Trey Day - 49ers Rock NFL Draft with pick of young QB

The 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books. With pick numbers 1 and 2 being a foregone conclusion by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, respectively, all the buzz heading into the draft surrounded who would go No. 3 overall to the San Francisco 49ers. With their lips sealed tightly, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch went into the 49ers war room on draft day having not even shared their decision with the rest of their coaching staff, as they were left having to guess like the rest of us. Sworn in secrecy, the clandestine meetings between Shanahan and Lynch were like something out of a scene from Disney's National Treasure as they kept the name of their future franchise quarterback and the player who will without question determine their legacy in San Francisco, under wraps and in a vault as if it were the recipe to Coca-Cola or KFC's famous fried chicken. Receiving a mixed reaction by the media and the league for trading the 12th overall pick as well as first round picks in each of the next two years to Miami for the third overall pick, everyone had their ears to the ground and their eyes on the TV come time for San Francisco's mysterious pick after Trevor Lawrence and Zack Wilson heard their names called first. With rumors of the pick being any one of Alabama's Mac Jones, Ohio State's Justin Fields or North Dakota State's Trey Lance, it was Lance who's name was called when it was all said and done. 

Looked at as being a project at the QB position, Shanahan and company plan to take the same approach with Lance as the Kansas City Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes when they traded up to take him with the 10th overall pick in 2017 before handing him a clipboard to watch and learn from the sidelines for a season behind Alex Smith. Speaking of Alex Smith, Lance is the first 49ers quarterback to be selected in the first round since Smith was chosen first overall in 2005. As risky as the pick might've been considering all that San Francisco sent to Miami in return, the decision to draft someone as raw as Lance might be worth the gamble given he possesses arguably the highest ceiling in this entire draft class and his upside could rival that of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence. Despite the one-game season at NDSU this past college football season, a season that was cut short due to the pandemic, Lance has not lost a game since High School, as he finished his college career by going 17-0 as a starter and threw for 30 touchdowns to only 1 interception, while rushing for another 18 scores. But as unblemished as his career was with the Bison, some pundits have their doubts and have pointed to the limited reps and small amount of games played as we've only seen a small sample size for a guy the 49ers deemed worthy of the third overall pick. 

Described as a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan's offensive system, Lance has the athleticism and run ability to compliment his cannon of an arm, which will keep teams on their toes when running play-action. The Niners are hoping incumbent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a resurgence season in 2021, much like Aaron Rodgers did with Green Bay last season when he saw his team draft a QB in the first round, only for him to go berserk and play his way to an MVP award. Under contract for the next two seasons, the 49ers can ill-afford banking on Jimmy G's health beyond this year as he has started only 30 games in four seasons since being traded to SF. 

Day 2 of the Draft saw the 49ers make a number of trades up and down the draft board, including one with the Las Vegas Raiders to move back from pick No. 43 to the No. 48 spot, which they used to take Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks in the second round. In the same trade, San Francisco would send a 7th-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for a fourth-round pick -- 121st overall. The Niners would then flip the fourth-round pick acquired from the Raiders as well as their own 4th-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams for the 88th pick which San Francisco would use on Ohio State running back Trey Sermon. With their second and final 3rd-round selection (pick 102), the 49ers would finally add to their defense with Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas. San Francisco would kickoff Day 3 by adding more depth to the offensive-line as they made Western Michigan offensive-tackle Jaylon Moore their pick at 155, before adding another corner in Oregon's Deommodore Lenoir with the 172nd pick. They would round out their trio of 5th-round picks by nabbing USC safety Talanoa Hufanga (pick 180). After trading their seventh-round pick, the 49ers would make Lousiana running back Elijah Mitchell their final pick of the draft at pick No. 194 of the 6th-round. 

With no running backs under contract following the upcoming 2021-22 NFL season, Niners brass decided to plan for the future by drafting a pair of running backs by taking one on days 2 and 3 in Sermon and Mitchell. After exploding for a Big Ten record with 331 yards on 29 carries for the Buckeyes in their Big Ten Championship win over Northwestern, it'll be exciting to see what Sermon can do in coach Shanahan's system. Having already established one of the better tandems along the offensive-line anchored by Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams, San Francisco continued to beef up their o-line with a pair of big bodies in Banks and Moore. Finally, the defensive secondary was bolstered with some much needed depth as Thomas, Lenoir and Hufanga should all get a crack at earning some playing time whether on defense or on special-teams. Thought to be in on a wide-receiver in the draft, the 49ers surprisingly did not draft a receiver, but did manage to sign the undrafted Austin Watkins -- receiver out of UAB. Other undrafted players to sign with the 49ers included tight-end Josh Pederson out of Louisiana Monroe and linebackers Justin Hilliard of Ohio State and Elijah Sullivan of Kansas. 

