Inside the 49ers: Recapping everything that happened between the NFC Championship loss and now
Training camp is a week away, so let’s catch you up with an abridged recap of the 49ers’ offeason.
On the surface, nothing major has transpired in the six months since losing the NFC Championship Game.
No trade or release of Jimmy Garoppolo, mainly because of his March shoulder surgery.
No multi-year contract extensions (yet) for Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa or Dre Greenlaw, their 2019 draft-class gems.
No known season-ending injury or off-field chaos, that we know of to this point.
There is plenty to review and ponder ahead of Tuesday’s reporting date and Wednesday’s initial practice:
TREY LANCE’S ASCENT
Limited to essentially 2 ½ games as a rookie backup to Garoppolo, Lance looked in command, fluid and more accurate through the offseason program. He’ll have three weeks to further seize the QB1 role before the Aug. 12 preseason opener against Green Bay and then the bigger tests that come with joint practices Aug. 17-18 in his native Minnesota.
GAROPPOLO’S MARKET
The 49ers openly tried trading Garoppolo before he opted for surgery on his throwing shoulder. What followed was an NFL land rush for quarterbacks, with no takers for Garoppolo, who reportedly won’t be fully cleared to throw until mid-August. He has a $24 million salary that doesn’t kick in until Week 1. The 49ers could release him, retain him for competition’s sake, see if the Browns need him upon a Deshaun Watson suspension (they reportedly aren’t interested), or magically trade him a team with a not-so-surefire QB like the New York Giants, the Houston Texans or, gulp, the Seattle Seahawks. Stashing him on the physically-unable-to-perform list seems like an option.
TRADE REQUEST
Samuel reportedly sought a trade (for still-unknown reasons) weeks before the draft and he confirmed that to an ESPN reporter April 20. The 49ers publicly insisted they would not trade him. Once the draft’s opening night ended April 28, coach Kyle Shanahan said “nothing was even remotely close” in terms of trade offers. Samuel skipped the voluntary offseason program, then attended the mandatory minicamp to observe practices in upbeat fashion.
“Hopefully when it’s all said and done, we’ll get the best thing for the Niners, the best for Deebo and hopefully that’s the same thing, because we’d love to keep going how we’ve been,” Shanahan said in April.
AIYUK SHINES
Brandon Aiyuk served as the No. 1 wide receiver, both on the 49ers’ fields in Samuel’s absence and in Trey Lance’s Southern California workouts with private coaches. “I’m trying to really maximize my spot, my role I have in this offense,” Aiyuk said in May.
DEE FORD DONE?
Three years after a big deal (and contract) for defensive end Dee Ford, the 49ers are apparently done with him, though he hasn’t formally retired or been released yet. In June, Shanahan said Ford was cleared by his doctor, and that the 49ers’ staff still would examine him, but “I do not expect him to be on our team.”
FREE AGENCY GAINS
Cornerback Charvarius Ward (Kansas City Chiefs) was their big buy (three years, $40.5 million). Special teams were their other big emphasis with receiver/returner Ray-Ray McCloud (Steelers), safety George Odum (Colts) and linebacker Oren Burks (Packers). Also signed: wide receivers Marcus Johnson (Titans) and Malik Turner (Cowboys); defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (Eagles); defensive ends Kerry Hyder Jr. (Seahawks) and Kemoko Turay (Colts); and, tight ends Troy Fumagalli (Patriots) and Tyler Kroft (Jets).
FREE AGENCY LOSSES
Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson (New York Jets) cashed out after five seasons. Dolphins coach and ex-49ers assistant Mike McDaniel brought with him running back Raheem Mostert and wide receivers Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft. The Denver Broncos poached cornerback K’Waun Williams, nose tackle D.J. Jones and guard Tom Compton. Also gone: safeties Jaquiski Tartt (Eagles) and Marcell Harris (Jets), defensive linemen Arden Key (Jaguars) and Kentavius Street (Saints), wide receiver Richie James (Giants) and running back Trenton Cannon (Titans).
RETIREMENTS
Center Alex Mack waited until June 3 to announce the end of his 13-year career, the last season of which came on the 49ers. Jake Brendel is Mack’s projected replacement, unless the 49ers bring in a veteran before camp (see: J.C. Tretter) or if Daniel Brunskill slides over from right guard. (Also: Frank Gore, the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher, signed a ceremonial contract to retire with the franchise on June 3, the same day as Mack.)
