49ers offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey gets emotional talking to reporters in the locker room after the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
The writing on the wall for Mike McGlinchey's 49ers exit reportedly has become a reality.
The long-time San Francisco offensive lineman agreed to a five-year contract with the Denver Broncos on Monday worth a whopping $87.5 million, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported, citing a source. Per Rapoport, over $50 million of that is guaranteed.
After five seasons with the 49ers, the first-round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft was set for a big payday as one of the most appealing veteran right tackles in free agency this offseason. While McGlinchey expressed his desire to re-sign with the 49ers following the team's loss in the NFC Championship Game, it was clear he likely would be out of their price range -- and the 28-year-old also stated he wouldn't be an "idiot" about the value of the contract he eventually would agree upon.
"The opportunity to have life-changing money for my family, that’s definitely a factor that needs to be weighed in for this decision," McGlinchey said in early February. "It’s not the only factor but, yeah ...“
McGlinchey started all 69 regular-season games and six postseason games in which he appeared with the 49ers, sometimes facing criticism from fans but always providing a steady presence along the offensive line. General manager John Lynch recently said at the NFL Scouting Combine that McGlinchey did plenty with the 49ers to earn a lucrative contract, despite what he labeled as “bad Twitter clips.”
"He’s a really good football player,” Lynch said. “So while a lot of people in our area focused on what he didn’t do or his bad snaps, Mike, the totality of his game at right tackle where there’s a couple of elite ones -- the Lane Johnsons of the world -- he’s right behind them, in my mind.”
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McGlinchey's reported $17.5 million average annual value with the Broncos places him eighth among all NFL right tackles.
And now, in Denver, McGlinchey will have a chance to prove he's worth the money protecting quarterback Russell Wilson.
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