More cryptic info has come out on the San Francisco 49ers pursuit of demon pass-rusher Khalil mack. A pursuit that ended in failure when he was instead dealt to the Chicago Bears for a really strange deal.
After watching him make Green Bay his own house for three quarters, it’s apparent he could have made the 49ers defense something. Him? DeForest Buckner? Reuben Foster? Fred Warner? Richard Sherman? That has the chance of legendary status.
Alas, it’s not meant to be. So what did the 49ers offer? My guess is something close to what Chicago offered. The Raiders said they felt the Rams, another suitor for Mack, were going to pick “too low” meaning they [the Rams] would do too well in the ensuing season. Chicago is not near as far along in their rebuild as the 49ers are. Both are rebuilding, but San Francisco is doing it at a much accelerated pace thanks to sound drafting and that no-name quarterback they gave a bunch of money to. So the 49ers draft positioning had to be a factor. No one knows for sure, but I’m guessing it was in the realm of what Chicago offered, but not quite, and not as juicy given the above information.
And while we’re on it. Foot in my mouth on objecting to this. I thought risking the 49ers future and salary cap was a bad move. Not only would they give up a couple first rounders, but that well would have dried up for when DeForest Buckner came in for an extension. I don’t know how the 49ers could work on keeping everyone, but it’s something I think worth risking, especially with the way Mack has transformed the Bears defense.
Unfortunately, the 49ers were already good without Mack. The Bears? Well not so much. That had to play into the decision.
Kyle Shanahan: We went real hard after Khalil Mack (Pro Football Talk)
49ers backed away from initial interest in Josh Gordon (Pro Football Talk)
49ers to start and sit in fantasy football for Week 3 (Madson)
Reuben Foster, Fred Warner give 49ers intriguing long-term linebacker duo (ESPN)
Kyle Shanahan takes blame for Ahkello Witherspoon’s rough game (Maiocco)
49ers CEO Jed York says Colin Kaepernick national anthem narrative ‘spun out of control’ (Sporting News)
Niners’ Defense Faces High-Scoring Chiefs (Williams)
Reuben Foster ‘sees a dog’ in rookie LB Fred Warner (Madson)