Four Questions with the 49ers: NFL Annual Meeting

Talk and activity is unlikely to lead to change.

Plenty of news coming out of the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando. Jed York becomes the principal owner of the Niners while John Lynch talks about Brandon Aiyuk and the draft.

1. Jed York has bought majority ownership from his mother Denise DeBartolo York to become the Owner of the Niners. Will it lead to change?

No. From the outside this move seems to be a vote of confidence in Jed from his parents. They like what he’s done lately, delivering a World Cup match and a Super Bowl in 2026.

Jed is fulfilling his primary job, optimizing the family asset in Levi’s Stadium. As a result, he’s been rewarded.

York can be expected to take the same approach that has worked on a revenue basis for the Niners, stability with Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. As long as they deliver the high profitabilty of two home playoff games, the tandem has complete job security no questions asked, championship or no.

York’s ascension to owner is a double-down bet on the status quo. Nothing will change in my view. No added accountability, no emphasis on championships, it’s all about the revenue. Shanahan and Lynch are only on the hot seat if the home playoff games stop for multiple seasons.

2.      Lynch said at Orlando the Niners want to keep Aiyuk, and mentioned they’re open to not extending him and letting him play out his 5th year. Any concerns?

Lynch had to say that, the Niners need the threat of letting Aiyuk go to his fifth year in contract negotiations.

Can the Niners afford to take that step? In my view no. Aiyuk would hold out, the offense would be without its best receiver and the team could sputter early.

Fail to give Aiyuk an extension and I think the Niners would stumble out of the gate at say 4-3, make the playoffs but not as a number one seed, and not make it back to the Super Bowl. If they want another swing at the Lombardi in New Orleans, I believe Aiyuk needs to be signed to an extension before the season begins.

Aiyuk stays in peak condition, but look at Nick Bosa last year. He stays in top form as well, but was ineffective early. And that was with him signing before the season began as opposed to Aiyuk holding out.

Yes, the Niners can let Aiyuk’s contract go to the fifth year and then franchise tag him, but that burns bridges and can damage the upcoming season. It’s a high-risk game to play over what may be a $3-4 million per year difference in contract talks.

3.      With the uncertainty of Aiyuk’s contract negotiations, and the possibility of trading him before or during the draft, do the Niners need to prioritize wide receiver early in the draft?

Yes. I believe it needs to be a priority due to Aiyuk, and if the Niners plan to move on from Deebo Samuel in June or next year.

The draft is loaded with receivers in the late 1st to mid-2nd who are similarly rated and it comes down to eye of the beholder. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. likely goes before the Niner pick but then it’s a mob of receivers including A.D. Mitchell and Xavier Worthy of Texas, Keon Coleman of Florida State, Ricky Pearsall of Florida, and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey.

The next tier of receivers are better targeted with a trade into the second round to look at South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, Oregon’s Troy Franklin, Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk, Michigan’s Roman Wilson, and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley.

Of those players I like Mitchell, Coleman, and Pearsall from the first group, and Legette in the second.

4.      The proposed kickoff change adopting the XFL rule appears to be popular. If it’s implemented, the Niners are going to need a returner, or two. Who are the great kick returners in this draft?

By round:
1st: Cooper DeJean (Iowa) FS, a potential 49er pick at 31 if he drops. He averaged 11.5 yards on punt returns including a 70-yard TD.

1st/2nd Xavier Worthy (Texas) WR, with his 4.21 40, 16.9 per punt return with a 74-yard TD.
Keon Coleman (Florida St) WR, 12.0 punt return average with a long of 72.
Ricky Pearsall (Florida) WR, over 120 yards in returns this year on limited opportunities.
Xavier Legette (South Carolina) WR, over 210 yards on returns.

3rd Malik Washington (Virginia) WR, 274 yards of returns.

4th Dylan Laube (New Hampshire) RB 671 return yards.

Late Day 3/UDFA:
Devron Harper (Mercer) WR, nearly 900 return yards including two punt return TDs with a long of 73.
Keilan Robinson (Texas) RB, over 500 return yards. 20.5 avg on kick returns with a 95-yard TD.
Ainias Smith (Texas A&M) WR, 14.3 punt ret avg with 76-yard TD.
Daequan Hardy (Penn St) Slot DB, 264 yards with 2 TD (vs. U Mass).
Dee Wiliams (Tennessee) WR, over 500 return yards.
Jaelan Gill (Frenso State) WR, over 500 return yards.
Smoke Harris (LA Tech) WR, 24.3 kick return avg, 8.4 avg. on punts with a 67-yard TD.
Cole Burgess (Cortland St.) WR, 412 return yards.
Lideatrick Griffin (Mississippi St) WR over 310 return yards.

If the 49ers want an impact returner then Worthy becomes a consideration at 31. It's more likely they go shopping in the 6th, 7th, or UDFA, with plenty of talented returners available.