John Lynch‘s first offseason as the 49ers general manager may be remembered for the hefty contracts he handed out to a fullback and a former Super Bowl MVP.
The organization committed more than $23MM in guaranteed money to fullback Kyle Juszczyk and linebacker Malcolm Smith, leading some pundits to wonder whether agents were looking to take advantage of the new, inexperienced executive. Of course, that sentiment may not be entirely fair, as Lynch has added a number of free agents on favorable deals, including quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley, wide receivers/offensive weapons Pierre Garcon, Aldrick Robinson and Marquise Goodwin, tight end Logan Paulsen, linebacker Dekoda Watson, special teamer Don Jones, and kicker Robbie Gould.
Like any GM, Lynch will be forced to answer more questions regarding the “egregious” signings than the shrewd additions. The executive already started addressing his offseason strategy while appearing on San Francisco’s KNBR 680 yesterday. Thanks to CSNBayArea.com, we’re able to pass along some of those quotes below…
On the signings of Juszczyk and Smith:
“We’re proud of those signings. We really are … if you’re sitting there reading everything that people are saying about you and taking it personally, you aren’t gonna be very successful … I think the reason they both got nice contracts is because they were wanted. And we weren’t the only ones that wanted them. In a lot of our situations, we weren’t the highest bidder.”
On whether the two players were enticed by money or the organization:
“Guys came because there’s an exciting vibe here; guys want to be here. None of this means anything until they go play and we go play. But those are two guys we’re very excited to have as part of the 49ers.”
On the team’s negotiations with Juszczyk:
“In that period where the negotiating period started, we were doing some traveling and we got a call and they said, ‘Here’s where it’s at now,’ and we said, ‘Wow,’ because we set in with ‘Hey, to get this guy, we’re gonna have to likely make him the highest paid fullback ever.’ And we were willing to do that…
“But then it kind of got to even another step and we had to all stop and kind of look at each other and go, ‘OK. This is getting real.’ And that’s when we kind of came up the philosophy he’s not just a fullback; he’s an offensive weapon … I’m gonna trust my instincts on what the guy brings, not necessarily what the rest of the market sees him as.
“You can’t go crazy with that, but like I said, we weren’t the only ones interested in this guy … he’s still worth it to us.”
From what he had to work with his moves made sense, it will take at least 3 seasons to build his team.
Reminds me of Ray Farmer when he was with Cleveland……and we know how that turned out.
The downfall was all on Baalke with Jed backing him up. Now that’s Baalke is gone the fans and players see light at the end of the tunnel. It maybe small. But Baalke was the grinch.
I’m a firm believer that York has been the problem all along and this team won’t get any better until he keeps his mouth shut. Baalke still sucked, but York is just equally as to blame.
Juice isn’t just playing full back and the deals of smith and Garçon, they can get out of them after just 2 years. They did a decent job.
Yeah. Juice is a very versatile player, and will go well with Hyde. Everyone bashes it, but just look at the patriots last year vs this year, to see how much a fb can do for a run game
I’m a former Rams fan and now a Colts fan, so I don’t really have any love for the 9ers.. but I like the aggressiveness.. I think they have the right people in place.. I mean it seems like every free agent has at least had to stop and think about the 49ers now..just my opinion but I think it may workout for them.
I cant believe how many change teams. This year was very evident here in California asni watched many lifelong die hard 49er fans switch to the Raiders. Call me an idiot , but im just gonna stick with 1 team….
You have no idea how many lifelong Cubs fans were lifelong White Sox fans in 2005.
I do as a die hard astros fan living in Fort Wayne, IN.
Yeah, i doubt they switched teams cause the rams sucked. More like cause the rams abandoned the city of st louis and left for LA.
Im a former chargers fan now texans fan for the same reason. As long as dean spanos is running the chargers ill never root for the team again.
Idk bout the Op but my dad was born and raised in houston and was an oiler fan and I was born in houston so I have some connection to the texans.
No diehard 49er fans became Raider fans. The Raiders were worth watching, the 49ers were not. Crabtree is a Raider. So we watched and when they did well it was fun to watch. Not like when the Niners went to 3 NFC championships in a row and a super bowl and the entire raider nation was wearing red and at all the 49ers bars.
Management should have no bearing in your fandom
Jed York is delusional. Baalke was the destruction of Harbaugh and the great 49ers teams of the 2010 era. Went from best to worst because of egos. F the owership. Lynch seems to have his heart in the right place. Even though his moves so far have almost all made me cringe. I can’t predict the future nor do I intend to. But 49ers fans will always be there. Best fans in all of football. David and Derek Carr grew up down the road from me and I played baseball with and against almost every Carr family member. So I have no beef cheering for the guy no matter what team he plays for.
As fans we can’t control much. Ownership being a part of that. When Eddie was banned the Niners souls crumbled. But we move on. Still going to root for the red and gold forever.