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There was a rumor floating around on Thursday that the Colts called to check the availability of 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who you’d think was the worst starting tackle in the NFL based on how people talk about him.
There are going to be several fake accounts on social media passing along information as if it’s credible. If you don’t recognize the name, take the information with a grain of salt. Don’t get duped during free agency by the Adarn Schefter’s of the world.
The 49ers are in better shape than most NFL teams under the $182.5 million salary cap for the 2021 season.
The 49ers have $24,909,627 in salary-cap space, placing them with the 10th-most space in the league, according to the latest figures released by the NFL Players Association.
The 49ers rolled over $13.2 million of unused cap space from 2020, which includes more than $11 million in unearned incentives.
The NFL’s open-negotiating period for free agency begins on Monday.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon: Seahawks
Witherspoon’s inconsistencies were a constant source of frustration for coach Kyle Shahanan.
The Seahawks had good success with D.J. Reed last season after the 49ers ill-advisedly released him in the summer.
Witherspoon knows the Seahawks’ system. He could end up there on a one-year contract.
WR Kendrick Bourne: Packers
Bourne is a solid backup receiver who has the ability to play each of the positions.
Under the right circumstances, the 49ers would certainly want him back after he produced nearly 700 yards receiving.
The Packers have a dearth of wide receivers, and Bourne’s versatility would be a good fit for Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Importance of 49ers re-signing Trent Williams emphasized by Daniel Jeremiah
“To me when you look at last year’s group I think it’s better than this year’s group,” Jeremiah said. “There might be some difference of opinion there, but Mekhi Becton last year, I had a huge grade on him. You look at Jedrick Wills and then you look at [Tristan] Wirfs, and then I had the Georgia kid [Andrew Thomas] as my fourth one who went to the Giants.”
“If I was going to look at it from last year, I would take Becton, Wills, and Wirfs over the top two guys in this year’s draft class,” Jeremiah said. “But I think all five of those guys are really good players. Last year I had Wirfs as the No. 3 guy and he ended up playing better than everyone else, so that speaks to just how good that group was last year.”
Rapoport on Garoppolo, 49ers: ‘I don’t get the sense Jimmy G is going anywhere’
“I don’t get the sense Jimmy G is going anywhere,” Rapoport said. “If the Niners could upgrade, would they trade him? They probably would. I just don’t know who would be an upgrade. So, I think he sticks there.”
“The Patriots would make a lot of sense,” Rapoport commented. “It’s the same thing as the Seahawks; the 49ers—obviously, last year, they were bad—but they seem like a team that’s ready to compete. Who is going to be their quarterback? That’s the main problem with all this stuff.
“So much of this quarterback talk is out in the open now, which is great because it gives us something to talk about, and also, it’s fun, but the answer is still, ‘Who is their quarterback that is better than they previously had?’ And I cannot find an answer to that question (for the 49ers).”
Veteran quarterbacks that would be undisputed upgrades to Garoppolo include Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, but the likelihood of any of those quarterbacks heading to SF seem unlikely as of now. The team can also trade up in the upcoming draft and go in a direction of youth, claiming guys like Justin Fields or Zach Wilson, but those guys would come at a high asking price also.
Other than those six names, there isn’t a quarterback that’s considered a significant upgrade over Garoppolo. Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr may be better players than Garoppolo, but would trading for those guys really tip the needle for the 49ers becoming Super Bowl favorites next season? With guys like Mac Jones, Trey Lance, Kellen Mond or Kyle Trask, do those guys put the team in a position to be Super Bowl contenders in 2021 compared to a guy who has been in the 49ers system for 3.5 seasons?