Lynch: ‘I continue to think we offered a better deal than Chicago [for Khalil Mack]’

The San Francisco 49ers have desperately needed help at the edge rusher position all season, but it sounds like their best chance at a serious upgrade was never going to materialize. General manager John Lynch made an appearance on 95.7 The Game Tuesday morning, and he suggested the 49ers offered more than the Chicago Bears did for Khalil Mack.

Lynch was talking about the need for an upgrade at edge rusher, and was asked about the Mack trade. He said, “I continue to think we offered a better deal than Chicago.” He did not go into further detail, but that would suggest the 49ers offered at least two first round picks to the Raiders.

Back in September, the Bears gave up first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, a third-round pick in 2020 and a sixth-round pick in 2019 to acquire Mack, a 2020 second round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2020. The Bears then signed Mack to a six-year, $141 million deal that made him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history.

In getting turned down by the Raiders, Lynch said it led him to wonder if the 49ers were ever actually in consideration. If what Lynch said about the offer is true, it is entirely possible the Raiders simply had no interest in dealing him to their Bay Are rivals, and instead used their offer to boost the Bears offer (if it needed boosting).

Fans have given Lynch grief for not acquiring some of the big names that have been dealt this year. In this instance, it would appear the 49ers tried but might not have had any actual chance. That being said, if the 49ers end up with a top five pick, Lynch made it sound like edge rusher would be a high priority. He acknowledged the need for more of a presence, and an unexpectedly high pick int he 2019 draft could provide an opportunity for that kind of game-changing player.