Even before speaking with his new boss after being selected by San Francisco with the ninth overall pick Brandon Saad Jersey , Mike McGlinchey had a pretty good idea of what to expect from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
McGlinchey's cousin, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, spent two seasons working closely with Shanahan from 2015-16 when Shanahan was the team's offensive coordinator. So who else for McGlinchey to go to for advice about his new gig?
"I've heard quite a bit about Kyle," McGlinchey said on a conference call with reporters. "He's done obviously a great job both with the Falcons and the 49ers. My cousin Matt has said nothing but great things about Kyle. I'm really excited to get to work with him."
Ryan wasn't among the 150 family members and friends who joined McGlinchey at a restaurant near his hometown in Pennsylvania to celebrate being drafted. The Falcons quarterback was home tending to a pair of newborn twin boys but repeatedly reached out to his cousin throughout the day.
"He's been calling me and texting me all day and making sure I'm OK," McGlinchey said. "He's given me all the support I've needed."
McGlinchey was the consensus top tackle available in the draft. He started 29 games on the left side over the past two seasons but will most likely play on the right side in the NFL. San Francisco has six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, who is the longest-tenured player on the 49ers.
"The more we watched him, the more we liked him," 49ers general manager John Lynch said. "Every time Kyle and I kept watching him, he just kept getting better. Last week we decided that if he's there at nine, he's the guy we're taking."
Lynch called McGlinchey a game-changer, an athletic offensive tackle who repeatedly showed up on film blocking for running plays well down the field.
"He's got a special presence to him," Lynch said. "He's real, he's authentic and he's a bad-ass. And we like that."
Shanahan was asked if he reached out to Ryan to get information. The 49ers coach smiled and said no http://www.officialkings.com/authentic-adidas-alex-iafallo-jersey , out of fear of tipping the 49ers' intentions.
"I didn't want to blow our cover," Shanahan said. "I didn't trust Matt to keep a secret."
The pick was somewhat surprising because many speculated that Lynch and Shanahan would continue to target the defense.
For a while, it appeared that middle linebacker Roquan Smith might fall into San Francisco's lap, one year after the 49ers grabbed Reuben Foster with the 31st overall pick. Foster is currently facing domestic violence charges, although his girlfriend recently said she had lied to authorities about the situation.
But Smith was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the eighth pick and the 49ers went with McGlinchey.
"We considered linebackers throughout this process because there were some very good ones in this draft," Lynch said. "Ultimately we came to the decision that McGlinchey was the guy we wanted at our spot. Mike was the guy at nine."
Even McGlinchey was caught off guard. After being picked, he told reporters that he hadn't spoken with the 49ers since a formal interview at the scouting combine. Their first interaction since the combine came when Lynch, Shanahan and owner Jed York got on the phone to speak with their newest rookie.
"I had no idea," McGlinchey said. "It's definitely a shock but absolutely thrilled to be a part of the San Francisco 49ers organization. My family and I couldn't be happier."
The 6-foot-8, 309-pound McGlinchey played both tackle positions with the Irish before settling in at left tackle as a junior. He was projected to be one of the top left tackles in 2017 but he returned to Notre Dame and improved his stock.
With the 49ers, McGlinchey is expected to push Trent Brown and Garry Gilliam for the starting right tackle job. Brown, a seventh-round pick in 2015, has had an up-and-down career with San Francisco and suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder last November.
Brown is expected to be healthy in time for training camp Eric Ebron Jersey , leaving McGlinchey and Gilliam to handle the reps at right tackle until then.
"No matter where they put me or see fit, that's what I'm going to do and give my best effort," McGlinchey said. "I feel like I've mastered both sides and I'm ready to go at either one."
NEW YORK JETS (5-11)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, New Jersey
LAST YEAR: Rebuilding Jets finished 5-11 for second straight season under coach Todd Bowles, but exceeded expectations by many who predicted New York to have trouble winning more than couple games. New York was competitive in nearly every game, and team credited Bowles’ culture change for improved attitude around facility. Both Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan received two-year contract extensions after season. QB Josh McCown had career year at 38, setting personal bests with 2,926 yards passing, 19 TD passes and five TD runs before missing final three games with broken left hand. His exceptional leadership was also praised by teammates. WR Robby Anderson emerged as legitimate deep threat with 63 catches, 941 yards and seven TD receptions. Defense struggled to get to QBs, but solid play by rookie safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye was big positive.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Rookie QB Sam Darnold Luca Sbisa Jersey , CB Trumaine Johnson, RB Isaiah Crowell, QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR Terrelle Pryor, LB Avery Williamson, C Spencer Long, C Travis Swanson, DE Henry Anderson, S J.J. Wilcox, K Cairo Santos.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: DE Muhammad Wilkerson, LB Demario Davis, RB Matt Forte, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Markus Granlund Jersey , DE Kony Ealy, C Wesley Johnson, K Chandler Catanzaro.
CAMP NEEDS: Familiar theme for Jets and their fans: all eyes on QBs. But this summer will be particularly intriguing with Darnold – No. 3 overall pick out of USC – being given every opportunity to win starting job in competition with McCown and Bridgewater. Darnold will have to show he can operate system of new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, promoted from QBs coach after John Morton was fired. WR Quincy Enunwa (neck) and Pryor (ankle) coming back from injuries that ended seasons early. Long, coming off knee injury, will be looked at to anchor O-line after not practicing in offseason. Finding consistent pass rusher at OLB will also be key, with recent draft picks Lorenzo Mauldin, Dylan Donahue in mix of players needing to prove themselves.
EXPECTATIONS: Acting owner Christopher Johnson has made it clear playoffs are not mandatory this season, although Jets have failed to reach postseason for last seven years. Team made lots of key moves in offseason, with selection of Darnold re-energizing fan base waiting for legitimate franchise QB for decades. Still, progress will be expected from team with sights set on making even more noise next season – especially with New York expected to have NFL’s most salary cap room heading into 2019 offseason.
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