Brock Purdy became the unexpected solution, and now they will compete in Super Bowl LVIII
SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers They made a decision that could have set the franchise back years when they traded three first-round picks to select Trey Lance in third overall position in the 2021 draft.
The big investment in a potential franchise quarterback turned out to be a failure. Lance only started four games in his first two seasons and the previous summer he was traded for a fourth-round pick when he couldn’t even make the bench for the 49ers.
The on-field impact of one of the worst recruiting in recent history has been minimal. San Francisco has reached the NFC championship game the first two years after that and is heading to the Super Bowl to face the Kansas City Chiefs on February 11.
San Francisco 49ers celebrate their victory in the NFC Championship Game. Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
A couple of big hits in previous drafts and two trades for All-Pro players helped. Also what could be considered the most important free pass in draft history to get out of the jam.
After a terrible mistake in choosing a quarterback in 2021, the Niners hit the mark with the last pick of the entire draft, a year later when they took Brock Purdy.
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He took over due to injuries towards the end of last season and led the NFL in rating and yards per attempt on his way to being a finalist for league MVP in his first full season as a starter. And he’s accomplished all of this while earning a salary of $870,000 this year, allowing San Francisco to spend big on other positions.
“It’s like winning the lottery by getting a player like him with the last pick in the draft,” he said. Trent Williamsthe All-Pro left tackle.
The head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have done an outstanding job since taking over a team that won two games in 2017.
That’s not how it started, the executive director recalled Jed YorkShanahan’s assessment of the squad when he interviewed for the job.
“Kyle was pretty clear. He thought it was one of the worst teams he had ever seen. NFL”York said this week.
This changed quickly.
The Niners selected five players: tight end, George Kittle; the linebacker, Fred Warner; the defensive end, Nick Bosa; the receptor Deebo Samuel; and the injured safety Discuss Content, who became first team All-Pro. Four of those picks came after the first round.
But the two most important additions beyond Brock Purdy They could have arrived through exchanges. The Niners got the best left tackle in the game. NFL when they acquired the disgruntled Williams from Washington in a 2020 draft day trade for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick.
The offense reached another level when second, third, fourth and fifth round picks were sent for Christian McCaffrey prior to last season’s trade deadline. Kyle Shanahan He was hesitant to pay that price for a broker, but was persuaded to make it happen.
“At the end of the day we were able to get it done,” Lynch said. “I think it has paid big dividends. Good memories”.
Offensive
The Niners gave valuable contract extensions to Williams and Samuel, and are set to give another to second-team All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
San Francisco He also invested heavily in McCaffrey and has the highest-paid fullback in the league in All-Pro, Kyle Juszczyk.
In addition to the savings at the quarterback position with Brock Purdy, The Niners have had to skimp on other positions, primarily the offensive line. The other four starters next to Williams count about $9 million against this season’s salary cap.
Defensive
The central point for the construction of the 49ers under the command of Kyle Shanahan and Lynch has been the defensive lineman, using three first-rounders in his first four drafts at the position.
The biggest success of that group was Bosa, Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and who has a franchise record with 10 sacks in the postseason.
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They also gave a lucrative extension to Arik Armsteada first-round pick in 2015 from the old regime and they signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave for four years and 81 million before the campaign.
San Francisco added to the position by trading a third-round pick at the trade deadline to land the No. 2 overall pick in Washington, Chase Young.
The key on defense is two linebackers chosen in the middle rounds. Warner has been the best in the league in recent years and Dre Greenlawfifth rounder of 2019, sets the tone with his aggressive playing style.
Los 49ers They did not invest heavily in the secondary, but they did spend a year ago to snatch the cornerback Charvarius Ward to the Chiefs with an agreement for three years and 40.5 million. The movement paid off.
Charvarius Ward He was named second-team All-Pro this season.
2024-02-05 12:30:00
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