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49ers cap Offseason flurry by Trading up to No. 3 spot in April's Draft

One week of NFL free-agency in the books and the San Francisco 49ers have checked off the list of many of their top priorities this offseason. Of the many moves the franchise has made thus far, it was the deal to bring back fullback Kyle Juszczyk that kicked things off for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. Striking a deal to bring back the versatile Juszczyk, Shanahan's offensive system has allowed the 5-time Pro Bowl fullback to flourish whether he's run-blocking or receiving. Playing a position that has become somewhat of a dying breed in today's NFL, Juszczyk remains one of the 49ers' most lethal weapons in San Francisco's run-heavy scheme, which has helped him enjoy Pro Bowl campaigns in each of his previous four seasons as a 49er. Thus 49ers brass made it a priority of theirs to retain Juice for another five-years, inking him to a $27 Million contract. The front-office also made noise on defense, bringing in a new face in defensive-end Samson Ebukam (two-year deal), formerly of the rival L.A. Rams, while also seeing the return of multiple key players. 

Cornerbacks Jason Verrett (one-year), Dontae Johnson (one-year), Emmanuel Moseley (two-years) and K'Waun Williams (one-year) all returned to the Bay Area for another go around in San Francisco's secondary, as did safety Jaquiski Tartt (one-year). Bolstering the defensive-line, D.J. Jones and Jordan Willis each landed one-year deals to return to the squad as well. As for the biggest move of them all, the duo of Lynch & Shanahan made the earth-shattering deal that made All-Pro tackle Trent Williams the most wealthiest man to ever play the position, as the two sides agreed to a six-year, $138.6 Million pact, the highest-paid contract to an offensive-lineman ever. After making his 8th career Pro Bowl appearance in 2020, the former first round pick with Washington landed himself a huge payday after sitting out all of 2019 due to health concerns and a tiff with team doctors which ultimately led to his trade request out of the nation's capital. Other than the hefty payday, Williams' familiarity in Shanahan's system dating back to their time spent in Washington together, made returning to San Francisco an easy decision for the 32-year old. 

Another new face for the Niners but one Shanahan is also familiar with is center and Cal Berkeley alum Alex Mack who signed a 3-year deal after playing the last five seasons in Atlanta, including a season with Kyle Shanahan as the Falcons' offensive-coordinator in 2016, as well as Shanahan's only season with Cleveland in 2014. But as busy as the 49ers front-office was in free agency, the team also dropped a bombshell in relation to next month's Draft. Originally positioned at the No. 12 slot, the duo of Lynch & Shanahan dealt that pick along with the compensatory third-round pick they acquired with Robert Saleh heading to the Jets, as well as their first-round picks in both 2022 and 2023 to the Dolphins for Miami's No. 3 overall selection. The blockbuster deal was the talk of the town in the football world on Friday and will have "massive ramifications" as ESPN's Adam Schefter put it. With the pick almost certain to be spent on a quarterback, things will now shift to a waiting game in terms of which young quarterback the 49ers brain trust will call upon to be their signal-caller of the future. Rumors have swirled virtually all offseason long with whispers of a possible trade for Jets QB Sam Darnold or Houston's Deshaun Watson to San Francisco, but all signs are pointing to Jimmy Garoppolo being under center for the 49ers, at least for 2021 as GM John Lynch made sure to call Garoppolo shortly after news broke of the big trade, to ensure him that he remains in the team's plans as the projected starter for the upcoming season and will now be asked to tutor his future replacement. 

As Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and BYU's Zach Wilson are practically shoo-ins to be selected with the first and second overall picks by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, respectively, the 49ers will likely nab one of the following: Justin Fields out of Ohio State, Trey Lance of North Dakota State, or Alabama's Mac Jones. San Francisco will also make selections with the 43rd, 102nd, 117th, 155th, 172nd, 180th, 194th and 230th overall picks. 

Other notable free-agent signings include former Cardinals receiver and return specialist Trent Sherfield, former Colts safety Tavon Wilson and former Panthers defensive-tackle Zach Kerr. 

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49ers Say Goodbye to Staley, Welcome Williams in Busy Day 3 of 2020 Draft

While the San Francisco 49ers were missing in action in Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft without a single pick in Rounds 2 or 3, the team more than made up for that quiet Friday with a busy Day 3 on Saturday. Just before the Cincinnati Bengals kicked things off with the first selection of the 3rd Round and 65th pick overall, 49ers general manager John Lynch made a splash by trading for disgruntled Washington Redskins left-tackle Trent Williams. The 31-year old Williams who did not play in 2019 after he and his agent demanded a trade following a series of trust issues with the team's medical staff that stemmed from a cancerous tumor that Williams had surgically removed in April of last year. After initially being told by team doctors back in 2013 that the diagnosis was nothing to worry about, Williams refused to play for the club that was unable to work a deal with another team. That was until this morning when John Lynch came calling.

A 7-time Pro Bowler who lands in San Francisco with one-year and $12.5 Million dollars remaining on his contract, Williams is quite familiar with Kyle Shanahan's offense as the current 49ers head coach was with Washington in 2010 as the team's offensive coordinator when the Redskins selected Williams out of Oklahoma with the 4th overall pick. Known for his outstanding footwork and athletic ability, Williams nearly landed with the Minnesota Vikings who were reportedly in deep talks with Washington before things fell through which ultimately allowed for San Francisco to come into the picture and nab him. Aside from his stellar and consistent play while protecting the quarterback, Williams is also most famous for an altercation that took place between him and a player he'll now share a locker room with. Williams was hit with an $8,000 fine after taking a swipe at former Seattle Seahawk and soon to be fellow teammate Richard Sherman following the Redskins' loss to Seattle in the 2012 NFC Wild Card game. The two took to Twitter and had a good laugh about the incident shortly after 49ers owner Jed York welcomed Williams to the team which prompted Sherman to ask for a rematch.

