Golden Nuggets: It’s that point in the offseason where I’m scouting CFL players

3 CFL players the 49ers should scout during the 2023 season

“One of the best aspects of the CFL is how unique it is. For over 100 years, they haven’t fallen into a trap to become a minor league of the NFL. They consistently produce some top-tier athletes and it also provides some NFL cuts a chance to regain their confidence....

But the CFL has survived every version of the XFL, even with a weird announcement between the leagues when the XFL came back. They’re surviving through the Arena Football League, and will most certainly be just fine with the USFL. Heck, they even survived a US expansion when the Baltimore Stallions won the Grey Cup, the only US team to do so.....

In his first year with Ottawa, [DE Lorenzo] Mauldin racked up 17 quarterback sacks. 2022 was the first season he was able to play all 18 games. Previously, he was with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his debut season with the REDBLACKS, he was a CFL All-Star and won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. This man is half beast. He comes in at 6-foot-4, 259 pounds from Sacramento, California. However, he is extremely quick. Line him up anywhere on the line of scrimmage and there’s a high probability he’s making a play in the backfield. In this piece from CFL.ca’s Jim Morris, Mauldin says he doesn’t want to be a “one-hit wonder.”

Lynch’s hopeful plea to York led to 49ers’ Hargrave signing

“Lynch recalled one impromptu meeting at his house with 49ers CEO Jed York where he attempted to convince his owner to greenlight a move that would improve the defensive line.

“We knew we had to go get a difference maker, so when I got with Jed one Saturday at my house, Jed came over and Kyle and I had discussed ... it felt like I was asking a girl on a date ‘here’s how I’m going to start the meeting, Kyle.’ “No, no don’t do it that way, do it this way,’” Lynch recalled.

“I was basically going to Father for confession asking for money. And I said ‘Jed, it would be a shame with this team to sit on the sidelines.’ Jed stopped me and said ‘Make sure it’s a difference maker.’ I said ‘OK, we’re on the same page because we got one for you.’ That was Javon Hargrave.”

Should the 49ers trade for an EDGE rusher?

“The 49ers could entertain a move for Young, understanding that he isn’t looking for an extension, and capitalize on his potential for one year as the starter opposite Nick Bosa.”

Nick Bosa is the key to all of this for 49ers

“The 49ers haven’t been able to find a franchise cornerstone at quarterback. In the meantime they’ve constructed a very good defense to help lighten the load on the offense. If a team can’t have a franchise QB, having a player who can regularly make life difficult on opposing QBs is the next best thing. San Francisco has the latter and should for the foreseeable future.”