Aiyuk Wars

(1) If Aiyuk doesn’t show up at the 49ers facility ready to participate, the team can attach a DNR (Did Not Report) designation on him for as long as he is absent. (2) That DNR tag means not only would they not have to pay him, they could FINE him in the neighborhood of $50K per day for each day he fails to report. That fine would be stripped out of any future contract Aiyuk might sign, and the money then handed over to SF. (3) If Aiyuk is tagged with a DNR, he no longer counts toward a roster spot, and the team can and will carry a full 53-man roster (or 90-man before the cut), even though Aiyuk is still under contract. The bottom line is: The only party who can dislodge the 49ers from their complete control of Aiyuk, is Aiyuk himself—and only by reporting for training camp. As long as he stays away, the 49ers can withhold all pay, bank up $50K per day against him in fines (payable when he signs somewhere else), enjoy a full roster without him, and block him from playing football anywhere else. If Aiyuk does not report, the 49ers could simply sit on him until 2029, not pay him a dime, functionally ending his NFL career. People who think Aiyuk can just hide and wait until September are woefully mistaken. And as long as Aiyuk stays away, the Commanders will be sitting at the lighthouse window, staring out to sea, waiting for the next three years for a ship that may never sail.  

The Lynch Narrative

The basis of the narrative is Lynch has been a terrible draft generator since he’s been here. Focusing on the “worst” of the 49ers draft years (including 2022 and 2023), results in an overall drop of just about 2% in rostered players drafted and developed inside the building over multiple years.

This means even eliminating their best draft years prior to 2022, the 49ers STILL sit solidly mid-pack in the NFL at a respectable 48-50% rate of draftees/UDFAs vs. trade/FA acquisitions. Drafting players, or signing post-draft UDFAs, that are not just starters, but solid depth pieces that remain on the roster 2-3 or more years later is a genuine metric for determining the value of team’s draft process. You can't evaluate draft success without considering the valuable depth players who are drafted then productive in support for years. These are guys that can make or break a team.  

Multiple year value from homegrown players is an absolute, measurable component. Arbitrary values assigned to “reaching” off a consensus board created by people outside the building making lists in a vacuum, is not.  

49ers UDFA'S

 

• WR Wesley Grimes (NC State)
• S Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame)
• DL Bryson Eason (Tennessee)
• DL Mikail Kamara (Indiana)
• TE Khalil Dinkins (Penn State)
• DT James Thompson (Illinois)
• WR Will Pauling (Notre Dame)
• P Jack Bouwmeester (Texas)
• LB Kalib Perry (Louisville - Invite)
• S Duce Chestnut (Syracuse - Invite)
• Question:
• Which UDFA(s) do you have making the 53-man roster?
• I'll go with Pauling and Stroman

Ole Miss: Back To The Well

 Greg Cosell on 49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling:

“I spoke to an offensive coach who has been in this league for 35 years and he likes Stribling more than Makai Lemon.” I'm guessing that coach was Andy Reid, what say you?

Bucky Brooks said a team in the AFC South was very interested in drafting De’Zhaun Stribling and says he wasn’t going to last far beyond pick 33 if the 49ers didn’t draft him.

What do you think, can he beat out Kirk for WR3?

Kansas: Back To The Well

 Five offensive linemen reached at least 20.3 mph during the 40-yard dash, led by Kansas tackle Enrique Cruz with a max speed of 20.69 mph. Do you think he wins the swing OT job?

Athleticism

The key theme seemed to be speed and agility in this draft. The 49ers might not have won the PR war but I'm excited to see how this translates to winning football games.  

2026 San Francisco Draft Class

Just one more thing…how we feeling about this draft class?

2nd (33): WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Miss

3rd (70): DE Romello Height, Tex Tech 3rd (90): RB Kaelon Black, Ind 4th (107): DT Gracen Halton, Okla 4th (127): OL Carver Willis, Wash 4th (139): CB Ephesians Prysock, Wash 5th (154): LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana 5th (179) Enrique Cruz Jr. OT Kansas

Day 3

My best available:

1. Jermod McCoy CB TN

2. Keionte Scott CB Miami

3. Dani Dennis Sutton DE PSU

4. Bishop Fitzgerald S USC

5. Michael Taaffe S Texas

6. Joshua Josephs DE TN 

Going Into Day 3

Thoughts on the 49ers picks through Day 2 of the NFL Draft?

RD 2: Pick 33 - De'Zhaun Stribling, WR RD 3: Pick 70 - Romello Height, DE RD 3: Pick 90 - Kaelon Black, RB

Open For Business Rounds 2 & 3

 

Denzel Boston or T J Parker? Trade down for even more? Stay tuned....

Top 30 Visits Available

•Edge Jaishawn Barham,Michigan

•WR Denzel Boston, Washington

•WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee •LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma •WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech •OL Alex Harkey, Oregon •DE Romello Height, Texas Tech •DT Chris McClellan, Missouri •DT Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M •TE Michael Trigg, Baylor •S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech •WR Colbie Young, Georgia

Day 2

The 49ers updated draft picks after the trade: Round 2: Pick 33 Round 2: Pick 58 Round 3: Pick 90 Round 4: Pick 127 Round 4: Pick 133 Round 4: Pick 139 Round 5: Pick 179 

Merry Draftmas!

