Smokescreen central at the 49ers latest media availability

You can tell pretty quickly during these press conferences that most of these coaches and general managers have no interest in speaking at these things. Before the draft, most of these guys know they’re not going to say anything. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch opened up with a sincere message on the passing of Reggie Cobb. That set a genuine tone for the next 30 or so minutes Lynch spoke.

Here were the six biggest takeaways from yesterday’s media availability.

Two at the top?

How many top echelon talents do you think there are in this draft?

“When you say top echelon, I think there’s some that have separated themselves from the pack. The way we’re seeing it might be different than somebody else is seeing it that may have a quarterback in mind. I think there’s a group of players that have separated themselves in our mind and those are the type of players we’re looking there. We’re also prepared that if something came to us that was too good to be true, players that we’ve graded the entire draft, but players that we would be comfortable taking in the middle of the round, at 10 or wherever. We’ve done our due diligence there, as well.”

You can spin what Lynch said in a couple of ways. It certainly sounds like the team would be comfortable trading back. The guessing game to figure out the group of players that “separated themselves from the pack” is fun. Is it two to three? Or did Lynch tell us 10 for a reason. The follow-up question was just that, but Lynch declined to answer.

Bosa’s social media

His social media has gotten a lot of scrutiny. Have you guys given it the same amount of scrutiny? What’s your take on that, generally and specific to Bosa?

“I think just in general, I would tell you that we look at everything. I think we try to be as thorough in the process as we can. That is something we look at, but we also look at what kind of teammate is he. What do his teammates think about him? When I say him, I’m speaking of any prospect. In particular, when you’re talking about guys who are going to go that high, you’ve vetted these guys in every way. You try to look at things like that. What kind of member of your organization would this guy be, in every respect? You look at it all and we’ve done that with all the prospects that we might be considering at that spot.”

On Monday some old tweets/instagram posts resurfaced of Nick Bosa involved in some not so great things. The tone of the majority that comment have come to the defense of Bosa. It feels weird to turn him into the victim here. Lynch did a good job of letting us know just how much goes into these decisions. Lynch also mentioned how when he was in Columbus he had a chance to talk to just about everyone in the building. I’m sure he’s done his due diligence on the matter.

Quinnen is in contention

Considering how many first-round picks you have on the interior of your defensive line, why is Quinnen Williams someone you would consider drafting with the second pick?

“Just because he’s an excellent football player. The season he had may have been as god of a college football season that I’ve ever seen. He was just dominant. To think that that was his first year playing nose tackle. It’s a great story. He went to [Alabama head coach] Nick Saban and basically says, ‘I want to play nose for you.’ He’d never played in there. Nick kind of goes on to tell him what he would have to do to make that happen. It was gaining a lot of weight, doing so in a good fashion and the kid did. What a season he had. He’s a spectacular player. When you look at how your roster is currently comprised, when you have an opportunity to take a talent like that, you certainly look at every avenue to improve your team.”

Lynch, on if Williams is more of a nose tackle or a three-technique, “He can play anything, that guy. He’s special.”

On the future of Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead

Being that you guys are considering an interior pass rusher, what does that say about DL Solomon Thomas or DL Arik Armstead? You guys have been very patient with them over the last two seasons. Where would that put them if you guys do address it at two?

“We’re excited about both those guys. We’re not making a big change to our system, but we did go out and bring in [defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek to work along with [pass rush specialist] Chris Kiffin. One thing that Kyle really respected about Kris Kocurek, who is really regarded as one of the top D-Line coaches, is his style. That’s just cutting it loose. We think that really lends to both Arik and Solomon in what they do and what they need to do to be successful. Like I said, we want to come at people in waves. Both of those guys, I think, are very good players that we’re very excited about for this season, in this kind of new tweaked style that we’re going to be implementing.”

That sounds like this is the 49ers giving two athletic players one last chance. If Kocurek is truly going to run the “Wide 9” defense, that will be a significant change to what the defense looked like last year. I know Lynch downplayed it, but changing your launching point two yards is a big deal.

Staley staying put

T Joe Staley is only under contract through the end of this year. Obviously, the offensive line has been pretty consistent throughout the last year and a half. Do you sense his future as uncertain? Do you take a look more at some tackles in the draft?

“I think you’re always looking at the lines and trying to equip yourself for what’s to come. But, I’ll say this about Joe Staley, Joe has a unique opportunity. We all know what he’s meant to this organization. He’s got a unique opportunity to be a part of this organization and my hope is that he only plays for one organization. I think he’s a special player. He’s a special personality. I’m not going to get into the specifics of where we’re going on all that, but I’ll just tell you that my hope and Kyle’s hope, everybody associated that is involved in this decision, is that Joe never plays any place else but the San Francisco 49ers. We’re very pleased with Joe Staley and the way he’s playing.”

That just feels right. I imagine Joe feels the exact same way. In my short time getting to know everything 49ers, Staley is already my favorite 49er. Easy guy to root for. Feels like “one of us.” He just so happens to be one of the best players at his position.

A cornerback on Day 2?

You’ve mentioned feeling good about Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead. I would assume you feel similarly to CB Tarvarius Moore and CB Ahkello Witherspoon, but just given that CB Richard Sherman is not going to be here forever, are you taking a close look at corner in this draft relative to how you feel about Moore and Witherspoon?

“That’s another one of those positions where I think you have to consistently add those guys. We’re throwing the ball, just at a rate this league, we’re in nickel packages upward to 70-percent of the time. You’ve got to have those guys and you’ve got to have great depth at that position. I think you’re always focused on trying to find good players. We took a chance on [CB] Jason Verrett because when healthy Jason Verrett was a top-level corner so we felt the risk-reward made sense in that instance. That’s an example. When you have an opportunity to improve your team there you take advantage of that.”

So, a cornerback is coming. Maybe earlier than we expected?