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The San Francisco 49ers have made a key addition to their front office ahead of this week’s NFL Draft: AI.
The Niners own six picks in this draft, including the 27th overall pick, and it appears artificial intelligence will play a role in their selection.
“If you’re not using it, you’re already late,” Lynch told reporters Monday.
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Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with John Lynch after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on January 28, 2024. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Lynch is not wrong, but the rest of this remark might raise some eyebrows.
“And the cool thing is we discovered that you don’t have to be an expert,” Lynch said. “Just like you at home, planning a travel itinerary, you can just ask the thing, and it can give you really good things, really good ideas.”
Analytics has obviously taken over in sports, but this could undoubtedly take things to a whole new level.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers talk during rookie training camp at the SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, California on May 12, 2023. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
FROM MR. RELEVANT TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BROCK PURDY WANTS TO USE HIS LIFESTYLE FOR GOOD
“Some good ideas, our developers, I think we’re lucky to be where we are, at the epicenter of innovation, and we’ve tried to take advantage of that,” Lynch added. “And I think every team probably uses it in one way or another. And I think it’s only going to increase as we go forward.”
San Francisco made a splash this offseason by signing wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year, $42.5 million contract. The Niners have struggled with consistency from their wide receivers, largely due to injuries.
Jauan Jennings led all Niners receivers with 90 targets, and Kendrick Bourne and Ricky Pearsall were both tied for second with 53. Brock Purdy relied heavily on Christian McCaffrey (129 targets) and George Kittle (69). However, Kittle’s timetable is uncertain after rupturing his Achilles during the NFL playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk celebrates with general manager John Lynch after the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on September 17, 2023. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Who knows what AI could have come up with when Brock Purdy was selected with the final 2022 selection.
