John Lynch Says 49ers Have 'Big Things Coming Our Way' Despite NFL FA Departures

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is bullish on the franchise's long-term outlook after having lost multiple starters from the 2024 squad this offseason.

"The bottom line is you're always looking at years out (from now)," Lynch told reporters Wednesday at Stanford's pro day. "And we forecast it, and we've got some big things coming our way. And you have to clear the requisite room to be able to do that. And you don't want to get to a point where you have to do things to keep your roster afloat. You want to have that flexibility."

When the Niners slumped to a 6-11 finish this past year, there was a sense their competitive window was closing for a little bit. San Francisco had an aging, expensive roster, and the outlook was complicated by the fact quarterback Brock Purdy is entering the last year of his contract.

Fans may not have expected the exodus to be this big, though.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel got traded to the Washington Commanders. Safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw signed with the Denver Broncos. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and edge-rusher Leonard Floyd were cut. And the list goes on.

It's easy to see the overall vision.

The 49ers have 11 total draft picks this spring, including six in the first four rounds. Even factoring in a new deal for Purdy, they'll have some breathing room financially in 2026 and will be in a position to spend on impact free agents.

Fans are accustomed to seeing rebuilds unfold over multiple years in the NBA or MLB. If executed properly, the process can unfold much faster in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions won three games in 2021 and advanced to the NFC title game in 2023. The Houston Texans rode their 2023 draft class to a seven-win improvement that year. The Los Angeles Rams had a down year after winning the Super Bowl but found themselves winning 10 games and making the postseason in successive campaigns.

Granted, San Francisco's last few drafts will have the fanbase reasonably asking whether Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan can assemble a contender from the ground up again.

Missing the playoffs in 2025 won't be a disaster for the Niners under the right circumstances. The youth movement at least needs to show some promising signs. Without that, the criticism toward Lynch will be hitting a fever pitch.