At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, San Francisco 49ers President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch met with reporters to outline roster priorities, contract situations, coaching changes, and the organization's approach to the 2026 offseason.

Here are six takeaways from Lynch's meetings with the media:

Updates on Veteran Players

Lynch addressed the futures of two key veterans, T Trent Williams and QB Mac Jones, making clear the organization values both players.

Regarding Williams, Lynch shared that the team has had ongoing conversations with Williams and his representatives. Lynch also emphasized there is mutual motivation to find a solution.

"I think we're on the right track," Lynch said. "Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner. And it's up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances.

"I think we're all on the same page and feel very positive about where it's going."

As for Jones, Lynch reiterated the team does not anticipate trading him but acknowledged that discussions often surface during Combine week when executives move "suite to suite." Still, any offer would need to be significant.

"He was really good for us, and we value that.

"Somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider (a trade)... But I think we're a better team with him on it. And we just like having him around. As we saw this year: Your franchise guy goes down, and it's nice to have someone like that."

Wide Receiver Outlook

The wide receiver room stands out as one of the team's most pressing offseason priorities.

Lynch shared that no decision involving Brandon Aiyuk is likely to be made before the start of the new league year on March 11. Aiyuk, who was placed on the reserve/left squad list, remains a potential trade candidate.

"We're here, and maybe somebody comes up and has some interest. So I think we keep that open for the time being."

The team is also in contact with soon-to-be free agent Jauan Jennings, who has been the 49ers most productive receiver over the past two seasons. Lynch indicated Jennings' market should take shape in the coming weeks.

"We'll continue to go down that path, and we'll continue to look outside and see who may be available... But Jauan's a fantastic player. You guys know how we feel about him. Really a lot of pride in drafting a guy like him in the seventh round."

The remaining receivers under contract for the 2026 season are Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jacob Cowing, and Jordan Watkins. Lynch noted that Pearsall, Cowing, and Watkins missed significant time due to injuries last season and emphasized the need for that young group to emerge.

"We've got some young players that we really need to come to the forefront," Lynch said. "We've got opportunities to improve ourselves by either bringing back some of the players that have been with us, or finding new guys that fit who we want to be and what we want to be both in free agency and the draft."

Defensive Front and Draft Philosophy

Lynch reiterated that while game tape remains the foundation of player evaluation, leadership, mental toughness, and character play a major role in identifying players who can sustain long NFL careers and positively impact a locker room.

"I think the best leaders make everyone around them better, and so if you can get a sense of that, that goes a long way to identifying the right type of people that you want in your building."

That philosophy ties directly into how the 49ers approach roster construction year after year. Even without the same volume of draft capital the team had last year, Lynch emphasized that the draft remains central to the organization's long-term success.

"Our lifeblood will always be the draft, and we want to be very proficient at that as well. We don't have 11 picks this year. We'll see with comp picks and all that where we end up, but we've got to hit on that each and every year."

Lynch pointed to the defensive front as an area of emphasis this offseason.

"One tangible thing, we've always prided ourselves on our defensive front and getting after people. And last year, if you just look at the numbers, I don't think the numbers are always reflective. I felt like there were games where we put a lot of pressure on, but you've got to put the quarterback down. That's something that we want to address, and we will address."

Coaching and Front Office Changes

The team's defensive identity will now be shaped by new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Morris joins the team after spending the past two seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011. San Francisco will be Morris' third stint in the role of defensive coordinator, previously DC for the Falcons in 2020 and for the Los Angeles Rams from 2021-23 where he assisted a Rams Super Bowl LVI win.

"Raheem brings so much to the table... I've known Raheem for a long time," Lynch said, describing the time they spent together in Tampa Bay. "He's been in this league for a long time. He's done it at a high level. I think he's got a lot of variety to the type of defense schematically in terms of what he's deployed. We like that and he's very familiar with the system we run, but he's also had some more experiences like what he did with the Rams that can add some variety to what we do. I think he's a very forward thinker. He's a guy who's an energy giver. Any building Raheem's in, you feel that and we're really excited about working with him."

The 49ers also brought back Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked in the organization's research and development department before serving as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings. Lynch shared Adofo-Mensah will return in a personnel-oriented role.

"First of all, just loved the person. I've known Kwesi for a long time... He's really smart. He looks at things in different ways, and we like that.
I think it only makes you better."

Lynch also acknowledged the departure of tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who was hired as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator.

"I can't say I'm thrilled about him being in our own division, but I'm excited for him."

Shanahan is expected to announce Fleury's replacement and the full 2026 coaching staff at next month's league meetings.

Injury Updates

Lynch provided extensive updates on several key players recovering from significant injuries:

• DL Nick Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3 but is progressing well and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
• DL Mykel Williams tore his ACL in Week 9, Lynch shared Williams' training camp could be "compromised a little bit," but he is handling rehab well and is expected to be ready for the regular season.
• DL Alfred Collins underwent shoulder surgery following the season and is trending toward full participation by camp.
• DL Keion White suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle the morning after the Super Bowl. He had a successful surgery and must remain off the leg for six to eight weeks but is expected to make a full recovery.
• TE George Kittle is progressing well following Achilles surgery, with optimism surrounding his recovery timeline.
• LB Fred Warner is "doing fantastic," according to Lynch.

Special Teams Stability

Lynch confirmed the 49ers are soon to sign long snapper Jon Weeks to a contract extension. Weeks was a pending free agent who joined the team in 2025.

The team is also working to retain punter Thomas Morstead and kicker Eddy Piñeiro. Lynch said the team will not place the franchise tag on Piñeiro but expressed strong interest in bringing him back.

"I don't know if a guy could have come in and done any better. He was fantastic for us."

As free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft approach, Lynch emphasized that conversations at the Combine often lay the groundwork for future trades and roster moves.

With clear priorities ahead and alignment between the coaching staff and front office, the 49ers enter the 2026 offseason confident in their process and intent on remaining competitive in one of the NFL's toughest divisions.