Tag: John Lynch

49ers defensive captain has no doubt about who team’s franchise QB is

Fred Warner: Big Brock Purdy guy.

While San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has received very public votes of confidence from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, there’s still some questions in the general NFL discourse about whether the 49ers will actually pay Purdy this offseason.

Purdy, a 2022 draft pick, is extension-eligible for the first time. He appears to be on track for a sizable new contract. One person who doesn’t have any questions about Purdy is 49ers defensive captain, All-Pro and vocal team leader Fred Warner.

Warner in an interview with Dianna Russini on her podcast, ‘Scoop City,’ gave a full endorsement of Purdy as the team’s franchise QB.

“If you truly watch the tape,” Warner said, “and you watch all the other elite quarterbacks in this league, they all have a common thread amongst all of them in the fact they’re able to process the game at such a high level, being able to create plays with their feet, make the high level throws up and down the field – Brock Purdy does all these things. And he was in the MVP conversation a year ago, let’s not forget that. He took us to a Super Bowl and he gave us the lead before, obviously, Patrick Mahomes and them took it away from us in that Super Bowl.

“This is the guy. There’s no question. Everybody out there, if you have any questions about Brock Purdy, I’m here to tell you, I’m not biased, I know ball – he’s the guy.”

Warner has been a supporter of Purdy’s since the QB first took over as the starter late in the 2022 season. The two faced off in practice with Warner and the first-team defense going against Purdy when he ran the scout team.

A linebacker’s opinion of the QB may not typically carry a ton of weight. Warner’s voice carries weight in the 49ers locker room, though. That he’s so firmly backing Purdy with contract extension talks looming is a good indicator of where Purdy stands with his teammates and the organization.

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Cost of Brock Purdy’s contract matters less than when he signs it

Get it done.

All signs point toward the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy working out a long-term contract extension this offseason.

There’s always a chance something doesn’t get done, but based on how 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch spoke about Purdy during their end-of-season press conference it sounds like both are ready to do what it takes to ensure Purdy becomes a foundational building block of their offense moving forward.

Much of the discussion around Purdy’s deal has centered on how much he’ll be paid. Some believe he’ll reset the market with a contract in the range of $61 million in average annual value. Others think it’ll fall in the $50-55 million range.

While the structure of the deal will matter more than the average annual value, the discussion should be centered more on the timing for the 49ers.

They can’t afford to let another big-money contract negotiation bleed into training camp. Purdy told reporters on locker cleanout day that he wanted the negotiations to be drama-free. He also wouldn’t commit to reporting to mandatory offseason activities without a deal.

Given how contract negotiations for defensive end Nick Bosa, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams went the last two offseasons, the 49ers would be wise to ensure they’re paying their franchise quarterback and doing so quickly.

Having a deal with Purdy done by the time free agency opens in mid-March, or at least by the time the team reports to OTAs in mid-April, would set a strong tone for the rest of their offseason and training camp. If they use training camp as a soft deadline again where Purdy is missing OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and potentially parts of training camp, they run the risk of derailing another season before it can get off the ground.

Purdy still needs reps, especially with wide receivers like Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing. He may also be working to get his chemistry with Aiyuk back depending on when the wide receiver returns from his knee injury. The team also just needs its quarterback and team leader in the building.

There are times to pinch pennies. There are times to quibble over certain bits of contract language. This isn’t one of them. San Francisco shouldn’t let themselves just get steamrolled in the negotiations, but they should also have a much deeper urgency and be ready to make some key concessions to get a deal done.

Not getting a contract done and potentially missing their quarterback for the start of training camp pales in comparison to the damage any typical contract hang-ups might cause. Signing Purdy for a less-favorable contract in March will help far more than signing him to a more-favorable contract in August.

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Another huge 49ers contract may tell us when Brock Purdy’s gets done

Optimism the 49ers won’t waste time getting Brock Purdy’s contract done.

There are handful of significant question marks surrounding Brock Purdy’s impending contract extension.

While the matter of how much he’ll be paid is at the forefront of the discussion, when he gets the deal also has some ramifications for a club that fell short in 2024 after an offseason full of contractual tumult.

After dealing with lengthy contract negotiations for defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk the last two offseasons, it stands to reason the 49ers would want to avoid getting into a prolonged battle with their franchise quarterback.

General manager John Lynch expressed a desire to get both of those contracts done sooner than later, but the 49ers played hardball and ultimately saw them take all of the preseason. He expressed a similar desire with Purdy’s deal in his end-of-season press conference.

