Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024
“I believe that the two sides are wary enough about each other’s positions that neither can rule out a total breakup. It’s all negotiating tactics, no doubt. But it’s a high-stakes negotiation, with trip wires everywhere on both sides.
And because they wouldn’t want to wait until next year’s draft to recoup an actual player for Aiyuk if they can’t see a path to a long-term deal, the 49ers would have to make that decision by, say, the middle of the first round Thursday. If the round passes and nothing happens, Aiyuk is likely to eventually sign a long-term deal and be with the 49ers for many years. But until then, nobody knows for sure.”
John Lynch discusses Brandon Aiyuk contract talks, NFL Draft outlook
“From the 49ers’ perspective, there were 83 players were draftable grades who returned to school, 35 of whom had starting grades. That has left them with a draft board of 170 draftable players out of 257 selections.
“I think the later rounds [are] probably going to be lacking,” Lynch said. “So it’s a new dynamic, one that I imagine we’re going to be faced with each year, you can go back and make a million dollars. I don’t think that’s the going rate but it is providing competition. That’s a significant amount of players.”
In short, don’t be surprised if the 49ers pull of a combo of moving back in the first round if they make a move up to acquire who they want, and move up to acquire more picks on Day 2, and potentially, early on Day 3. San Francisco has 10 selections, and may not use all of them.”
49ers’ John Lynch has received calls but ‘wouldn’t anticipate’ trading Brandon Aiyuk (paywall)
“That said, the 49ers have first-round grades on 22 prospects this year, which is slightly higher than average. He said this year’s draft class also includes 16 so-called “gold helmet” players, which is the highest character designation the 49ers give a prospect and is about average for a given year.”
Why 49ers’ decision to trade away QB Trey Lance keeps looking better (paywall)
“On Monday, for example, Jets QB Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick in 2021, was traded to the Broncos in a late-round pick swap: New York received a 2024 sixth-round pick and Denver received a 2024 seventh-rounder, with the Jets agreeing to pay $2.75 million of Wilson’s $5.5 million salary this season.
In March, the Patriots traded QB Mac Jones, the No. 15 pick, and received a 2024 sixth-round pick from the Jaguars. And the Bears traded QB Justin Fields, the No. 11 pick, and received a conditional 2025 sixth-rounder from the Steelers that could become a fourth-round pick depending on Fields’ playing time.”
Why 49ers’ recent draft whiffs picking defensive linemen means they could try again (paywall)
“At the edge, Floyd is entering his age-32 season and Gross-Matos’ career resume means he shouldn’t be a lock to be the first pass rusher off the bench. The 49ers could be intrigued by Missouri’s Darius Robinson, who had a breakout final season that included 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
On the interior, a first-round pick significantly could bolster the depth behind Hargrave and Collins, whose top backup is Elliott, a no-frills free-agent signee from the Browns. A prospect who was selected after a trade up in the Chronicle’s mock draft: Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who had 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons.”
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