49ers’ John Lynch Calls Trent Williams Trade ‘Cherry on Top’ of 2020 NFL Draft

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch had a nearly impossible task during the NFL draft: take a team that advanced to the Super Bowl and make it a little better without losing what got it there.  

Now a few days after the high of draft weekend has worn off, Lynch feels confident he got the job done. That's in no small part thanks to the trade he pulled off to snag offensive tackle Trent Williams from Washington once it became clear offensive tackle Joe Staley would retire.

“We knew there was an opportunity or a chance that [Staley] wasn't going to be with us and that was going to be tough,” Lynch told NFL.com's Nick Shook. “But we were able to pull something off for Trent Williams, which I think was the cherry on top of this draft. I believe we have a chance to be a better football team this year, and that's very exciting for all of us.”

Among the Niners' five draft picks last weekend only one, fifth-rounder Colton McKivitz, slots in at offensive tackle. That wouldn't work to replace Staley—a six-time Pro Bowler with more than a decade of NFL experience in San Francisco. 

Both Lynch and Staley believed time away from the game would let the 35-year-old's body heal and allow him to continue playing. Lynch didn't want to lose one of the best tackles in the game and Staley didn't want to lose his career. 

Neither of them wound up having a choice.

“Finally, draft week, Joe picked up the phone and said ‘Guys, I can't do this, I've got to make a decision for my family,'” Lynch said. “So that gave us, it was very opportune that Trent Williams was sitting out there. We quickly interjected ourself in that conversation. I worked hard with Ron Rivera to try to get it done and we did as an organization, and fortunately, we were able to do it. We'll miss Joe. Joe's been a huge part of this franchise. But to come up with a guy like Trent Williams at that late date was a godsend for us.”

Fortunately for San Francisco, Washington had been looking to move a disgruntled Williams for some time when Staley announced his retirement. That gave Lynch an opening to try to pry the tackle away at a discount.

The Niners got Williams and Washington received a fifth-round pick in 2020—which they used to take center Keith Ismael—and a third-round pick in 2021. 

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As San Francisco gears up for another run at the NFC title, Lynch certainly accomplished his goal. 

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