49ers Host WRs Omar Cooper Jr., KC Concepcion
49ers general manager John Lynch recently indicated the team is likely to make at least one draft investment at the receiver position. A number of first-round options have received a look.
Omar Cooper Jr. spent the deadline for top-30 visits meeting with San Francisco, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. That completed a busy pre-draft process in his case. Cooper has visited numerous teams recently, and the Indiana product is one of several receivers with a strong chance of being selected during the middle or late stages of the first round. The 49ers own pick No. 27.
San Francisco also hosted KC Concepcion on a visit earlier this week, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. By means of a strong one-and-done showing at Texas A&M, Concepcion established himself as a first-round option for many teams. He has also received widespread interest leading up to the draft, so it comes as little surprise the 49ers have taken part in a top-30 visit as well. Denzel Boston is another WR prospect San Francisco has taken a close look at.
Free agent additions Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are set to top the depth chart for 2026. With Brandon Aiyuk unlikely to play again for the 49ers and Jauan Jennings set to sign elsewhere on the open market, though, adding depth via the draft would be a reasonable approach from Lynch and Co. On the other hand, receiver is not considered as much of an immediate need as other positions, so spending a first-rounder in that regard could leave the team thin elsewhere.
The 49ers have a second-round selection as well as four picks in the fourth round. Using one of those on a depth WR prospect could of course be in store, but the team will have done its homework on Day 1 options when on the clock Thursday night.
T Caleb Lomu Completes 10-Visit Itinerary
Wednesday marks the final opportunity for teams to conduct “30” visits, and the 49ers received the latest meeting with Utah’s Caleb Lomu. While San Francisco met with the Utah tackle Tuesday night, many other teams brought in the first-round talent during the pre-draft process.
We covered Lomu’s Browns and Eagles meetings, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms the college LT also met with the Bears, Chiefs, Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Rams and Texans. One of several tackles viewed as first-round options, Lomu checks in as a blindside option (well, for everyone but the Falcons) compared to some of this class’ other top targets — who have played right tackle and been linked to potential guard shifts.
A two-year LT starter at Utah, Lomu earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. He did not allow a sack last year, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. The 6-foot-6 blocker joins Spencer Fano as ex-Utes projected to be first-round picks. Lomu did not dabble in RT work, making all 24 of his collegiate starts on the left side while Fano manned the RT post. Lomu checks in 26th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, sitting behind Francis Mauigoa (10th), Fano (13th), Blake Miller (19th), Monroe Freeling (20th) and Kadyn Proctor (22nd) among tackles.
The Chiefs continue to be connected to tackles — on both sides, as their Trent Williams ties remind — and the team is at least considering using a high draft choice to replace the since-released Jawaan Taylor (now a Falcon). Jaylon Moore remains an option in K.C., which has 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons tentatively slated to continue starting at LT. Kansas City holds the Nos. 9 and 29 overall picks.
The Rams, who traded No. 29 to the Chiefs, sit at No. 13. They have Alaric Jackson at LT and Warren McClendon slated to succeed Rob Havenstein at RT. The Lions (No. 17) are in need — most likely at right tackle — after Taylor Decker‘s release, a move likely set to precede Penei Sewell sliding to LT. The Panthers (No. 19) signed Rasheed Walker as an Ikem Ekwonu stopgap; RT Taylor Moton‘s 2025 extension runs through 2027. Ozzy Trapilo is expected to miss most of the 2026 season following a patellar tendon tear, though the Bears re-signed Braxton Jones to compete with Theo Benedet — as of now, at least — at LT.
Miami (No. 11) rosters Patrick Paul but has Austin Jackson in a contract year; the veteran RT accepted a pay cut last month. Houston has struggled up front for a bit and has been connected to further bolstering its group via the draft. The Texans traded up for Aireontae Ersery last year and signed Braden Smith at right tackle (as 2024 second-rounder Blake Fisher has been unable to commandeer that gig).
Lastly, the 49ers are at least in need of a possible long-term LT solution. They continue to negotiate with Williams, who is heading into an age-38 season and the final year of his reworked contract. Colton McKivitz is going into a fourth season as San Francisco’s right tackle.