The acquisition of Williams which was already a major addition to the team, grew exponentially in significance just moments later as it was learned that long-time 49er and 6-time Pro Bowl left-tackle Joe Staley was retiring from the game of football at the age of 35 due to health concerns. A former first round pick of the 49ers in 2007, Staley played all 13 NFL seasons in San Francisco after they made him the 28th overall pick out of Central Michigan. Named to the NFL's 2010 All-Decade Team just a week earlier, Staley was a 3-time All-Pro with the Niners while playing 192 games that spanned over seven different head coaches. Following the disappoint loss in Super Bowl 54 in which the 49ers let a 10-point, fourth quarter lead slip through their hands, Staley was without question the one player who took the upsetting loss the hardest, at least in the public eye. It won't be long before Staley's No. 74 is retired by the team and hung up in the rafters of Levi's Stadium for all to see. Since 2011, Staley has been the highest-rated left-tackle in all of football with a grade of 93.8. But not far behind him was Trent Williams at No. 4 with a 92.5 grade. As saddened as the team and fans will be with Staley now on his way out, Williams will be plugged into that void immediately with fresh legs under him following the time off.

In the trade for Williams, the 49ers sent their 5th round pick (156th overall) and a 2021 3rd round pick to Washington. It would end up being the first of three trades executed by John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan as they also sent running back Matt Breida to the Miami Dolphins for a 5th round pick and managed to jettison the contract of Marquise Goodwin by shipping him and a 6th round pick (210) to Philadelphia for their 6th round pick (190). Both Breida and Goodwin were expected to be big contributors to the 49er offense in 2019, but injuries would limit both players on the field last season. While Breida was often hurt and had both Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman to split running back duties with, Goodwin was frequently sidelined for both personal reasons and injury problems. After a strong 2017 campaign in which he was on the doorstep of 1,000 yards receiving before falling just shy with 962, the former Olympic speedster was given a new expensive three-year deal that he continuously failed to live up to.

Rounding out their busy Day 3 of the Draft, the 49ers made 5th, 6th and 7th round selections with picks No. 153, 190 and 217 to select West Virginia offensive-tackle Colton McKivitz, Georgia tight-end Charlie Woerner and Tennessee wide-receiver Jauan Jennings, respectively. With McKivitz and Jennings brought in to provide depth and possibly compete for a starting job, Woerner who was the No. 1 rated run-blocking tight-end in the entire draft class, will likely find himself in a nice run-blocking role for Kyle Shanahan's offense, following the departures of tight-ends Garrett Celek and Levine Toilolo. Similar to San Francisco's 25th overall selection Brandon Aiyuk who Shanahan acquired for his YAC (yards after catch) ability, Jennings brings a similar skill-set, having averaged 14.7 YAC for the Vols in 2019, while also adding some physicality and strength as his 30 forced missed tackles were the most among all NCAA wide-receivers last season. 


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49ers Select Kinlaw, Aiyuk in 1st Round of 2020 NFL Draft

Last night's 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any we've ever seen before. With everyone from commissioner Roger Goodell to the team's coaches, general managers and even the draft prospects themselves isolated at home and tapping in thru live television feeds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL still managed to pull off a successful opening night to the draft during this unprecedented time. And while there were a few slight bumps in the road such as a lack of details when teams would trade in and out of draft picks to move up and down on the draft board, it was nice to finally have some sort of sports entertainment to feed our hunger, even if only for a few days.

One of only four teams to possess more than one pick in the first round entering the draft, the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers came into Day 1 of the draft with two picks under their belt -- pick No. 13 via the Indianapolis Colts and their original pick at No. 31. Leading up to the big day, general manager John Lynch was very open about both picks being available to teams that were interested in trading up. But it wasn't until San Francisco was on the clock at pick 13 that Lynch pulled the trigger to give us our first trade of the night. Moving up one spot to nab Iowa offensive-tackle Tristan Wirfs were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who decided to protect their new investment in quarterback Tom Brady. In the move, the 49ers also dealt a 7th round pick (No. 245) to Tampa, while acquiring the 14th overall pick as well as a 4th rounder (No. 117). After trading one spot out of the 13th pick which was received from Indy in the DeForest Buckner trade, the 49ers used their first pick of the night to find Buckner's cheaper and younger replacement in South Carolina defensive-tackle Javon Kinlaw. A senior and 3-year starter with the Gamecocks, Kinlaw has been repeatedly praised in the days leading up to the draft for the explosive first step he's able to gain on the opposition at the line and his impressive abilities in spite of his large 6-foot, 5-inch, 324 lb. frame. With a nonstop motor that continues until the sound of the whistle, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have yet another young prospect to work with and develop in bolstering an already stout defensive front.

