While the idea of the 49ers trading for Myles Garrett should be enticing, John Lynch’s recent comments suggest a different direction.
The San Francisco 49ers, along with 30 other teams, should be closely monitoring how things pan out between the Cleveland Browns and perennial All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Garrett wants to be traded, and the latest scoop from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the pass-rusher’s camp is not going to entertain any contract extension from the Browns, effectively sticking to the desire for a trade.
Myles Garrett ‘not open to’ a contract extension with the #Browns, league source tells clevelanddotcom at the #NFLCombine: –>https://t.co/x22dkhAp4E
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 27, 2025
This, despite the fact Cleveland has remained blunt about wanting to keep Garrett around for the long run.
So, of course, teams like the Niners should be interested, right? Adding Garrett, no matter what the cost, would give them a potent defensive front and pass rush, especially when factoring in how All-Pro Nick Bosa would be the second-best pass-rusher on the roster behind the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
However, in light of general manager John Lynch’s recent comments from the NFL Scouting Combine, it doesn’t appear if that’s going to be the kind of direction San Francisco takes.
John Lynch emphasizes the ‘need to get younger,’ casting doubt on Myles Garrett trade
Granted, Lynch’s comments from the combine didn’t single out Garrett, and one has to figure he’s at least exploring would-be options to see what it might take to acquire the defensive standout.
That said, it appears as if Lynch and the 49ers want to put a bigger priority on youth rather than veteran prowess this offseason.
“We need to get younger,” Lynch stressed. “I think we’re the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year. And I think it’s good to constantly get younger.
“Our draft class last year was a great move towards that. We’ll have four picks in the top 100.”
Acquiring Garrett, who’ll turn 30 years old in 2025, would assuredly cost multiple draft picks, probably the Niners’ top selection this season, No. 11 overall, which hinders Lynch’s vision of getting younger. Plus, any further draft capital used on a would-be Garrett trade only makes the pending youth movement that much more difficult to execute.
Reading between the lines, it sure seems as if Lynch would rather preserve his draft capital, save the money and take a chance on younger players instead of striking a blockbuster deal for a star pass-rusher.