ONE-YEAR ENCORES
Re-signed to one-year deals were cornerback Jason Verrett; running back Jeff Wilson Jr.; wide receiver Jauan Jennings; linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles; quarterback Nate Sudfeld; tight end Ross Dwelley; offensive linemen Daniel Brunskill, Jake Brendel and Colton McKivitz; defensive backs Dontae Johnson and Darqueze Dennard; and, defensive lineman Maurice Hurst, Jordan Willis and Kevin Givens.
STILL ON THE MARKET
Among last season’s 49ers who remain unsigned are wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Travis Benjamin, cornerback Josh Norman and safety Tavon Wilson.
DRAFT CLASS
Having spent their first-round pick in the 2021 move up for Lance, the 49ers’ top pick this year came in the second round with USC defensive end Drake Jackson. Also drafted: running back Ty Davis-Price (LSU; third round), wide receivers Danny Gray (SMU; 3rd), offensive linemen Spencer Burford (Texas-San Antonio; 4th) and Nick Zakelj (Fordham, 6th); cornerbacks Sam Womack (Toledo; 5th) and Tariq Castro-Fields (Penn State; 6th); defensive tackle Kalia Davis (UCF; 6th); and, quarterback Brock Purdy (Iowa State; 7th).
UNDRAFTED CLASS
If an undrafted rookie sneaks onto the roster or secures a practice-squad job, it’ll come from a group featuring running back Jordan Mason; linebackers Jeremiah Gemmel, Marcelino McCrary-Ball and Segun Olubi; safeties Tayler Hawkins and Leon O’Neal; offensive linemen Jason Poe, Sam Schlueter and Dohnovan West; cornerback Qwantrezz Knight; and wide receivers Taysir Mack and Tay Martin; and, defensive lineman Kevin Atkins.
HEALTH UPDATES
Held out of practice for precautionary or rehabilitation measures were: Garoppolo (shoulder); running backs Elijah Mitchell (knee) and Ty Davis-Price; tight ends George Kittle (lower body) and Charlie Woerner (lower body); offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey (quadriceps) and Daniel Brunskill (knee tendinitis); wide receiver Danny Gray (hamstring); cornerback Charvarius Ward; defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee); and, linebackers Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair (knee, shoulder), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee tendinitis).
COACHING CHANGES
It’s the biggest shift change in Shanahan’s six seasons, particularly at run-game coordinator (out: Mike McDaniel; in: Chris Foerster); special-teams coordinator (out: Richard Hightower; in: Brian Schneider); quarterbacks (out: Rich Scangarello; in: Brian Griese); running backs (out: Bobby Turner; in: Anthony Lynn), wide receiver (out: Wes Welker; in: Leonard Hankerson); tight ends (out: Jon Embree; in: Brian Fleury).
FRIENDLY SCHEDULE
The 49ers open Sept. 11 at the Chicago Bears, then host the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 18 in a Sunday afternoon affair (pack sunscreen, hat, water bottle). Next come back-to-back prime-time games (at Denver, vs. Los Angeles Rams) before back-to-back games on the East Coast (at Carolina, at Atlanta) with a layover in between at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Other key dates: Oct. 23 Super Bowl rematch vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Nov. 21 in Mexico City against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 11 against the unretired Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Bucs, and, Jan. 1 maiden voyage to Las Vegas.
JOINT PRACTICES
Ahead of their Aug. 20 preseason game at the Vikings, the 49ers will practice against them on Aug. 17 and 18. All but eight teams are conducting joint practices this training camp. The 49ers held theirs in recent years against the Broncos (2017), at the Texans (2018), at the Broncos (2019), and at the Chargers (2021).
BACKYARD CAMPING
This is the 20th consecutive year the 49ers’ training camp is being held at their Santa Clara training facility. Previous sites: Menlo College (1946-54), St. Mary’s (1955-67), UC Santa Barbara (1968-75), San Jose State (1976-78), Santa Clara (1979-80), Sierra College (1981-97) and University of the Pacific (1998-2002). Only six teams still hold camps away from their headquarters.
CHAMPIONSHIP KARMA?
Shanahan said it was “awesome” to sit two rows behind the Warriors’ bench during their first win of the NBA Finals, en route to their fourth championship with coach Steve Kerr. Said Shanahan: “You enjoy your nachos and your drink, and just enjoy something that the guys in front of me probably haven’t been sleeping and have been thinking about and waiting for that moment all day.”