Though it wasn't the sexy wide receiver pick many fans thought they'd see and most mock drafts had projected the 49ers selecting, especially with both Jerry Jeudy and Ceedee Lamb still available, it was a pick that made plenty of sense. After jettisoning Buckner who was on the last year of his contract and was going to demand a hefty payday that would've put San Francisco in a bind with teammates Arik Armstead entering free agency and tight-end George Kittle next in line for a contract-extension, the front-office did what they had to in order to withhold as many assets as they could at the cheapest cost possible. Rated by many NFL scouts and sources as being a top 10 prospect, Lynch and Shanahan found their man in Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick. One guy who wasn't too please the 49ers took Kinlaw at 14, was a guy who knows a thing or two about disrupting the quarterback on defense in Pro Bowler Von Miller. The Broncos outside linebacker had recorded his own live feed from home while reacting to picks, and was jumping around and yelling in frustration as he had hoped Kinlaw, a first-team AP All-American in 2019, fell to Denver at pick 15, "They're greedy! That was my pick! That's who I wanted," he went on to say.

However, the team's busy night of trading would not end there. While many expected San Francisco to trade out of the 31st pick to acquire more draft capital considering they entered day 1 without a single draft pick in rounds 2 thru 4, they would instead trade up from the 31st pick to the 25th spot where coach Shanahan would find his newest toy on offense. In need of a receiver to fill the void left by Emmanuel Sanders who agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers sent picks 31, 117 and 176 to the Minnesota Vikings in return for the 25th pick which they would use to select Arizona State wide-out Brandon Aiyuk. Possessing an 81-inch wingspan, the longest of any player under 6-foot in combine history, Aiyuk averaged 9.9 YAC (yards after catch) which ranked first among all receivers in his draft class. But as good as he was on offense for the Sun Devils, he also poses a threat on special-teams in punt returns where he'll likely takeover duties this season. Interestingly enough, Shanahan admitted after the first round that he and Lynch considered taking Aiyuk at pick 13 or 14 before he eventually fell into their lap at 25, feeling the need to trade up from 31 as the former Arizona State alum likely would've been off the board by then they feared. 

In what was a rather bland opening round to the Draft in the family reaction department, the Kinlaw's, specifically Javon's father, provided arguably the best reaction of the night when he hit the floor and rolled around in excitement upon hearing his son's name called. It was little moments like that that we all needed in a time like this and just one more reason that we all can't wait to get back to a sense of normalcy and the game of football.

The 2020 NFL Draft continues with Rounds 2 & 3 on Friday with San Francisco projected to pick up the action again on Saturday in Rounds 4 thru 7.


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49ers Look to Rebound following Draft, Free Agency

San Francisco 49er fans are excited for the 2019 NFL season, and rightfully so after the deals their team dished out in free-agency and the picks they made in this year's Draft. The glaring weakness the Niners faced entering the offseason was at defensive-end as San Francisco's defense saw very little production overall in 2018, most notably at the edge position. Aside from a few bright spots in defensive stalwart DeForest Buckner, newcomer Richard Sherman and rookie linebacker Fred Warner, there wasn't a whole lot to cheer for on a lackluster 49er defense during last year's 4-12 campaign. And after a season in which their team finished in the bottom third of the league in generated sacks (37), general manager John Lynch & head coach Kyle Shanahan who are entering their third year at the helm of the franchise, made pass rush their biggest point of emphasis during the offseason.

Following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire Pro Bowl defensive-end Dee Ford who led the league with 8 forced fumble sacks, three more than San Francisco's entire defensive unit last season, and 13 total sacks, the 49er brain trust knew they weren't finished bolstering the position, especially when Ohio State's Nick Bosa was still on the board at pick No. 2. Regarded as the best overall player entering the draft, Bosa was passed on by division rivals Arizona who possessed the first overall pick and chose to go in a different direction by selecting a quarterback. The decision to select Bosa was an easy one for the 49er front-office as he was the guy they had coveted all along, but were afraid wouldn't be available beyond pick No. 1. It just so happened that Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury's love for Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray worked out perfectly for San Francisco and allowed Bosa to fall into their lap. Having missed nearly all of his Junior year while battling injury and undergoing core muscle surgery, the Niners will depend on Bosa to stay healthy in order for their new-look defense to produce to its full potential. If the Niners can steer clear of the injury bug in 2019, their first two picks of this year's draft should make as big an immediate impact as any in the league.

Another department of need entering the offseason was at the receiver position and the 49ers made sure to add to their receiving corps with back to back picks in the second and third rounds during day 2 of the NFL Draft, selecting Deebo Samuel, second round, 36th overall out of South Carolina and Jalen Hurd, third round, 67th overall out of Baylor. Samuel, who's known for his play-making ability both in and out of the slot as well as returning kicks, was one of the top receivers in the draft after tallying an 11-touchdown, 62-reception season last year for the Gamecocks and made an instant fan out of coach Shanahan during the Senior Bowl which was partly coached by the 49ers staff. The two became quite familiar with one another and look to build on that relationship in the pros. But like most players the 49ers have acquired since the end of last season, Samuel has also had his fair share of injuries in the past, which seemed to be a theme for many of their additions this offseason. And while Samuel doesn't resemble the big bodied receiver that the Niners have been seeking for quite some time now, their third round selection certainly fits the bill. Hurd, a former running back at the University of Tennessee, stands at 6-foot-5 with 226 pounds and is an interesting specimen who provides plenty of versatility, but will likely be a project for Shanahan considering his raw talent. Either way, I don't think there's a receiver that Shanahan has drafted in his three years with the team that he hasn't liked in the NFL.

