Combine Noise

 After asking a few teams for one guy that has taken advantage of the interview process after these first few nights of meetings:

• Texas Tech iDL Lee Hunter • Ohio State LB Sonny Styles • Pitt LB Kyle Louis • Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields • North Dakota State QB Cole Payton • Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez • Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr • Navy RB Eli Heidenreich • Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas

Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. is a hot name at the NFL Combine. He’s drawing significant interest as he’s already had 17 meetings today alone with NFL teams.

The 49ers met with Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher, and Ole Miss DT Zxavian Harris at the NFL combine.

Robert Saleh on his time with the 49ers: “San Francisco it’s a championship organization. Championship ownership, championship HC, championship GM, championship everything.”

Christian Miller trained with Mykel Williams as a kid growing up. Claims he's his best friend and attributes a lot of his success to him. Says Williams showed him the proper mindset and how to be a pro.

Combine 2026

 

Pre-Combine Positional Rankings

 

With The 27th Pick

 

Using this chart I matchup most likely player for San Francisco:

40% WR: Denzel Boston 

25% OL: Monroe Freeling

14% EDGE: T. J. Parker

 9% DL: Lee Hunter

 8% TE: Kenyon Sadiq

 3% DB: Dillon Thieneman

You've Got Mail

 Invader49er: Should fans appreciate Jake Brendel more?

Those fans on social media who think the 49ers have employed a tomato can at center for the past four seasons? Brendel suffers from Mike McGlinchey Syndrome. Like the 49ers former right tackle, Brendel (299 pounds) is a bit undersized for his position and occasionally has lowlight-reel snaps in which he’s bullied backwards.

Also like McGlinchey: NFL talent evaluators disagree with @Ninerz4evah and @fireshanahan when assessing Brendel’s value. In 2023, after supposedly stinking for five seasons with the 49ers, McGlinchey signed a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the Broncos. In 2023, Brendel signed a four-year, $20 million deal with the 49ers after he received contract offers from three other teams, with the Jets enlisting QB Aaron Rodgers to recruit him with a one-hour phone call.

Shanahan rarely criticizes players publicly, but he also doesn’t tend to offer lofty praise that isn’t merited. Last month, he termed Brendel, a UCLA economics major, one of the NFL’s top centers and said he’s never had a center any better when it comes to making pre-snap blocking adjustments. That’s crucial in Shanahan’s system because almost all those duties are handled by the center, not the QB, and the 49ers’ extensive use of motion creates defensive movement that adds to Brendel’s workload.

That was my question to Eric Branch. I bet you didn't know Aaron Rodgers wanted Brendel.

Jake Brendel ranked 24th in pressure rate at 3.99%

Tyler Linderbaum ranked 31st in pressure rate at 4.85%

Under Pressure

Can Nick Zakelj reset his career after being cut the same way Colton McKivitz was able to do?

One Man's Trash Is One Teams Treasure

 Jake Brendel just had his best season as a 49er. PFF has him as the 12th best center in the NFL among qualifying players. He’s pretty durable, improving every year, and understands the system. Put a better LG next to him and let's roll!