© Rich Barnes | 2019 Dec 29
The Seattle Seahawks got better this week, at least in the short term.
The 49ers’ division rival traded for All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, sending first round picks in 2021 and 2022 to the Jets to acquire his services. Earlier in the month, Adams had made it public that he wanted out of New York amidst a contract dispute, leading many to speculate that the 49ers would make a play to improve their already stellar defense.
Alas, they did not. Why exactly? General manager John Lynch explained when he joined our sister station KNBR’s Murph and Mac Show on Tuesday morning.
“Were we interested? Of course you’d be interested in a player like that,” Lynch said. Is it a reality? No. Kyle (Shanahan) and I always have conversations. ‘Is this something we should pursue?’ Then you start looking into it. And the way we’re built, we’re getting up there against the cap, the things we have planned for the future, what’s happening with the pandemic to the cap, that just wasn’t a reality for us. It wouldn’t be No. 1 on our list to see the Seahawks get him, but there he is.”
The 49ers are already dealing with trying to get an extension for George Kittle sorted out, something that has been put on the shelf as the league’s future salary cap situation comes into focus. With that in mind, a move for Adams just wasn’t realistic financially at this time.
“I love it seems to be that every guy that’s up for a trade that we’re involved,” Lynch said. “I love that people talk about the Niners. But I try to be truthful. We’re talking about (George) Kittle. We’re trying to save room for him.
“We’ve got a plan here and Jamal Adams is a tremendous player. No. 1, we feel really good about our guys, Jimmie Ward, who we re-signed this offseason, about Jaquiski Tartt.
“With Jamal Adams, you saw all the trade capital that they had to give up, which the Seahawks – good for them – they made that decision. You also got to pay the man. That’s one of the reasons he’s not in New York.
“Being up there against it (the cap) with what’s happening with the camp due to the pandemic, it just wasn’t a reality for us.”
Listen to the full interview from our sister station KNBR below.