The fifth round of the NFL draft has been great for general manager John Lynch and the 49ers, yielding both All-Pro tight end George Kittle and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who have become clear playmakers for the club.
“We’ll trade anything, just not those fifth-rounders, those have been good to us,” Lynch joked in his pre-draft conference call with local media.
Those late-round picks might be a little sentimental to Lynch and the organization, but it appears they are willing to discuss trades involving their two first-round picks at No. 13 and No. 31. The team does not currently have another selection until the fifth round, where they have two.
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“I’m comfortable saying that we have, we are currently, and we will, up to the draft, let people know there are scenarios where we’re going to be open at both of those picks to moving back,” Lynch said.
“It’s out there for everyone to see, we have two firsts and we don’t have a pick until the fifth where we have two picks, and then a sixth and then two sevenths.”
Lynch revealed that there have been discussions with other teams regarding a trade of the team's first-round picks, but there have not been any formal offers. Even if there had been, Lynch explained that he and coach Kyle Shanahan have agreed they would stand pat for a few select difference-making players.
“There’s interest no hard offers like we have a deal in place,” Lynch said. “That has not happened and we’ve been very forthright with other teams. There are scenarios where we are going to stand pat as well.
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“There are certain guys that you’re prepared if they were to fall, but kind of as we anticipate, I would say about six guys, and I would still say, you know we’re going through, Kyle and myself, now, and it’s kind of boiled down to that process. Kyle and I are really zeroing in and challenging each other, ‘Ok, is this a guy, we’re not moving from.’”
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The 49ers shocked the NFL world when they traded Pro Bowl defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency for the No. 13 pick. Lynch was effusive in describing the lineman as everything the 49ers want in a player.
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In turn, if the team does choose to take a player at the No. 13 pick, Lynch’s philosophy is that he needs to be a player that is similar in his contributions to the team both on and off the field.
“I think the way you have to look at it, we lost a special player in Buck, a foundational type player,” Lynch said. “So if you can find a foundational player at 13 that’s something you have to weigh.”