrating to watch, often being overpowered and tossed aside by some of the more impressive defensive linemen in the league.
While Williams is consistently among the best offensive linemen in the NFL, McGlinchey is another story. Pro Football Focus graded Williams (93.0 overall) as the best tackle in the NFL this past season. Meanwhile, McGlinchey's 71.5 overall grade ranked 29th among NFL tackles. Per Pro Football Focus, he was responsible for nearly twice as many pressures as Williams in 2022. The analytics site credits McGlinchey for six sacks allowed this past season. Williams was credited with one allowed.
Still, being one of the more prominent names in free agency potentially means a big payday. The Broncos came calling minutes after the negotiating period started, and soon after, McGlinchey's agent called with the contract details. It was a no-brainer.
"I didn't know what to expect out of this process," McGlinchey admitted. "I'd never been in an open negotiation like this before, but I knew what the top right tackles were getting and I think I'm a top right tackle. I think other teams will agree, and this -- a big offer right at the start from a team that clearly agreed -- was obviously the best-case scenario."
Related News
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Daniel Jeremiah weighs in on 49ers potentially trading up in the draft
Today, NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah spoke to the media during a nearly two-hour conference call, fielding questions about the 2024 NFL Draft. One question surrounded the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers trading up in the first round to increase their chances of landing an impact player.
Depending on the 49ers' priorities, Jeremiah only believes a significant move is necessary if the team tries to target a couple of defensive positions.
"I mean, they've got a nice haul of picks here, so if they want to move up, they absolutely have the ammunition to do so," Jeremiah stated. "I just think when you look at the needs that they have and some of the different areas that they could go, if you're thinking about corners and edge rushers, maybe you miss
ESPN's Barnwell: 49ers trading up in Round 1 to draft a cornerback 'could make sense'
The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 31 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While many expect them to address the offensive line, given their recent focus on defense in free agency, ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggests a different approach. He advocates for the 49ers to use their first-round pick on a cornerback and potentially trade up to secure the right talent.
Trading up wouldn't be out of character for the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch regime. The last time the 49ers owned the No. 31 overall pick, they surrendered two more selections to move up to No. 25 overall, where they drafted wide receiver Brandon
No Huddle Podcast: 49ers Offseason Musings With Legendary Columnist Mike Silver
(Episode 330) — Legendary columnist Mike Silver joins the show to discuss the Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors and trade value, priorities in the secondary, Mike's book, and more! You can read Mike's work at the San Francisco Chronicle.
The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe!
You can watch the interview below.
You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from
Mike Silver on how Deebo Samuel's contract might be the starting point for a Brandon Aiyuk extension
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