“We have every interest in him being around,” said Lynch. “The way this thing goes, these press conferences are necessary, but always kind of silly because Kyle’s coaching, we spend time together all the time and there are big issues that affect the team, but he’s just getting off coaching. He’s had his door shut for two days doing exit interviews. We were just up, but we were talking about our players. We’ll have some time here in the coming weeks to sit together and put our whole plan together. That’s obviously a priority, that position, and we’ll give it that attention.”

It may be tough to believe a 49ers front office that has typically taken its time with big-money contracts, there’s some optimism that a deal for the signal caller may come down sooner thanks to how they operated with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract.

Garoppolo’s contract extension was first reported February 8, 2018 – well before the start of free agency.

The circumstances are different, to be sure. Purdy has two-plus seasons under his belt as the starter and has one year left on his rookie deal. Garoppolo started just five games for the 49ers in 2017 after they acquired him for a second-round pick. He was due to hit free agency, but San Francisco could have used the franchise tag.

The club also has a different cap situation now with more highly-paid players, but they have room to fit a top-of-market deal onto their books, and the last time they had to get a QB deal done they wasted no time in doing so.

Purdy’s contract may not get done in early February. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see it come down either before or shortly after free agency begins though. Doing so would ensure he’s in the building for all of the offseason and training camp. Avoiding a prolonged contractual spat with their QB would also put the 49ers on the right track toward bouncing back in 2025 while avoiding some of the issues that derailed them before the 2024 season even kicked off.

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John Lynch update on Trent Williams is great news for 49ers

The 49ers are very confident Trent Williams will be back next season.

The San Francisco 49ers have some work to do on their roster this offseason to return to Super Bowl contention.

That work would get significantly more difficult if 36-year-old All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams opted to hang up his pads and retire after an injury-plagued 14th NFL season. Alas, Williams is committed to returning to San Francisco according to general manager John Lynch.

Lynch on Wednesday in a press conference told reporters Williams is recovering well from the ankle injury that limited him to only 10 games this season, and that the team fully expects their superstar left tackle to be back for the 2025 campaign.

“Trent’s doing well,” said Lynch. “He had a bruise in the ankle joint and it probably took a little longer than anyone anticipated, but sometimes that happens. And the good news is, it’s taken a positive turn. Trent’s mindset is where it always is and he’s still very interested in being a great player that he is. And I think he’s still got a lot left in the tank. So, Trent’s committed as ever and we love having Trent Williams a part of us.”

Williams returning for at least 2025 changes the way the 49ers can attack their offseason. If he wasn’t going to return, they may turn all their resources toward finding his long-term replacement to protect quarterback Brock Purdy’s blind side.

By getting an All-Pro back, not only do the 49ers retain one of the NFL’s best offensive linemen, they can also focus their offseason energy on supplementing their offensive line and bolstering other areas of their roster instead of trying to replace a future Hall of Famer.

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John Lynch expects popular name in NFL trade rumors to stay with 49ers

John Lynch: 49ers expect Deebo Samuel back

There are some tough decisions coming up for the San Francisco 49ers as they gear up to have a top-of-market quarterback contract on their books.

One of those tough decisions could involve wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is coming off a disappointing year and has an expensive contract the 49ers could save some money on by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation.

General manager John Lynch on Wednesday said the team planned to release veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with that designation. He did not say the same for Samuel, who is a popular trade candidate in pre-offseason speculation.

“Yeah,” said Lynch when asked if he expects Samuel back. “A good player and has done a ton for this organization and we’re not in the business of letting good players out of here.”

It appeared throughout the year like Samuel might be in the midst of a rapid decline out of his prime, which catalyzed some of the speculation about his future in San Francisco.

However, late in the year he put together a vintage performance against the Miami Dolphins where he caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and ran five times for 25 yards. More importantly, he forced six missed tackles on his seven catches, and another on one of his five carries per Pro Football Focus.

The eye test matched the numbers with his burst and explosiveness both reminiscent of the player who carried the 49ers’ offense through the 2021 season, and at various points the following two years.

Perhaps Samuel was dealing with an injury all year or some ailment that kept him from being the best version of himself. If that’s the case and the 49ers are privy to it, it makes a ton of sense to ensure he stays in the Bay Area for at least one more season.

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Down year, no playoffs may actually benefit 49ers

Can the 49ers turn an early offseason into a positive for 2025?

After three straight trips to the NFL playoffs, the San Francisco 49ers (6-10) will be on the outside looking in during this postseason.

The 49ers played in Super Bowl LVIII to cap the 2023 season and each of the two postseason trips before that featured San Francisco advancing to the NFC championship game. The 49ers also reached Super Bowl LIV in the 2019 campaign.

Under president of football operations and general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s direction, San Francisco has become accustomed to these deep postseason pushes.