One of the more questionable picks in the draft, was who the Niners took in the 4th round, 110th overall. Needing a punter with Bradley Pinion now a member of the Buccaneers, Lynch & Shanahan got themselves a good one in Utah's Mitch Wishnowsky, but seemed to have reached for him considering the round they took him in. Recipient of the Ray Guy Award during his sophomore year in 2016, an award given to the best punter in college, the Aussie native will try to make pundits forget about his draft position and duplicate the success the 49ers had on special-teams when Andy Lee was punching his ticket to the Pro Bowl every other year. Hoping to strike gold at the linebacker position like they did with Warner in last year's draft, San Francisco selected Dre Greenlaw 148th overall out of Arkansas in the 5th round. With a trio of picks in round 6, Kaden Smith (176th), tight-end out of Stanford, Justin Skule (183rd), offensive-tackle out of Vanderbilt, and Tim Harris (198th), cornerback from Virginia, rounded out the 49ers' 2019 Draft class. Considering how needy San Francisco was for a defensive back, holding off until their final pick in the draft to select one came as a surprise to many.

Like Bosa and Samuel, Hurd, Greenlaw and Harris have all had a history of injuries during their collegiate careers, but the fun doesn't stop there. Free-agent acquisitions Kwon Alexander, a linebacker formerly with Tampa Bay and Jason Verrett a former Charger, are both coming off of season-ending injuries. Alexander who agreed to a hefty four-year, $54 Million deal, suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 with the Bucs last year and Verrett who signed a one-year contract for a modest $3.6 Million, was plagued with a torn Achilles tendon on the first day of training camp last year to go along with the myriad of other injuries he's had since entering the league as a 1st round pick in 2014. With both players having made the Pro Bowl -- Alexander in 2017 and Verrett in 2015, staying on the field would pay dividends for their new team, but will be a huge challenge, especially for Verrett who missed 43 of the last 48 games while a member of the Chargers with just about every injury under the sun. However, the signing remains a low-risk, high-reward deal for San Francisco hence the one year offer and figures of the contract.

Another piece the 49ers added this offseason via free-agency and a guy who was drafted by coach Shanahan during his time in Atlanta, is former Falcons running back Tevin Coleman who agreed to a 2-year deal worth $10 Million. Formerly one half of the 1-2 punch the Falcons featured at running back alongside Devonta Freeman, Coleman brings his familiarity with Shanahan's system to the Bay Area and also adds depth to the position that also includes running backs Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson and the return of Jerick McKinnon who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews was also signed to strengthen the wide-out position and looks to find the spark he had during his first two seasons in Philadelphia when he tallied a combined 16 touchdowns and was on the doorstep of the 1,000 yards receiving plateau in his sophomore season when he fell just three yards shy. While the Niners decided to bring back a pair of former first round picks in free safety Jimmie Ward and defensive end Arik Armstead, some weren't as lucky as the team would bid farewells to OT Garry Gilliam, DE Cassius Marsh and LB Brock Coyle who were all released.

Having missed the playoffs for the past five seasons, 2019 will be a season in which the Niners will need to see major improvements on the field and in the win column before the seats of Shanahan & Lynch potentially begin to heat up, whether fair or not. A victim of overseeing a depleted roster due to countless injuries a season ago, coach Shanahan will be depending on a much healthier roster this upcoming season, most importantly at the quarterback position. And if QB Jimmy Garoppolo can make a full recovery and bounce back like all signs appear to indicate, then year three should be Shanahan's best yet at the helm of the 49ers. Though the hole at quarterback was a major concern a season ago with Jimmy G. out, it wasn't the only one as the woeful defense forced only seven takeaways in 2018, the fewest by a team in NFL history by a total, four fewer than the previous mark of 11 by the 1982 Baltimore Colts. San Francisco's new-look defense plans to throw that dubious record book out the window as they now feature one of the better pass rushing attacks in the league on paper with the additions of Bosa and Ford. The tandem should be a day and night difference from what they had a season ago alongside Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner.

With 49ers rookie mini-camp underway this week, full team training camp is slated to begin on July 25 for both rookies and veterans alike and will showcase plenty for us to keep an eye on as competitions are formed, guys get cut and roster spots are earned. The 49ers open the 2019 NFL regular season on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


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49ers keep Winning-Streak Alive by Beating Raiders in Coin Toss

Although the San Francisco 49ers haven't played a single down since their season-finale win over the division rival Rams on New Year's Eve, the Niners have added yet another tally in the win column and are now 6-0 since the start of the Jimmy Garoppolo era after a different kind of victory in Indianapolis on Friday. With the 2018 regular season expected to feature the final installment of the Battle of the Bay between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, unless of course the two were to miraculously meet in the Super Bowl before the Black Hole packs its bags and departs to its new home in Las Vegas come 2020, the two teams met at the NFL Combine for a tiebreaking coin toss that would determine the draft order for the two Bay Area franchises who fell short of the playoffs and finished tied in 2017 with an overall record of 6-10.