49ers Likely To Make WR Draft Addition
San Francisco’s receiver depth chart has undergone a number of changes so far this offseason. More could be coming in the form of a Brandon Aiyuk trade or release, though nothing has been finalized on that front.
With Aiyuk not expected to be back in the fold and Jauan Jennings destined to sign elsewhere in free agency, the 49ers will be led at the WR spot by Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in 2026. Evans’ pact essentially consists of a one-year commitment in terms of guaranteed money, while Kirk’s only covers next season. Taking a wideout in next week’s draft would thus be a feasible approach on the part of general manager John Lynch and Co.
“I don’t know about early, but we’re certainly in the business of adding good players,” Lynch said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) when asked about adding a rookie receiver. “I think at that position, the way these guys [are getting paid], it’s probably healthy business to try to add them as much as you can in these drafts.”
The 49ers have veteran Demarcus Robinson in place in addition to Evans and Kirk, but otherwise their WR depth chart is lacking in experience. Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are among the younger players in the fold for San Francisco. Making another draft investment would add further depth to the mix while allowing for one or both of Evans and Kirk to be replaced in 2027.
The 49ers’ top selection is No. 27. They are one of several teams which has hosted Denzel Boston on a pre-draft visit, although the Washington product may not be on the board by that point given the pre-draft buzz surrounding him. San Francisco’s other options at this point consist of a second-round pick and four in the fourth round. Using one of those selections on a wideout could allow the team to take advantage of the perceived depth at the position while leaving round one for more immediate roster needs.
49ers Made Recent Offer To LT Trent Williams
Contract talks between the 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams were reportedly picking up steam in late March, but an agreement still has not come together. It hasn’t been for lack of effort on the 49ers’ part. Their most recent offer contains approximately $36MM in guarantees, including $24MM next season, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reports.
As things stand, Williams is entering the final season of a three-year, $82.6MM pact. The 49ers declined a $10MM option bonus in March, leading to a major increase in Williams’ cap hit. He was already on track to count an untenable $38.84MM before then. The number now sits at a bloated $46.34MM. Williams is also owed around $33MM, though none of that is guaranteed.
While the 49ers want to lower Williams’ 2026 salary by about $9MM, La Canfora notes he would still rank among the 10 highest-paid tackles. The 12-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer has a case to earn more, but his age (38 in July) and injury history are working against him. Williams has not put together a full season since he was in Washington in 2013. Although he missed just one game during another highly effective year in 2025, Williams racked up multiple absences in each season from 2015-24.
League sources told La Canfora that the 49ers and Williams may find common ground “early this week.” If the stalemate continues, though, a trade or a release could eventually occur. The 49ers were reportedly open to trading Williams as of early March. There is still “legitimate” interest from other teams, per La Canfora. If he and the 49ers don’t hammer out a new pact in the next couple of weeks, perhaps a team that did not adequately upgrade at left tackle in the draft will kick the tires on a Williams trade.
For their part, considering the uncertainty surrounding Williams, the 49ers could target the position early in the draft. They made a modest free agent investment in Vederian Lowe, who spent most of last season as a reserve in New England. Austen Pleasants is also in the mix as a backup left tackle, but he and Lowe are big steps down from Williams.
If the 49ers cut or trade Williams between now and June 1, it would leave them with a $34.15MM dead cap hit and $12.19MM in savings. A post-June 1 divorce would save upward of $33MM in spending space in 2026. The 49ers would spread the dead cap over two years, taking a $13.33MM charge next season and a $20.83MM hit in 2027.
49ers To Sign CB Jack Jones
After logging his first career 17-start season in Miami last year, cornerback Jack Jones is headed elsewhere. The 49ers are signing Jones, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relays. It will be a one-year pact, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
A fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2022, Jones is now joining his fourth organization and returning to his native California. Along with the Pats and Dolphins, Jones has spent time with the Raiders. The 28-year-old has intercepted eight passes over 59 games and 38 starts.