With the 49ers set to enter the offseason earlier than expected, San Francisco hopes to turn that disappointment into some fashion of a positive.

“Yeah, I am,” Shanahan said when asked if he is excited about what the offseason will hold for San Francisco. “I’d be much more excited to not have one and to go all the way to February again, but that is tough.”

As Shanahan touched on Friday, missing the playoffs does allow the 49ers to jumpstart their offseason retooling sooner.

“When you go that that long, everyone needs to get away and by the time you come back there’s usually right when free agency’s starting and you’re not totally quite there yet. So, it’s going to be our first time since I think COVID being off in January.

“And it gives you more time to figure things out. It gives you time to go through the things like the cutups and stuff. You can finish most of that stuff all before the Super Bowl. And then you’re ready to go to other stuff like the draft and free agency and all that as soon as the Super Bowl ends,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan hopes an earlier start to the offseason can help the 49ers chart a path that keeps them out of this position in 2025.

“So just being a lot more ahead of that is real exciting and I’m ready to get to it. We’ve known we’re out of the playoffs here for a little bit and everything’s about finishing this year up the right way and not cutting anything short, finishing your job.

“But I also have been able to look to when I can start improving next year and making sure we’re not in this position again. And I know that starts Monday,” Shanahan said.

Lynch joined KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” show on Friday morning where he said that the 49ers’ plans for remedies to what ailed them in 2024 are “well in the works.”

Shanahan said he will fully dive in on the 49ers’ offseason process beginning on Monday.

“Not as much as John would and stuff,” Shanahan said when asked if he’s already begun his offseason process. “I’ve got an idea of stuff. I map out my January and have to answer my wife’s questions and kids and stuff who might think I’m off, but I’m not. So things like that. But as far as fully putting my mind into it and everything that won’t start until really the plane ride back.”

Shanahan also said that he doesn’t anticipate any changes in terms of his input on offseason personnel decisions.

“No, it’s always been the same. It’s always been the same and I still want it to be the same,” Shanahan said.

The 49ers close their 2024 season with a Sunday date at State Farm Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals (7-9). Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT with the game set to air on Fox.

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Kyle Shanahan reacts to vote of confidence from 49ers owner

Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will both be back for the 2025 NFL season.

Following a trip to Super Bowl LVIII and the brink of a world championship last season, the San Francisco 49ers have slumped to a 6-10 record and will miss the playoffs entirely in 2024.

Despite the struggles this season, no titanic changes are imminent.

49ers owner Jed York confirmed that San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch would both be back for the 2025 season.

That report came from The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami prior to Monday night’s contest against the Detroit Lions.

“You can write that, for sure. They’re not going anywhere,” York told the Standard.

In his Tuesday conference call with reporters, Shanahan was asked about York confirming he and Lynch’s status with the 49ers for the 2025 NFL season and if it makes him feel more confident in his future with San Francisco.

“Not really. I’ve felt confident. I’ve got a good relationship with Jed. We speak almost every day, so hearing stuff in the media doesn’t really change much for me. It’s more what I have between him and myself,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan said the relationship between he and York has always been open and consistent.

“Yeah, definitely. Jed is very easy to talk to. We’ve known each other here now for eight years. We feel very fortunate for how he is through the good and the bad and the communication never really changes regardless of what’s going on,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan will complete his eighth season at the helm after the 49ers travel to Arizona next Sunday. Including the playoffs, Shanahan owns a 78-65 mark leading San Francisco.

Under Shanahan’s direction, the 49ers have made four conference championship games and a pair of Super Bowl appearances. Prior to this season, the 49ers had won the NFC West in four of the past five seasons.

Given he and Lynch’s track records of success, it makes sense why York wouldn’t want to open that potential revolving door.

Before San Francisco played the Chicago Bears on Dec. 8, Lynch said any discussion of a coaching change was unnecessary.

“I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle and some of the stuff rather comical,” Lynch told San Francisco radio station KNBR. “We have won four of the last five division championships. We’ve been in two Super Bowls.

“The standard here is to win championships, and we’ve fallen short of that, but we have an excellent head coach. And the fact people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical.”

Shanahan and Lynch each inked multi-year contract extensions in September of 2023.

Rookie 4th-round pick has helped 49ers avert another disaster

It finally happened!

The San Francisco 49ers had a fatal flaw in their draft strategy during the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch Era.

Their inability to find a productive running back in the third and fourth rounds was ultimately overcome by late-round and undrafted players, but they still wasted three third and fourth-round picks on the position. In 2017 they selected Joe Williams in the fourth round. In 2021 they took Trey Sermon in the third round, and then picked Tyrion Davis-Price in the third round the following year. None of those players finished a second season with the 49ers, making the team 0-for-3 with mid-round RBs.