Streamed live as fans of the two teams anxiously awaited for the outcome of the coin flip which was done by Rod Woodson who played for both franchises during his Hall of Fame career, the tandem of Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and newly named head coach Jon Gruden were on hand to represent the silver and black, while Niners GM John Lynch who once upon a time played for coach Gruden's Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers team in 2003, rode solo to represent for his squad. The Niners who have needs at several positions, won the toss and will select 9th overall, one spot ahead of the Raiders at pick No. 10. Most Mock Draft's heading into April's Draft have had the winning team of the coin toss taking either Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds or Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, and the losing team taking whichever player is still available out of the two at No. 10. Unless of course either player is selected earlier or if either team was to trade down or out of their original spot.

Oddly enough, it would mark the second time a coin toss involving these two franchises would take place to determine draft order, as the 49ers once again reigned victorious against the Raiders for the 6th overall pick back in 2006 which the 49ers would use to select Maryland tight-end Vernon Davis. And while San Francisco has a 2-0 advantage over Oakland in all-time draft order coin tosses, it's the Raiders who currently own a 7-6 advantage over their Bay Area counterparts in regular season match-ups. That's something John Lynch and company hope to change by evening the score when the two teams meet as the NFC West squares off against the AFC West this season. But back to the Draft which will commence on April 26, San Francisco will look to fill whatever holes they're unable to address on the free-agent market as the 49ers front-office is expected to be very active and aggressive in luring top free-agent talent with close to $70 Million available in cap space, even after signing QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a new deal.

Though the 49ers would love to have either one of the following three fall players to them at No. 9 -- Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb and Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson, the likelihood of any of those three names still being on the board come San Francisco's pick, is unlikely, assuming they don't trade down. Each player would fill a void in a different area as bringing in Barkley would address the uncertainty of free-agent Carlos Hyde, Chubb would give the Niners the edge-rusher they've so desperately needed since Aldon Smith was cut, and Nelson would help keep their investment in Jimmy G on his feet. Then again the two guys they're projected to take at No. 9 also solve needs as Edmunds eases the burden at linebacker in case the situation regarding Reuben Foster gets worse, stemming form his two arrests last month, and Ward would supply the Niner defense with a shutdown corner they've been in search of for years. But after Lynch won over fans and took Draft night by storm a season ago by trading out of the second overall pick to move one spot back with the Chicago Bears, still getting the guy they wanted all along in Solomon Thomas and then trading back into the first round to select Reuben Foster, I know better than to assume anything with this front-office and John Lynch at the helm.

Hoping one day it'll be an important piece of 49ers history as the team still seeks its sixth Super Bowl title and first since the 1994 season, the coin which was used for the toss will be added to the 49ers Museum at Levi's Stadium.


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49ers open 2017 NFL Draft with a Bang!

Round 1 - Under a new regime, the San Francisco 49ers made quite the impression in Round 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft. And in their first draft together at the helm of the 49ers, head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch had an unforgettable first day of the draft which included the Niners selecting two solid players on defense as well as stockpiling a few more picks along the way. With Myles Garrett going 1st overall to the Cleveland Browns as we all expected, there San Francisco was at pick No. 2 where they were ready to select Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas if unable to trade back. And then came calling the Chicago Bears who would treat us to our first "wow moment" of the Draft by working out a trade that allowed them to select UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky. One pick later, the 49ers would find their man in Thomas.

The move would prove to be a sign of despair for Chicago as Trubisky might have been on San Francisco's radar, but not at pick No. 2 which means the Bears were either smoke-screened into thinking Trubisky would be taken by San Francisco or that someone else might swoop in via trade to select him. Either way, the move would help Lynch and company make out like bandits as they received the No. 3 pick as well as Chicago's 3rd (67th overall) and 4th round picks (111th overall) this year and a 3rd rounder next year in exchange, all while selecting Thomas who they intended to take all along. But Lynch's brilliance and busy night wouldn't end there as he was able to flip one of the picks received from the Bears to move back into the first round. With rival Seattle on the clock at pick No. 31, San Francisco sent their 2nd round pick (34th overall) and the 4th rounder received from Chicago to the Seahawks, which the Niners would then use to select Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster.

Prior to the draft, the Niners had Garrett ranked as the no. 1 player in the draft, Thomas ranked no. 2 and Foster no. 3, meaning they managed to land two of their top three ranked players in the entire draft. This order was confirmed by Lynch during the 49ers' press conference following Round 1 of the draft, so to land Foster at pick 31 is a complete steal in the eyes of Lynch & Shanahan. After drafting a defensive lineman with their top pick in each of the past two seasons despite being under two different head coaches and a different GM, Lynch who also went to school at Stanford, made it a third straight year with the selection of Thomas. Oddly enough, their alma isn't the only thing the two have shared as they even had two classes together a few years ago when Lynch returned to Palo Alto to finish his degree. The two would grow quite the relationship over the years with Thomas even asking Lynch for advice before the biggest game of his career in December's Sun Bowl, not knowing he would later be drafted by his fellow classmate to work alongside him within the same organization. Another positive for Thomas would be the 22 mile trip from Stanford's campus to his new digs in Santa Clara as he's just a stones throw away from Levi's Stadium which will make the adjustment to the NFL life that much easier.

