Golden Nuggets: Joe Staley, 49ers assistant coach?

Your daily San Francisco 49ers links for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Today, we’ll talk about the Patriots receiver that requested a trade, Joe Staley’s comments about the Super Bowl from a couple of years ago, and where USA TODAY ranks the 49ers Hall of Fame quarterbacks.

Joe Staley says Kyle Shanahan wants him on 49ers coaching staff

“I know Kyle’s trying to get me up there to work on his staff, but I’m not ready to do the coaching thing yet,” Staley said, via the team’s website. “I’m really, honestly, just enjoying the time that I have with my family right now. I have two young girls, seven and four, and we’re enjoying spending a ton of time together. I’m catching up on all the time I missed while playing football and I’m not in a huge hurry to get back into something.”

Rosenthal: Trey Lance could become 49ers starter sooner than you think

“It’s Trey Lance’s job, essentially, to win in camp,” Rosenthal told Rich Eisen on the Rich Eisen Show. “They spent this offseason evaluating and teaching. You know how it is. It’s go time once you’re about three or four days into camp. And if he is as good as they think he is, I think he’ll be starting as soon as Week 1 if he is a little more accurate than he was in college.

“The amount of talent on that roster is breathtaking. To me, they are one of the favorites.”

49ers 2021 90-man roster preview: Offensive line

The 49ers added Mack on a three-year deal worth $14.85 million. At Age 35 his best football may be behind him, but his two years in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and his good track record of health make him a valuable asset to an interior offensive front that’s struggled to find consistency in the middle. Having high-quality center play will be a noticeable help for San Francisco’s offense.

49ers roster 2021: A forgotten wide receiver, Jalen Hurd

Why Jalen Hurd finally gets his break with 49ers in 2021

It would be one thing if San Francisco stockpiled potential replacements for Hurd on the depth chart, namely as a big-bodied wide receiver who can play out either on the boundary or from the slot.

Yet the 49ers lost their No. 3 wide receiver from the last four years, Kendrick Bourne, to free agency. And the lack of a proven third-tier target could open things up for Hurd to ascend the depth chart.

Plus, at least in the brief sample size from the 2019 preseason, it wasn’t hard to see how Hurd could use his imposing size to overpower smaller defensive backs. A wide receiver with a running back’s mindset, Hurd has the physical tools to be a mismatch nightmare still, even if the first two years of his pro career haven’t gone according to plan.

How Kyle Shanahan can insert option football to take advantage of rookie Trey Lance’s abilities

I’d expect Shanahan to install some counter-bash options for the rookie quarterback. Lance is a physical, north-and-south runner and these concepts allow him to run in a straight line. Also, the 49ers have gotten really good at running counters in the past few years, so it would be an easy install because the offensive line would already know how to block it. The only thing that would change is the backfield action.

What a new contract for 49ers LB Fred Warner might look like

Looking at other linebackers, Bobby Wagner currently holds the highest annual average pay for a linebacker at $18 million, as part of his three-year, $54 million extension in 2019.

However, C.J. Mosley currently holds the highest guaranteed money for a linebacker as he got $43 million guaranteed as part of his huge five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets in the 2019 offseason.

Not only are the numbers important, but Warner has some competition this offseason in Darius Leonard.

Leonard, a second-round pick in Warner’s class, is also looking to get paid this offseason, and it seems like whoever’s deal gets done second will get more money.