Jones began his career with a 13-game, two-start rookie year in which he picked off two passes. However, his run in New England didn’t last much longer. Jones was arrested in June 2023 after trying to bring two loaded firearms on a plane, though charges were later dropped. He then began the season on IR as a result of a hamstring injury. Just five games after the Patriots activated Jones, they waived him amid on-field struggles and more off-field issues. New England quickly cut the cord after Jones missed curfew ahead of a game in Germany.
Jones temporarily found a home in Las Vegas, which claimed him on waivers. The move reunited him with then-Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, who coached him in high school and at Arizona State. With two pick-sixes and four passes defensed, Jones had a productive seven-game finish to the season. Pierce remained at the helm in 2024, during which Jones recorded his first 17-game season and started 16 times. Jones added another three INTs, but with Pierce out the door, the Raiders released the corner last spring.
Three-plus months after the Raiders cut him, Jones joined the Dolphins in late July. While injuries ravaged the Dolphins’ secondary, Jones had a second straight healthy season and led their corners in defensive snap share (91.5%). The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder tallied 77 tackles, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a pick, but Pro Football Focus ranked his play a below-average 62nd among 112 corners.
Now set to play for new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Jones will give the club another experienced choice on the outside. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green, the 49ers’ starters last year, remain atop the depth chart.
Malachi Lawrence Drawing Major Interest; Colts, 49ers, Seahawks Schedule Visits
As a potential first- or second-round pick, UCF edge defender Malachi Lawrence is generating significant interest in the lead-up to the NFL draft. Sixteen teams have set up visits with Lawrence, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Colts, 49ers and Seahawks will all meet with him this week.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence’s college career took off as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He registered 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that year. Lawrence’s production dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence picked up 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence further boosted his stock with an off-the-charts performance at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He finished second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump (via PFF College). Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 36) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 46) consider Lawrence a top-50 prospect.
It is not ideal that Lawrence will already turn 24 before the season starts (Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, 25, is in a similar boat), but half the league is intrigued enough to meet with him. The three reported clubs – Indianapolis, San Francisco and Seattle – have an obvious need along the edge.
The Colts were a passable 15th in sacks last season, but they ranked an alarming 30th in pass rush win rate. The team made a run at Trey Hendrickson early in free agency, but the Ravens won that sweepstakes. The Colts have settled for modest additions (Arden Key and Micheal Clemons) to replace the departed Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam. They continue to lack needle-moving pass rushers to complement Laiatu Latu. Indianapolis is devoid of a first-round pick, but Lawrence could be on the board when it selects 47th overall in the second round.
The 49ers will pick 27th and 58th in the first two rounds. They totaled the fewest sacks in the league last season, though losing Nick Bosa to a Week 3 ACL tear heavily contributed to their struggles. They should get Bosa and Mykel Williams, who tore his ACL in November, back next season. The rest of their edge rushers – Sam Okuayinonu, Keion White, William Bradley-King, Andrew Farmer and the just-signed Cameron Sample – combined for just five sacks last year. With that in mind, bolstering the pass rush via the draft should be a high priority for the 49ers.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks aren’t exactly teeming with weaknesses, but taking an edge defender early may be on their to-do list. Owners of just four picks, including Nos. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, the Seahawks lost Boye Mafe in free agency. They have not brought in a replacement for Maye, and the clock is ticking on Demarcus Lawrence‘s career. The soon-to-be 34-year-old pondered retirement after the season, which could add to the Seahawks’ urgency to make a notable investment along the edge.
49ers Sign DE Cameron Sample
The 49ers have added some depth to their defensive line. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the team has signed Cameron Sample. It will be a one-year deal for the defensive end.
A 2021 fourth-round pick out of Tulane, Sample saw a consistent defensive role during his time with the Bengals. He missed only four games through his first three seasons in Cincinnati, where he got into more than one third of his team’s defensive snaps while compiling five total sacks and 20 total QB hits.
His 2024 campaign was completely wiped out by a torn Achilles tendon. He re-signed with the Bengals last offseason and managed to make 14 appearances in his comeback season, tallying 17 tackles, a pair of sacks, and one forced fumble. However, he got into a career-low 26 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, and had he earned enough reps to qualify, he would have ranked in the bottom-20 of Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the league’s edge defenders.
