STANFORD — Fifteen years in the past, the 49ers opened free company in grand style, whisking Justin Smith on a helicopter tour across the Bay Space earlier than the defensive sort out downed beers all evening together with his future defensive coordinator.
John Lynch chuckled Wednesday when requested in regards to the 49ers’ courting course of for this yr’s high goal: one other defensive sort out, Javon Hargrave.
There wasn’t a lot time, you see, to attain the largest coup – or shock — of the NFL’s free company window.
“You don’t get a lot of a possibility as a result of the window is so outlined and brief,” Lynch replied. “Once we went, we went actually exhausting. We didn’t soft-shoe into it. We went proper in there, and let him know our alternative and imaginative and prescient.”
Hargrave favored what he noticed: a four-year, $84 million contract to lure him away from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Whenever you go into free company and have a fantastic workforce that wishes you, it’s not a tough resolution,” Hargrave mentioned final week. “That’s all you want in soccer: successful and getting paid.”
About 1 ½ weeks into free company, the 49ers have saved intact their beginning core, changed some veterans who’ve left, and nonetheless want so as to add depth, plus a kicker following Robbie Gould’s introduced cut up.
Listed here are 4 takeaways from talking with Lynch at Stanford’s pre-draft, pro-day exercises:
1. ‘GAME CHANGER’
Hargrave is touted by Lynch as a recreation changer, although he was not the Eagles defender who wrecked the 49ers’ plans within the NFC Championship Sport; it was Hasson Reddick who hit Brock Purdy’s elbow in Philly’s 31-7 win. Lynch mentioned Hargrave was “probably not” on their free company radar on the time.
As soon as the offseason acquired underway, nonetheless, Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan recognized the place enchancment was most vital, and that was “getting again to being dominant on the D-line.
“We’d been good however felt we had fallen off somewhat,” Lynch mentioned. “It’s a tough factor to do. Both it's important to pay somebody or draft actual excessive, or get actual fortunate.”
Six years in the past, Shanahan got here to Stanford’s professional day and watched Solomon Thomas, a defensive sort out who’d turn out to be the 49ers’ high decide at No. 3 general. What was the case in 2017 stays true at this time: the 49ers need to dominate on the defensive entrance. Hargrave was this yr’s high goal, particularly since Washington positioned the franchise tag on Daron Payne.
They’ll ideally achieve this this coming season with Nick Bosa again because the reigning NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr Nick Bosa, with ninth-year veteran Arik Armstead an inside fixture subsequent to Hargrave, and with a mix of Drake Jackson and Clelin Ferrell on the different defensive finish spot. Additionally becoming a member of that blend is Austin Bryant, a teammate of Ferrell’s at Clemson, who agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal after 4 seasons with the Detroit Lions.
That may permit defensive sort out Javon Kinlaw to work part-time in a strong rotation. Kinlaw, by the way in which, is beginning this offseason with a more healthy knee than in previous years. The 49ers don't have any designs to commerce him forward of the fourth (and closing) yr of his rookie contract.
2. NICKEL BACK FIX
Isaiah Oliver, after 5 seasons with Atlanta, is the front-runner to take over at nickel again, an neglected however necessary position Jimmie Ward reluctantly performed final season after Okay’Waun Williams’ 2022 free company exit.
Oliver comes with the endorsement of recent 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who coached within the NFC South final season with Carolina.
“Steve Wilks actually recognized him as, for at this time’s soccer, he’s virtually the prototype for the nickel again place: larger, longer athletic, and with all these screens happening, he makes use of his fingers rather well,” Lynch mentioned.
Lynch mentioned the 49ers’ scouts favored Oliver popping out of Colorado in 2018, and that they favored him much more as soon as the second-round decide was transformed to nickel again by the Falcons. “And he’s one other yr off the ACL, which is a very good factor,” Lynch mentioned of Oliver’s 2021 knee damage. “Even he was saying, on the finish of the season, he lastly felt his legs had been again. I feel we’re getting him on the proper time.”
What's their secondary getting in Myles Hartsfield, a three-year veteran who additionally received over Wilks in Carolina? “Versatility is a key there,” Lynch mentioned. “He can play some nickel, he can play both security, he’s a very good particular groups participant, and Steve mentioned that by teaching him, he’s a really reliable man. You may all belief to throw into a large number of roles.”
3. QUARTERBACK UPDATES
Brock Purdy is rehabilitating his elbow in his native Arizona with a specialist who returns baseball gamers’ arms again to well being.
In the meantime, Trey Lance’s ankle continues to be “doing nice” and he’s throwing on the facet, a month earlier than the 49ers’ offseason program begins.
The 49ers’ plan if these comebacks falter? Sam Darnold, who dedicated to the 49ers as free company opened March 13.
“I really feel we’ve studied him perpetually, again when he was the No. 1 decide and we had been in search of commerce choices,” Lynch mentioned of Darnold, the New York Jets’ first-round decide (No. 3 general). Darnold acquired traded two years in the past to Carolina, a run-oriented workforce that higher match his expertise.
“He form of was craving what we may present: a very cool construction on offense that’s tailored for his ability set. That’s what he purchased into,” Lynch mentioned. “We’re enthusiastic about Sam.”
4. KICKER VACANCY
The 49ers have 11 draft picks, so one actually might be spent on a kicker to interchange Gould, although Lynch famous veteran choices stay in free company. The 49ers will need Gould’s successor to proceed his double obligation and moonlight as a kickoff specialist.
“There’s nonetheless guys on the market which might be NFL-quality kickers. We’re all the things,” Lynch mentioned.
Among the many free brokers in the marketplace: Mason Crosby, Randy Bullock, Chase McLaughlin, Eddy Pineiro, and Brett Maher.
Gould stays obtainable, however he introduced March 4 that he wouldn't be returning to the franchise after six seasons. The Dallas Cowboys are a logical touchdown spot, maybe the Los Angeles Rams, in the event that they meet his asking worth.
The Indianapolis Colts made Matt Homosexual the highest-paid kicker ever in free company (4 years, $22.5 million). Re-signing with their groups had been Jason Myers (Seahawks), Will Lutz (Saints), Greg Zuerlein (Jets), Matt Prater (Cardinals), Greg Joseph (Vikings), Riley Patterson (Jaguars) and Cameron Dicker (Chargers).