After soaring up the rankings on draft boards thanks to his dominant Sun Bowl performance which led to game MVP honors against Trubisky's North Carolina Tarheels no less and a glaring need on the defensive front for the Niners, it was an obvious decision for San Francisco to take Thomas despite the many different directions they could've gone. Thomas who has been looked upon as virtually being another Myles Garrett, can help stop the run as well as pressure the quarterback. Both are areas the 49ers struggled at a season ago when they allowed the most yards in franchise history and ranked last in the league in yards allowed and rushing yards allowed just a season ago, while also ranking near the bottom of the list in generating pressure on the quarterback.

As for Reuben Foster who I'm personally delighted to see in a Niners uniform, it was rather shocking to see him fall so deep into the first round the way he did. While there's been character concerns regarding Foster heading into the draft spanning from a diluted urine sample and an argument with a hospital worker which led to him being sent home at the scouting combine, there's no denying his passion for the game and the talent he possesses. It wasn't long ago that most draft experts had Foster projected to go in the top-five, but a shoulder injury that Foster claims to be "90% healed" could've also been just as much to blame for his draft stock taking a plunge. Niners fans can't help but be excited to now have Foster on the team especially after what San Francisco went through last season following the injury to NaVorro Bowman which made it very clear just how valuable the linebacker position is and how thin they were at said position. The same could be said about the defense in general as it's no secret how many lingering holes this team had on the defensive side which already looks much improved after only one day of the draft. With Rounds 2 through 7 still yet to come and the Niners owning picks in every round but the 2nd and a total of  11 picks, more selections on defense will be added with the addition of Thomas and Foster who already figure to help bolster a defense that couldn't stop a nosebleed a season ago.

Stay tuned for more coverage as the Draft continues.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

San Francisco 49ers 2016 Draft Recap

"With the seventh pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... DeForest Buckner, defensive-end, Oregon." Those were the words of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when it came time for the 49ers to announce their first pick in last week's Draft. In need of a player that can apply pressure on the defensive side of the ball, San Francisco addressed the need with the 6-foot, 7-inch defensive-end that was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. Drawing comparisons to 2-time Pro Bowl DE Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals, the 291-pound Buckner tallied 18 career sacks in his collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks and will now be reunited in San Francisco with his good friend Arik Armstead who the 49ers selected out of Oregon in the first round of last year's Draft and coach Chip Kelly who recruited him out of college to play for the Ducks. As if the familiar faces weren't enough to make him fit right at home, he also fits the Niners' system as a five-technique player.

Adding a player with the strength and measurables like that of Buckner figures to improve a 49ers defensive attack that ranked 29th a season ago. Looking to fill the void left by the tandem of Justin Smith who retired before last season and Aldon Smith who the Niners cut ties with after numerous off the field incidents, GM Trent Baalke is hoping the duo of Armstead and Buckner can evolve into an even younger version of the tag-team simply nicknamed, the "Smith brothers." One of the bigger surprises on day 1 of the Draft would come at pick 28 when Trent Baalke and company made a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, trading back into the first round and acquiring the 28th overall pick which the Niners would use to select Stanford Guard Joshua Garnett. San Francisco would also acquire the 249th overall pick in the trade, while dealing their 37th, 105th and 187th overall picks to K.C. With offensive-line being one of if not the biggest areas of concern for San Francisco heading into next season, they went out and grabbed the best guard in the class according to some analysts who also labeled him the best interior run-blocker, with 2015 first-team all Pac-12 and 2015 first-team AP All-American honors to show for it.

The next two picks on the 49ers board would be used to take a pair of cornerbacks as San Francisco ranked 27th in pass defense a season ago. With no picks in the second round following the trade with the Chiefs, the Niners had to wait until round number three to hear their name called again as they used the 68th overall pick to take Will Redmond, CB out of Mississippi State who could've gone as early as a late first-rounder had it not been for a torn ACL he suffered in practice. He would be the first of three corners taken by the Niners with Rashard Robinson of LSU (4th round, 133rd overall) and Prince Charles Iworah of Western Kentucky (7th round, 249th overall) being the others. Robinson, who's been touted as being one of the best press corners in the draft, shined in the little playing time he received during his career at LSU due to a suspension. Without those off the field issues, scouts say he could've gone in the first two rounds. Instead, the Niners snagged him in round 4, 133rd overall as a great value pick. Another pick that was praised by NFL analysts for the value was that of Appalachian State defensive-end Ronald Blair who was named 2015 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and was made a Niner with a 5th round pick, 142nd overall. ESPN had him rated on their top 100 list and as a potential third-rounder.

