The San Francisco 49ers' championship window is officially open. That was the impression received upon a 6-0 start to the season. It was confirmed when the team improved its young receiver group with the addition of veteran Emmanuel Sanders.

The 49ers exchanged draft picks with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday to bring in the talented receiver and made a statement to fans that they expect to win now.


General manager John Lynch, the front office, and head coach Kyle Shanahan have spent the past three offseasons working to rebuild a once talent-depleted roster. Their work will never be done (they are always looking to get better), but San Francisco is much-improved and off to its best start in nearly three decades.

Shanahan joined KNBR on Thursday, and the perception that the trade created was brought up. It was a bold move that told fans — and players — that the 49ers are serious about what they can accomplish this season.

"I would agree with that," Shanahan responded on the "Tolbert, Krueger and Brooks" show. "I mean, everyone wants to talk trades and try to keep adding people. It's fun, and it is exciting. That's all I talk about when I'm not trying to deal with my own team, also, but you do that every year when it comes to the trade deadline. It's next Tuesday.

"In the last two years, when we've come to the trade deadline, I think one year we had one win, and the year before that, we had zero. You always look into it because it's exciting, but you always find out how much you've got to lose, and that's not as fun when you're in a season like that."

In Shanahan's first two seasons, San Francisco was almost guaranteed to be drafting at the top of each round by the time the trade deadline came around. This year, they are looking to be toward the very bottom of each round.


"It was nice that this time, when we get [to the deadline], to be 6-0, to try to go through the same conversations," Shanahan continued. "And to have a guy available who we know can help us, that's always hard to give up a couple of [draft picks], but it's a little easier to do it when you know you're sitting here at 6-0."

San Francisco sent two selections, a third- and fourth-rounder, to the Broncos in exchange for Sanders and a fifth-rounder. The move leaves the 49ers without a pick during day two of next year's draft.

"We know we at least have an opportunity, if we keep playing like we have been, to be at least playing for something here towards the end of the year," Shanahan added. "To add someone like Emmanuel is going to help our team, and I know our guys are excited to have him here."

General manager John Lynch knows what the eventual goal is — to win a championship. The mid-season addition of Sanders, like March's trade for Dee Ford, or 2017's trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, shows a commitment to that goal.

Lynch joined KNBR on Friday morning and was asked if the addition of Sanders is another example of the team's commitment to its goal.


"Hell yeah, we want to win the Super Bowl," Lynch enthusiastically responded. "It's a long way away. I've been around this thing too long to know that a great start [doesn't promise] you anything, but it's not about sending a message. If anything, it's about belief in our guys, and what they have, and the opportunity to get better."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.


You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.



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