The 49ers needed some extra DE depth last season, as both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were lost with torn ACLs. That duo should be back in the lineup at some point early in the 2026 campaign, but Sample will be among the grouping to soak up any leftover snaps. At the moment, the free agent addition will be competing with the likes of Sam Okuayinonu (who led the position grouping in snaps in 2025), Keion White, William Bradley-King, and Andrew Farmer.
49ers Finalize 2026 Coaching Staff
The 49ers made a number of coaching changes this offseason with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh accepting the Titans’ head coaching job and taking a number of assistants to Tennessee.
San Francisco gradually filled its vacancies and recently announced a full staff, including official titles for new hires and several internal promotions.
Jerry Gray arrived in San Francisco in February and has since been announced as the team’s defensive pass-game coordinator. He is entering his fourth decade of coaching defensive backs and will work closely with cornerbacks coach Ray Brown.
The 49ers also promoted a few members of their defensive staff. Johnny Holland, who has primarily worked with linebackers in his nine seasons with the club, will now serve as the defensive run game coordinator. Replacing him as the linebackers coach will be K.J. Wright, who spent 11 years playing the position for the Seahawks and Raiders. He first joined the 49ers in 2024 as a defensive quality control coach.
The team made a number of internal promotions on the offensive side of the ball, too. Joe Graves was promoted from offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach to run game coordinator. Taking his role will be Jacob Webster, who is being promoted from an offensive quality control role. The same is true of Deuce Schwartz, now an offensive assistant/tight ends coach.
Roman Sapolu, who was also hired in February, will be the assistant offensive line coach, overseeing the position he once played at Oregon State and coached at multiple college programs. He will serve under offensive line coach/assistant head coach Chris Foerster.
Chiefs Still Monitoring Trent Williams; Taylor Decker On Radar?
The Chiefs aimed to stop their post-Eric Fisher revolving door at left tackle by drafting Josh Simmons in last year’s first round. Simmons impressed during training camp to win the Week 1 LT gig, but multiple issues intervened for the rookie talent.
Simmons left the Chiefs to address an undisclosed matter midway through the season; that hiatus forced the Chiefs to get by without him for four games. Simmons then suffered a season-ending wrist injury that required surgery, knocking him out for the season on Thanksgiving. While players chosen in Round 1 certainly receive their fair share of chances, the Chiefs continue to be linked to a player who would supplant Simmons as a starter.
Trent Williams remains on Kansas City’s radar, according to Casino.com’s Jason La Canfora, who hears the Chiefs would be “ready to pounce” in a trade should the future Hall of Famer’s latest talks with the 49ers go south. This follows a link that surfaced on Day 1 of free agency, but the 49ers remain intent on working another deal out with their six-year LT.
Williams, 38 in July, has been embroiled in another wave of contract talks for several weeks. Two years after the 49ers reworked Williams’ deal to provide a guarantee influx, the sides are negotiating again ahead of the decorated LT’s contract year. While talks appear to be picking up once again, no resolution looks imminent.
Kansas City finished second for Williams in 2021, seeing San Francisco win out with a six-year deal worth $138.1MM. The Chiefs pivoted to Orlando Brown Jr., and while that required a first-round pick and more in a trade with the Ravens, the mammoth blocker — a converted right tackle — was a plus option with the Chiefs for two seasons. But Brown turned down a Williams-like six-year extension while on the franchise tag in 2022 and signed with the Bengals in 2023. The Chiefs got by with stopgap Donovan Smith in their Super Bowl LVIII-winning season but did not re-sign him in 2024, instead turning to four starters — including converted guard Joe Thuney — in a season in which this position became a flashpoint concern.
