49ers to host Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion on pre-draft visit
“For his career, 1,232 of Concepcion’s receiving yards have come after the catch, according to Pro Football Focus. He also contributed on special teams, returning 30 punts for 501 yards and two touchdowns.”
Why 49ers delaying Brandon Aiyuk’s departure is about business, not breakup revenge (paywall)
“Here is why the 49ers are not incentivized to hurry this transaction.
A post-June 1 designation would allow them to split Aiyuk’s total dead
cap hit on payroll of $34.6 million between 2026 ($13.3 million) and 2027 ($21.2 million), according to Spotrac. But this would not be reflected on their books until June 2, with the draft far in the rearview mirror, along with any reasonably desirable free agents. They are getting no more than $1.3 million in 2026 cap savings from any post-June 1 release or trade involving Aiyuk, anyway.
So the 49ers are holding on to Aiyuk because it makes business sense. They would rather trade him instead of letting him walk for no return. Of course, any trade would require cooperation on the part of Aiyuk to rework his existing deal. His guarantees for 2026 may be voided, but his base salary for 2027 ($27.2 million) and 2028 ($29.15 million) are higher than his deflated market value at this point. He is also due a $24.9 million option bonus on Sept. 1 under his current contract, per Over the Cap.
In other words, the 49ers can wait until Sept. 1 for trade suitors to emerge without paying Aiyuk another dime. The Commanders have been rumored as a potential landing spot for the 28-year-old wide receiver.”
NFL beat writer 2026 mock draft 2.0: How far could Jeremiyah Love slide? (Paywall)
“The 49ers like taking wide receivers and defensive linemen in the first round and — would you look at that! — those are among their biggest needs this year. We have the team going with Akheem Mesidor, a powerfully built edge rusher who had 12.5 sacks and 17 .5 tackles for loss last season and made his biggest marks against top-end talent in the playoffs. Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was oh-so-tempting at this spot, and it’s entirely possible Kyle Shanahan would be unable to resist snagging him here (the 49ers will host Cooper on a visit next month). The rationale, however, is that there will be more enticing wideouts — Germie Bernard? Ted Hurst? Elijah Sarratt? — than edge rushers available when San Francisco’s on the clock again late in Round 2. — Matt Barrows.”
Hutchinson: The War Room: Assessing 49ers’ free agency moves (paywall)
“3 prospects I’m higher on right now: Jalen Farmer and Jager Burton, IOL, Kentucky: Get ‘em both. Package deal. Burton is the burst off the line guy. He’s someone who quickly redirects traffic and plays with just a hint of that Jason Kelce quicker-than-you, low-man mentality. Farmer is the pop. He is a mauling pulling guard who has length and strength. Keep them together and fix your interior offensive line with back-to-back picks in the third (or if you’re lucky, fourth) round.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia: Branch feels completely forgotten about. In a draft class full of off-ball, move Z/modern slot receivers, with Makai Lemon, K.C. Concepcion and Antonio Williams amongst the leading names, it feels like we’ve forgotten about Branch, who was the victim of HORRIFIC quarterback play at Georgia last year. He was largely a tunnel screen merchant without enough consistent blocking from his receivers. He got open, though, is a special, natural athlete and I think he’s at a point where he just might be good value.
3 prospects I’m lower on right now: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State: This isn’t even an anti-Sonny Styles take. I’m simply lower on him because through multiple games, I’ve seen him struggle to get off second-level blocks more than a few other linebacker in the class. You can see the transition from safety to linebacker in his game. He’s missing a little bit of the dip/bend craft to get around blocks in proactive way instead of a reactive way. I do think he’s such a tremendous athlete who played at an elite program and sees the game well that it’s unlikely to matter. But that’s why he’s a little lower. And by lower, I just mean outside the top 10.”
