ESPN: 49ers coach and his player transacting with the commanders
Not surprisingly, executives from other teams follow the coaches’ and players’ counsel when they have the kind of recent success that the San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed.
There haven’t been many teams better than the San Francisco 49ers over the last five years, despite the fact that they haven’t yet succeeded in their ultimate aim of returning a Super Bowl to the Bay Area for the first time since 1994. Throughout that period, they have made two visits to the Super Bowl and won ten or more games four times.
Because of this, their coaching staff, front office, and roster enjoy great respect throughout the league, and rival teams are open to hearing their thoughts on the football field. It seems to be the situation before to the Washington Commanders’ NFL Draft this year.
Prior to the event last month, there were a number of stories indicating that JJ McCarthy, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels were all vying to be the team’s second-round pick. The organization ultimately chose the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner while they were under clock. But it appears that Brandon Aiyuk, the standout receiver for the 49ers, and head coach Kyle Shanahan had some say in that decision.
Jayden Daniels received high praise from the head coach and standout receiver of the San Francisco 49ers.
An intriguing piece of information regarding the Washington Commanders’ selection procedure for their first overall choice in 2024 was disclosed on Friday by ESPN NFL reporter John Keim.
“A close friend of Daniels, Brandon Aiyuk of San Francisco, reportedly sang his friend’s praises to Commanders general manager Adam Peters,” according to one source. Daniels also had excellent feedback from San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, with whom Peters collaborated for seven years.
Although it doesn’t mean that the 49ers coach and star influenced the Commanders’ decision, given their respective NFL achievements, it’s possible that Daniels’ decision to go to Washington during the deadlock was significantly influenced.
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Is Dominick Puni Fit to Play the 49ers’ Right Tackle Position?
Puni, a rookie, probably won’t start straight away, but he should be the first offensive lineman off the bench.
Regarding Dominick Puni, a third-round pick, the 49ers haven’t exactly been transparent about their plans for him.
Despite the fact that he has never played center in a game, they claimed they would start him inside, most likely at guard, and that he might also be able to play that position. Perhaps it is how they see Puni’s future unfolding, in the center.
Puni can play all five positions, though, and the 49ers believe he can play both left and right tackle “in a pinch,” as general manager John Lynch described it. It makes sense given that Puni was a collegiate football player who played both right and left tackle.
Puni, a rookie, probably won’t start straight away, but he should be the first offensive lineman off the bench. In other words, the next man up will be the guard who gets hurt. In addition, Puni will play right guard and Jon Feliciano will move to center in the event that center Jake Brendel is hurt.
However, what would happen if Colton McKivitz, the right tackle, suffered an injury? Who would be his starting lineup replacement?
In that scenario, it wouldn’t surprise me if Puni was given a look at right tackle by the 49ers. Jaylon Moore is the only other viable choice, and he’s not good. Next year, he most likely won’t be on the squad. He will never play for the 49ers again.
Puni really shares an athletic profile with McKivitz at right tackle. It should also be easy to replace McKivitz. They hardly rarely follow him, and when they do, they almost always assist him. Puni looks like a good match for the 49ers’ run-blocking strategy. Could he truly be worse than McKivitz as a pass protector?
We’ll investigate.
