Golden Nuggets: The NFL wants to shorten the opt-out window

We’ll have some quotes today as San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will speak to the media at 12:30 p.m. PT. Onto some news around the NFL from the weekend.

Teams worry that opt-out privilege isn’t being used in good faith

The NFL reportedly wants to shorten the deadline for opting out. The desire to give players less time to decide on playing in 2020 comes from at least two specific concerns.

As one source explained it to PFT, teams are concerned that some players who think they won’t make the team are choosing to opt out and to take the six-figure stipend. While players apparently would owe the money back to the teams if they fail to make the roster in 2021, no team wants to have to chase a former player around next year in an effort to retrieve $150,000 or $350,000.

Another concern comes from an issue we’ve previously flagged: Some agents, per the source, are using the threat of an opt out as leverage to get their clients new contracts.

Seahawks Signing Antonio Brown Would be a Nightmare for 49ers

Seattle’s offense with Wilson alone was already a nuisance to go up against. So long as he is the quarterback for the Seahawks, the 49ers can never overlook them. Even in Week 17 when the 49ers were beating down the Seahawks for three quarters, Seattle still mustered a comeback to draw it out on the final play. In fact, had the Seahawks not try to get all cute by forcing Marshawn Lynch into the rotation which caused a delay of game penalty, then they possibly would have been the 2019 NFC West champions.

Just imagine adding Brown to that roster.

Seattle’s receiver group is already strong with Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. You put Brown in that lineup and you might as well hand the MVP trophy to Wilson. The defense of the 49ers is elite - one of the best in the game. But even their defense doesn’t have the necessary depth to cover all three wide outs, especially a player of Brown’s caliber.

Richard Sherman would easily get burnt, Emmanuel Moseley would get spun like a top, and Ahkello Witherspoon... well let’s not go there. K’Waun Williams might be the best guy to cover Brown since he has no issue with getting aggressive.

49ers bolster secondary, offensive line in 3-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 30: Israel Mukuamu | CB | South Carolina

The physical traits with Mukuamu make him a prime candidate for San Francisco’s zone-heavy scheme. He’s listed at 6-4, 205 pounds. That size may make it difficult for him to play straight man coverage against NFL receivers, but he still moves well enough to be an effective pro. In two seasons at South Carolina Mukuamu has five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and four tackles for loss.

Round 2, Pick 62: Tommy Kraemer | OL | Notre Dame

It’d be interesting if the 49ers took a tackle in the second round. In this scenario, it probably means Trent Williams didn’t re-sign and Mike McGlinchey moved to left tackle. Kraemer has been a right tackle during his career at Notre Dame, and was a stellar pass blocker last year before a season-ending knee injury limited him to just seven games.

Why Tevin Coleman Better Watch his Back in Training Camp

Coleman isn’t outrageously expensive, but he is the 49ers’ highest-paid running back. They have Mostert, who’s better than Coleman. And they have McKinnon who’s better than Coleman when healthy.

Meaning Coleman might be the third-best running back on the 49ers. He averaged merely 4 yards per carry last season — below the NFL average of 4.3 yards per carry.

Unless he improves and legitimately wins the starting job during training camp, the 49ers could ask him to take a pay cut. And he might accept one. But if he refuses, the 49ers could trade him and create $2.868 million in salary-cap space, then use that money to sign free agent tight end Jordan Reed or free agent tight end Delanie Walker.