Simmons’ rookie contract runs through 2028, and it would be odd if the Chiefs brought in a veteran to essentially replace him. But an anonymous GM informed La Canfora Andy Reid would “prefer a veteran” here. The Chiefs have Jaylon Moore as an option, having given him a two-year deal worth $30MM in 2025, but he could also be needed at right tackle. Kansas City cut three-year starter Jawaan Taylor for cap savings and has not replaced him. Moving parts exist for a Chiefs team that saw would-be 2024 LT answer Kingsley Suamataia successfully kick inside to LG last season.
Williams might not be the only Chiefs option if, in fact, a veteran is to be acquired at left tackle. La Canfora also mentions Taylor Decker as a potential solution, though it does not appear the Chiefs are as high on him as they are Williams. Decker, 33 in August, requested a Lions release after rework talks did not progress. The 10-year Lions LT starter has not been connected to a team yet, but after considering retirement this winter, the Ohio State alum is on track to play an 11th season.
Decker (140 career starts) missed 2025 time with a shoulder injury that ended up hampering him upon return. A healthy version of the Pro Bowl tackle would stand to be an upgrade on Simmons, but it is certainly worth wondering if the Chiefs would go as far as to bench a player they drafted 32nd overall last year.
That would be a notable development for a team that has not used the same LT starter in three straight seasons since Fisher’s eight-year tenure wrapped after the 2020 season. For now, Simmons and Moore are the Chiefs’ starters at tackle. But that could certainly change in the coming weeks and months.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Crosby, Commanders, Aiyuk, Eagles
The Cowboys were aggressive in trade talks for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, submitting multiple offers before ultimately falling short. Las Vegas agreed to send Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks, but the deal fell apart after the five-time Pro Bowler failed the Ravens’ physical. Crosby continues to pop up in trade rumors almost a month later, though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not expect to circle back (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.”
While Jones is not slamming the door on another Crosby pursuit, it is notable that Cowboys physician Dr. Dan Cooper raised concerns over the defender’s surgically repaired meniscus before he failed his physical. The Ravens consulted with the well-respected Cooper during the process. Unless Dallas does a 180 on Crosby, its best hope to upgrade its pass rush could be via the draft. The Cowboys are scheduled to pick 12th and 20th in the first round.
Here’s more on Dallas and a pair of NFC East rivals:
- Washington is considered the most likely destination for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but San Francisco will have to release him first. The Commanders are not going to trade for Aiyuk, according to John Keim of ESPN. The 49ers are in no rush to cut Aiyuk, who is still tied to the four-year, $120MM extension he signed in August 2024. The team has gotten almost nothing from the deal, as Aiyuk has not played since suffering a knee injury that October. The 28-year-old is now coming off a bizarre season in which he distanced himself from the team during his recovery. The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December. Odds are they will eventually cut him, but the Commanders are not going to bank on a release and “bypass other potential options,” Keim writes.
- Having lost Reed Blankenship to the Texans in free agency, the Eagles are down a starting safety to pair with Andrew Mukuba. Nickel cornerback Michael Carter II and safety Marcus Epps, whom the Eagles re-signed on the cheap, are among in-house options to fill the void. To no surprise, general manager Howie Roseman intends to address safety during the draft (via Brooks Kubena of The Athletic). “In some shape or form we will add at that position,” Roseman declared.
- Shifting back to Dallas, the team is in the market for a nickel cornerback, Jon Machota of The Athletic relays. No. 1 corner DaRon Bland has slot experience, including 200 snaps last year, but the Cowboys prefer to keep him on the outside. While Reddy Steward amassed 384 slot snaps in 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a lackluster 99th among 112 qualifiers. Notably, the Cowboys have visited with Miami’s Keionte Scott, one of the highest-rated nickel CBs in this year’s draft class.
- The Cowboys will stage “an open competition” between backup quarterbacks Joe Milton and Sam Howell for the No. 2 job, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Machota). The Cowboys sent a fifth-rounder to the Patriots for Milton and a seventh-rounder a year ago. Starter Dak Prescott went on to enjoy a healthy and productive campaign, which left little playing time for Milton. Howell, who joined the Cowboys on a one-year deal last month, was a 17-game starter in Washington in 2023. The 25-year-old has not made a start since then, and he didn’t even play a snap as a third-stringer in Philadelphia last season.