 

My Final Mock Draft

 

 27 - A) WR Texas A&M K C Concepcion B) WR Washington Denzel Boston

 58 - A) LG Georgia Tech Keylan Rutledge B) LG Iowa Gennings Dunker

*Dee Winters traded to Tennessee for pick 184

127 - DL Texas A&M Tyler Onyedim

133 - RB Penn St Nick Singleton

138 - S Oklahoma Robert Spears-Jennings

139 - Edge Western Michigan Nadame Tucker 

184 - OG/C/OT Washington Carver Willis

I don't believe there will be a team willing to trade up to 27

I don't believe more than 5 WR's come off the board before 27 and I have the 49ers taking the 5th or 6th

One of Rutledge or Dunker should be available at 58 and ideally starts at LG

Onyedim has experience at 0t through 7t and can set the edge at DE, likely backup to Osa as their 3t penetrator

Singleton is a one cut and go runner they'd likely have on their board who brings some physicality

RSJ is a big speedy Safety that can tackle who Morris might have interest in

Tucker is their speed rusher who they can integrate on obvious passing situations 

Willis is a perfect prototype for this scheme. A run blocking savant who can move and play everywhere along the OL

John Lynch's Pre-Draft Presser

SF very confident Trent Williams will play at least 2 more years, hence $37m GTD Lynch has had discussions with suitors about a Brandon Aiyuk trade, but still considers a deal unlikely this week. 49ers will revisit their stance after 49ers believe EDGE, OL, and WR are deep in this year's NFL Draft The 49ers have given out slightly fewer first-round grades this year than last Lynch believes there'll be a lot of trade movement in this year's draft Lynch does not believe the 49ers have "glaring holes" — at least the type that would force them to reach for player(s) in the draft Lynch does not rule out signing vets like Joey Bosa, but says that the focus is now on the draft. 49ers will see where they're at after the draft. Lynch has said Joey will likely be too expensive for SF; he did congratulate Joey on his recent wedding The 49ers believe their location in Silicon Valley is advantageous when it comes to leveraging AI to improve their operation. Lynch: "Just like the rest of the world: If you aren't using it, you're already behind." Lynch again emphasized that D-line remains 49ers' emphasis and current roster openings underscore this. On pass rush: "We need to get better there.” Biggest difference of NFL Draft in NIL era: "You're seeing a lot more 25-year-old rookies." Lynch repeats how beneficial it was for 49ers to get Mykel Williams at Age 21 Lynch on Raheem Morris: “He’s a bundle of energy. He’s curious. He’s insightful. There’s guys who drain a room, and there are guys who give a room energy.” Morris has said he'll throw pool parties if the 49ers draft some of the players he likes Lynch on 49ers' 2025 draft class: "I do believe that we’re going to look back at last year’s draft class and feel really good about what were able to accomplish. You’ve got to give this thing a couple years." Lynch believes new 49ers DT Osa Odighizuwa "is going to impact us in all facets of the game." Lynch says the 49ers' hydrotherapy facility upgrades, currently under construction, will be a significant positive in injury prevention and recovery Lynch jokes (?) that safety is a premium position in the 49ers' drafting plans. "That may be a little personal." 

Buh Bye Lomu

 

49ers and 12-time Pro-Bowl LT Trent Williams reached agreement today on a two-year, $50 million extension that now contractually ties him to San Francisco through the 2027 season, per Schefter.

LB Rankins

 

TOP 30's

 

6 Days To Go

 

Left Tackle at 27?

 

 

 The 2026 NFL Draft, or Draftmas as some of us may affectionately call it, is almost upon us.  

In a week, many members of The Faithful will be in front of their TV. Others will be holding their phone close, eager to see who the pick will be.

Ask any fan who they think the 49ers should pick. You'll get a list of several positions the 49ers should address, and which prospect should be drafted to address each position.  

However, there is one position that usually comes up most often: left tackle.

And it makes sense, too. Trent Williams is still one of the best in the NFL at his position, but he is approaching 40 years old and has shown signs of regression over the last two seasons. It absolutely makes sense for the 49ers to draft his eventual replacement with the 27th pick in the first round, right?

Hold that thought, because the evidence shows that it is likely not the case. If you look at who the 49ers have played at the left tackle position under Shanahan, you’ll notice one thing the two have in common.

They were NFL veterans.

When the 49ers learned in 2020 that Joe Staley was planning to retire, they traded for Trent Williams to take his place instead of drafting fan favorite Tristan Wirfs.

Some will say their selection was due to the 49ers needing to draft a replacement for DT DeForest Buckner after trading him to the Colts.

Fair argument, except the 49ers have followed the strategy of signing a veteran over drafting a successor at the center position. The 49ers signed Weston Richburg, then Alex Mack, and currently have Jake Brendel manning the center position.

What this shows is that Shanahan trusts a veteran at two very important areas on the offensive line: center, and the position most of The Faithful want addressed, a successor to Trent Williams at left tackle. 

But one of the nuances of a Shanahan run offense is its complexity, so having a veteran at the left tackle position allows Shanahan to only worry about teaching the player the offensive scheme instead of the offense and how to play the position at the NFL level.

Does drafting a left tackle at pick 27 in the first round make sense?

To the fan base, absolutely.

To the 49ers, not so much.