Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Grading John Lynch’s first year as general manager

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Sheldon Day #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 24: Sheldon Day #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2017 MIDSEASON PICKUPS. A. . John Lynch. San Francisco 49ers

The Niners went through a slew of injuries over the course of 2017, meaning they had to get by with players often found on the scrap heaps of midseason free agency.

This is never an easy bridge to cross, but John Lynch handled the responsibility remarkably well.

A number of waiver grabs and pickups certainly aided the team’s efforts throughout the year, and some turned out to be nice finds.

Notable 49ers Midseason Pickups

  • DB Leon Hall
  • DL Leger Douzable
  • DB Greg Mabin
  • DE Datone Jones
  • WR Louis Murphy
  • DL Sheldon Day
  • DL Cassius Marsh

Defensive lineman Leger Douzable became quite “usable” (that became a thing) in the middle of the season. And wide receiver Louis Murphy ended up hauling in Jimmy Garoppolo’s first touchdown pass in a 49ers uniform.

Not bad.

Former first-round draftee, defensive end Datone Jones, didn’t exactly pan out. But Lynch more than made up for it by grabbing fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Day off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Day ended up seeing 195 snaps in San Francisco, registering a 75.0 overall Pro Football Focus grade in the process. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners keep Day around for a while.

Finding just one player making a big difference off the scrap heap is an accomplishment. Yet Lynch repeated these efforts on multiple occasions.

Doing so amid the numerous injuries the 49ers suffered makes this grade notable.