Kyle Shanahan was thinking about a different QB after Justin Fields’ pro day…
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There was so much mystery to the 49ers’ draft process. It’s a massive credit to John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, who were really the only two people to know who the 49ers were leaning towards selecting.
They wanted to invite criticism and open assessments from their staff without concerns over potentially criticizing the guy that Shanahan and Lynch liked. But it was Trey Lance, they say, from the start, and while they liked both Justin Fields and Mac Jones, Lance only continued to impress those two as the process went on.
Lynch joined Chris Collinsworth’s PFF podcast on Wednesday to discuss everything from his Hall of Fame induction to the 49ers’ quarterback evaluation process. There are a lot of notes from what turned out to be a more than hour-long conversation, so they’ll be left as bulletpoints:
- Decision to trade up: Pointed again to Garoppolo’s health issues as the cause for moving for another quarterback. Told Garoppolo up front, assured him the competition would be open. Didn’t talk to Jacksonville. Talked to the Jets “a little.” Landed, as previously stated, with Miami at three because that was the highest they could get with the most traction.
- Shanahan’s cut ups tipped off Lynch early: Shanahan told Lynch he “couldn’t stop watching” tape of Trey Lance, talked about Lance for 15 minutes as a passer before even mentioning his running ability. Lynch said he was “super excited.” Lynch said Shanahan sent him myriad cut-ups of Lance with notes, tipping him off that he was Shanahan’s favorite: “we were in on Trey early.”
- Shade at “reporting”: There were myriad reports that the 49ers were believed to be in on Mac Jones. The momentum was substantial. Lynch made fun of that, and questioned the journalistic integrity of those reporters, saying, “There were people close to Kyle that we’re saying it, and so I think everyone just assumed it was true. And it is pretty incredible… People have no problem just making stuff up because they want to be first. There used to be something called journalistic integrity where you check multiple sources, and there’s no consequence for being wrong these days.”
- Lynch knew on the way back from Fields’ pro day: Among the many entertaining stories that Lynch recalled, and probably the most pertinent to the 49ers, was he and Shanahan flying back from Justin Fields’ second pro day, which they both agreed was extremely impressive. But on the way back from that workout, Shanahan was working on his iPad on plays for Lance. “He was drawing stuff up with Trey Lance in mind and we had just come from Justin Fields and we both agreed his workout was fantastic,” Lynch said. “That’s when I said, ‘Man, he’s really all in on this.’”
- Declined to help out agents: Lynch said he was called by Jimmy Sexton, whose CAA sports agency represents both Trey Lance and Mac Jones. Sexton was hoping Lynch could let him know who the 49ers were picking to temper expectations for players. He called about a week out from the draft and Lynch thought he’d think about it. And about a day before, they talked again, with Lynch saying, effectively, he wanted to keep it a surprise for whoever they did draft.
- Trade Garoppolo after the year?
- Collinsworth said that if Garoppolo plays well, he could be the 49ers’ most valuable player and potentially net them a first-round pick. “Next year, you go get probably first-round capital back in return for him,” Collinsworth said. “There is a real opportunity for Garoppolo if he does start and play and have a good year, not only are your grooming Trey Lance, but you’re upgrading what you might get in return for Jimmy Garoppolo.”
- And Lynch agreed. “Yeah, I think that’s so true,” Lynch said, before going on to talk about how much he appreciates Garoppolo’s maturity. He was speaking more to Garoppolo’s character, but was also clearly acknowledging the validity of the scenario Collinsworth laid out.
- Relief that Rodgers wasn’t available: The 49ers famously or infamously called the Packers the day before the draft as reports about Aaron Rodgers wanting a trade came out. Or rather, Kyle Shanahan called his friend and Packers head coach Matt Lafleur, who told him, in no uncertain terms, that there was no way that was happening. Lynch said that came as something of a relief because of how much he liked Lance. “I was kind of excited because we were so excited about Trey, and had such great conviction,” Lynch said. “But I didn’t want to not make that call, and be the moron that never at least called. But it was a very quick, ‘No chance.’”
Listen to the full episode here.