Many were questioning what the San Francisco 49ers were doing when they named former NFL safety and FOX Sports analyst John Lynch as general manager, but it's a move that is already paying dividends for them.
After some key free agency signings and a stellar draft, CBS Sports ranked the 49ers' front office as the second-best in the league for the offseason.
Give it up for John Lynch. In his first offseason as an NFL general manager, he swindled the Bears to give up a a king's ransom to move up one spot in the draft. He still managed to draft the player, Solomon Thomas, he wanted all along. Getting Reuben Foster, a first-round talent if you don't factor in his injury history, late in the first round was huge too. The 49ers also didn't overspend in free agency, which is sensible because they are light years away from playoff contention. So, they did the one thing that a team devoid of talent can do: They stockpiled assets to draft a new, young core group of players. That's a successful offseason.
One move that made no sense: Taking developmental quarterback C.J. Beathard in the third round. That's way too early for a marginal talent.
Wide receiver Pierre Garcon and quarterback Brian Hoyer, who will start for the 49ers this season, headline their many free agency signings. However, the draft is what really won the offseason for San Francisco.
They added several 2018 draft picks, grabbed defensive lineman Solomon Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick and linebacker Reuben Foster at No. 31 - both of whom were among the top three prospects on San Francisco's big board, according to Lynch.
The 49ers are still projected to finish last in the NFC West in 2017, but their rebuild is certainly headed in the right direction after this offseason.
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