That appears to have changed following the selection of RB Isaac Guerendo late in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.

Guerendo, who is expected to return in Week 17 after missing Week 16 with a hamstring injury, has  already out-produced the 49ers’ previous three third and fourth-round RBs combined.

Williams, Sermon and Davis-Price played in 16 games for San Francisco and combined for 287 yards and one touchdown on 81 carries. They also contributed three catches for 26 yards on six targets.

Guerendo in only 14 games — 10 of which he posted five or fewer carries — has blown those numbers out of the water. He’s up to 381 yards and four touchdowns on 73 carries. He also has 11 catches for 87 yards on 12 targets.

It’s clear Guerendo fits the 49ers’ offense, and he should have a role in their backfield as long as he’s able to stay healthy. His rookie season has been wildly successful compared to the exceedingly low bar set by the other mid-round RBs of the Shanahan-Lynch era. The next step will be ensuring he remains productive well beyond his first year so it doesn’t ultimately go down as another wasted draft pick.

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John Lynch’s alter ego threw De’Vondre Campbell off 49ers sideline

De’Vondre Campbell was ejected by John Lynch’s ‘crazy’ alter ego.

The De’Vondre Campbell saga isn’t done quite yet.

Fox’s Jay Glazer on the network’s NFL pregame show reported some fascinating details about Campbell’s sudden exit from the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

First, according to Glazer, the 49ers are opting to explore a suspension route instead of an outright release for the veteran linebacker.

“The 49ers are trying to suspend him,” Glazer said. “They’re working with the league office to see what’s the max they can do. Even if he wanted to come and apologize and come back – players don’t want him.”

This isn’t a huge surprise. 49ers players were vocally displeased with Campbell after Thursday’s game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Friday also made it clear the club was done with Campbell after he refused to enter their Week 15 bout in relief of linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

However, it wasn’t the coaching staff that forced Campbell to leave the sideline and go to the locker room. Per Glazer, that was done by general manager John Lynch and his ‘Red 47’ alter ego.

“But you’re asking what happened behind the scenes,” Glazer said. “They started seeing about the second quarter that he was refusing to go in. So John Lynch actually went down there and confronted De’Vondre, and said ‘you don’t want to go in the game? You’re refusing?’ So it was Lynch who sent him to the locker room.

“By the way, I’ve got players who called me after and said ‘hey, we’ve heard you talk about this alter ego of John Lynch, this 47 Red character – man we saw it. That dude is crazy!'”

It’s not typical that a player will actively quit on his team the way Campbell did, but knowing that Lynch’s alter ego is looming may keep it from happening again any time soon in San Francisco.

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Where are the 49ers scheduled to pick in the 2025 NFL draft?

For those of you reading ahead, here’s where the 49ers stand in the NFL draft order:

Mid-November is probably too early to start earnestly diving into the NFL draft for the San Francisco 49ers.

Some teams are already eyeing April’s three-day selection event, and while the 49ers playoff chances are dwindling, they still have the talent to turn a corner and make a run at the postseason.

Until the 49ers turn that corner though, we have to operate like they’re not going to, thus leading us to take a quick peek at the 2025 NFL draft order.

Next year’s draft will be particularly important for a 49ers club that’s may be entering a transition stage where they need to supplement their roster with some top-end talent to fill some starting jobs and shore up depth on a top-heavy roster.

The problem for the 49ers goes back to what we just talked about up top — they’re not bad enough to worry about the draft yet which means they’re in the purgatory that sits between a playoff berth and a premium draft pick.

Here’s where things stand in the NFL draft order (non-playoff team edition) after 11 weeks according to Tankathon:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
2. Tennessee Titans (2-8)
3. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
4. New York Giants (2-8)
5. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
6. New England Patriots (3-8)
7. New York Jets (3-8)
8. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
9. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)
10. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
12. Miami Dolphins (4-6)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
14. Chicago Bears (4-6)
15. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)
16. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)
17. Los Angeles Rams (5-5)
18. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)

That’s right. The 49ers, who are last in the NFC West by way of tiebreaker, would also pick last out of the three 5-5 NFC West teams because of the strength of schedule tiebreaker.

Because the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks all have 5-5 records, the strength of schedule tiebreaker kicks in. The team with the lower strength of schedule gets the earlier draft pick. San Francisco’s opponents have a .549 winning percentage. Seattle’s is .531, and LA’s is .534.

It’s worth noting those numbers are based on season-long percentages. The 49ers have the lowest strength of schedule after 11 weeks.

Ideally the 49ers will turn their season around and find their way into the postseason. For now, we’ll continue keeping track of where they stand in the NFL draft order.

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