With QB protection being a major problem for the 49ers a season ago, Kelly and Baalke took a pair of offensive-tackles in the 5th round and were criticized by fans on social media for not addressing the need much earlier, nabbing Georgia Bulldog John Theus (145th overall) and Fahn Cooper out of Ole Miss (174th overall). Theus, who was named first-team all-conference, started three of his four years at Georgia including his freshman year as the starting right tackle which is quite the feat given he comes from an SEC school and has played against some of the toughest talent the collegiate level has to offer. With the pair of picks to join Garnett, the 49ers selected three offensive linemen in the same draft for the first time since 1998. Three of San Francisco's final four picks would be used to draft a quarterback, running back and receiver, all of which taken in the 6th round. First on the list would be Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel who was taken 207th overall. A former top-rated QB coming out of high school, Driskel transferred to Lou Tech after his successful stint with the Florida Gators was cut short after suffering a broken leg and later benched. The athletic QB with dual threat ability isn't expected to compete for a starting job anytime soon, but if anybody could turn him into a serviceable signal caller for the future, it's Chip Kelly. For what it's worth, Driskel recorded the fastest time in the 40-yard dash among QB's, clocking in at 4.56 seconds.

Kelvin Taylor, son of former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, would be next on the list. 6th round pick, selected 211th overall, Taylor was a former teammate of Driskel's at the University of Florida where he starred as the Gators' go-to back his junior year in 2015, rushing for 13 touchdowns and over a thousand yards while never fumbling in his 486 carries and 510 touches. With Carlos Hyde expected to bounce back this season from an injury-plagued 2015, Taylor could be Hyde's backup come Week 1 as a nice change of pace speedster to compliment the much tougher running style of Hyde. And last is wide-receiver Aaron Burbridge, selected 213th overall out of Michigan State. Named Big Ten Receiver of the Year in 2015 as well as first-team all-conference for the Spartans, Burbridge had himself a breakout season his senior year and served as Spartans QB Connor Cook's go-to target, leading the Big Ten in both catches (85) and receiving yards (1,258). With Anquan Boldin now a free-agent, Burbridge might be the one called upon to fill in for Boldin assuming the team has moved on from their top receiver of the past three seasons.

Something else this draft tells us is that coach Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke aren't exactly ready to throw in the towel on quarterback Colin Kaepernick just yet considering they didn't seem to be in a rush to draft a quarterback in the earlier rounds like many had predicted. Instead, they seem just fine with their current quarterback situation which is expected to be fought for between Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert. While there's still speculation that he could be released before the start of season, I'll put my money on him still being on the team come kickoff. Trade talks were more than talked about between the 49ers and Denver Broncos, but Kaepernick's unwillingness to take a paycut ultimately deterred Broncos vice-president John Elway and the reigning Super Bowl champions from finalizing a move as they traded up in the draft to take their quarterback of the future in Memphis' Paxton Miller instead. As for the position of need that the 49ers didn't address in the draft, Baalke elected not to select a single linebacker. We'll see if that decision comes back to haunt him.

Like every year, it's always fun keeping an eye on those players drafted heading into their first year, especially those taken in the later rounds as their journey to NFL begins or if they make the team at all. It's also a time for those struggling teams (like the 49ers) to help dig themselves out of the hole and build to help better their future. There's no denying that this was the most significant draft in years for San Francisco as the franchise is still looking to recover from a handful of unexpected retirements and an ugly fallout with one of the game's premier coaches. Now in a new regime under head coach Chip Kelly, the 49ers are in need of a spark to help the franchise's rise back to prominence and regain its rich winning history.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

With the 10th Overall pick, The San Francisco 49ers select...

Last week, my Niners snagged a great Draft pick with the thanks of The Oakland Raiders draft choice. With the 7th Overall pick, and the Raiders in desperate need of a Wide Reciever, Oakland chose WR Darius Heyward Bey [Maryland] over what many have said was the best overall receiver in the Draft, Michael Crabtree [Texas Tech]. The choice shocked the Football world and is forever known as one of the biggest question marks in Draft history.

Bey wasn't even projected to be chosen until the 2nd round of this year's draft, and analysts don't even have him as the 3rd or 4th best receiver in the draft. Bey is better known for his speed (40), and ran a 4.33 at the combine. But in order to use your speed, you have to catch the ball first. Analysts across the country showed no hesitation to grade the Raiders draft choice an F. The 9ers on the other hand were on the outside looking in once Texas Tech WR was still on the board when it was their time to choose. Crabtree was then taken as the 10th overall choice and is added to an offensive hungry team, in San Francisco. The Niners haven't had a pro-bowl type of wide receiver since T.O. was with the team. But many are hoping for that to change now with Crabtree on the squad. If San Francisco can get their QB situation under control, and a healthy Frank Gore, they could have a very dangerous offense.

With 3 years of college ball, Bey had a total of: 138 Receptions, 2,089 Yards, and 13 Touchdowns.

Opposed to Crabtree's 2 year college total of: 231 Receptions, 3,127 Yards, and 41 Touchdowns. You do the math...

Ahhh I already can't wait to see Crabtree in that Red & Gold uni.