Kawakami: Yeah, the 49ers are running it back, and more bold offseason thoughts (paywall)
“Question: Will new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris stick with the 49ers’ traditional 4-3 base defense or tweak it into something more like the 3-4 schemes he’s run previously?
Answer: The 49ers gave up a valuable third-round pick for Odighizuwa, who is about as pure a 4-3 DT as you can get. No, they’re not going to a 3-4 — I think the most drastic visible change might be more use of a five-man front, which means the 49ers still need an athletic, hybrid DE/LB to use as that fifth D-lineman in those situations.
Question: Will the 49ers do the obvious thing and draft a WR and DE (in whatever order) with their first- and second-round picks?
Answer: Yes. The main way the 49ers could’ve changed course here is if they felt they needed to grab one of the top DTs. Well, no need for that now. They need a speed WR and another impact DE (especially after Bryce Huff’s surprise retirement Thursday). I’ll be very surprised if the 49ers use their top two picks on any other positions.”
5 things to know about new 49ers CB Nate Hobbs
“The fact that I’m able to sit in front of a plethora of people and tell them about my emotions, that gives me strength,” Hobbs said, per Raiders.com. “I’m willing to put myself out there and still live life. My mom used to always tell me, ‘Sometimes you just have to do things scared.'”
Hobbs said he’s dealt with anxiety throughout his life. Among the challenges he’s faced are losing his father when he was 12 years old.
“Everybody deals with mental health, me and you, no matter how well you had it,” Hobbs said. “Some people deal with it more than others, some people need real help. If I can be that voice, I will.”
49ers to host Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. on pre-draft visit
“According to analyst Ryan Fowler, the 49ers are scheduled to host former Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in Santa Clara for a pre-draft visit. Each NFL team is allowed up to 30 such visits with draft prospects.”
Behind the Curtain: Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor (paywall)
“As I laid out in the tape, I think Mesidor clearly benefited technique wise from being in college longer, but I’m not sure he’s that much more physically gifted than a lot of his younger college teammates. The bigger concern is his health, as I explain in the video.
To me, he’s a craftsman, who wins with power, a low base, extension, and tremendous hands. He surprised me (in a good way) in the run game, albeit with some areas to clean up.”
49ers re-sign Luke Gifford after special teams star earned Pro Bowl honors (paywall)
“With Gifford playing on their coverage and return units, the 49ers ranked seventh in kickoff-return average, 10th in punt-return average and 11th in opponent kickoff-return average. In 2024, they ranked 10th, 20th and 22nd, respectively, in those categories.”
Why 49ers’ salary cap just went up by $20.65M, NFL’s 2nd-biggest adjustment (paywall)
“The salary cap for the San Francisco 49ers just went up by $20.65 million, according to Spotrac, due to something called a cap adjustment. Baked into that big increase, which ranked second among NFL teams, are insurance policies. The 49ers, in other words, were reimbursed for being one of the most injured teams in the league (again).
Here is how it works. Teams can take out insurance on player contracts to protect against a scenario in which a player misses significant time due to an injury. For example, ESPN reported after star 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa suffered an ACL injury in September that the team would receive a near $7 million credit to its 2026 salary cap, triggered by an insurance policy for a season-ending injury in his existing contract.
The 49ers may have written similar policies into the contracts of other key players, including linebacker Fred Warner, who also dealt with a season-ending injury after fracturing and dislocating his ankle in October. As much would help explain their $20 million cap adjustment. Only the Tennessee Titans were awarded a higher credit, at $24.3 million.”
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