© Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL held its annual owners meetings earlier this week. Every owner and head coach attended, and in the process, confronted many of the issues permeating the league and their teams.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters about some of the hottest topics surrounding his team. San Francisco has enjoyed a productive offseason, in which several of its most glaring issues were addressed.
Here are five 49ers takeaways from the owners meetings.
Multiple proposed bylaws declined
The NFL’s owners voted on some of the league’s most debated topics, including the ‘catch’ and ‘helmet’ rules. Any proposed bylaw must have at least 75 percent approval rating, or 24 of the 32 owners in favor, to be implemented.
The 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Arizona Cardinals proposed a bylaw stating that a maximum of three road games be played at 10 a.m. Pacific Time in a season. The 49ers played five such contests in 2017. The idea is that West Coast teams traveling to the East Coast suffer from jet lag. The bylaw was declined.
The 49ers also proposed for all NFL stadiums to designate three distinct locker rooms for female staffers— including home staff, visiting staff, and officials— by the 2021 season. This bylaw, too, did not pass.
Shanahan sees Jerick McKinnon as an every-down back
Acquiring running back Jerick McKinnon was one of San Francisco’s biggest priorities, according to Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. McKinnon spent the only four seasons of his career in Minnesota, primarily delegated to third-down duties behind Adrian Peterson, Latavius Murray, and Dalvin Cook.
Earlier this month, McKinnon signed a four-year contract with the 49ers, including $11.7 million in guaranteed money. They didn’t pay McKinnon this way to use him on select downs.
Shanahan sees a player who can run, catch, and block very well — traits of an every-down back. The 49ers head coach wants to dispel the third-down label attached to McKinnon.
“People talk about him being a third-down back, which, he is,” Shanahan told reporters this week. “He’s a very good third-down back. We plan on using him that way. I also think he’s a good first- and second-down back, too.”
Jimmie Ward’s versatility is a luxury
All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman filled a void in the 49ers roster when he signed a four-year deal earlier this month. Ahkello Witherspoon was the only starting cornerback returning from last year’s roster.
Lynch, Shanahan, and Sherman himself fully expect that he returns as the dominant, ball-hawking presence he established in Seattle for seven seasons. Sherman is recovering from an Achilles rupture sustained last November, however, and the 49ers need insurance in case he doesn’t return the way they hope.
Lynch and company will likely add cornerback depth in the next month’s NFL draft. For now, Jimmie Ward, officially listed as a free safety, is slotted as a cornerback until Sherman returns. The 49ers picked up Ward’s fifth-year contract option, knowing they can rotate him around the field situationally.
“Jimmie is a good player, and you don’t want to let a good player out of your building,” Shanahan told reporters. “He can help us at corner. He can help us at safety. He can help us at nickel. I think he’s good enough to start at five different spots. Jimmie is going to play for us this year.”
Joshua Garnett expected to compete for starting role
The 49ers addressed their interior offensive line woes this month. First, they signed center Weston Richburg to a five-year deal potentially worth $47.5 million. Richburg is widely considered as one of the league’s most versatile centers, which will help stimulate Shanahan’s dynamic offense.
Last week, San Francisco inked guard Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal. Cooper, a former first-round pick, started 13 games for the Dallas Cowboys last season.
Joshua Garnett has used the offseason to cut weight and transform his body. Shanahan, pleased with Garnett’s progress, expects Garnett to compete with Laken Tomlinson and Cooper at both guard positions.
The 325 days may be behind me but ill always be HeavyJG lol pic.twitter.com/N4EpdKiqgl
— Joshua Garnett (@IamJoshG) March 28, 2018
“We challenged Josh,” Shanahan told reporters this week. “We wanted him to take the year to get his body in the best shape possible. Seeing him at the end of the year in December, it looked like he took advantage of his time off. He got his body fat down and his weight down. I think he’s in the best shape of his life, and he’s given himself a chance to help us this year.”
Shanahan content with current receiving corps
Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, and Marqise Lee headlined an attractive crop of free agent receivers this year. The 49ers chose not to budge.
Shanahan is confident in his returning group including Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor, Aldrick Robinson, and Kendrick Bourne. Even with the recent news that All-Pro Odell Beckham Jr. could be traded, it seems Shanahan will stay put.
“You definitely don’t need (an All-Pro receiver),” Shanahan told NBC Sports Bay Area. “If you ever have it, then keep it. It’s very fun to have and it’ll help you a ton. But that’s not something you need.”
The 49ers extended Goodwin to a three-year deal earlier this month. He posted career highs with 56 catches and 962 yards last year. He also played through unimaginable personal grief, losing his infant child and biological father within one month’s span, earning his head coach’s respect.
“To watch a person really turn into a pro as the year goes and to watch his play on the field match that, it was really fun to watch,” Shanahan told 49ers.com. “He’s the type of guy that we want around here.”