So what happens now?
How does the tenuous status of 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan impact the 49ers’ preparation for the draft?
McCloughan had the final say on draft day the past two years. But in speaking to 49ers coach Mike Singletary at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, he emphasized that the 49ers’ draft board will get the final say.
In other words, all the debate and scenarios should be worked out well in advance of the time the 49ers go on the clock during the draft, which runs April 22-24. With five weeks to go before the draft, the vast majority of McCloughan’s work is done.
It is my understanding the 49ers’ draft board is tentatively set. The only subtle changes to the positioning of the prospects would occur because of Singletary’s forte. Singletary has been placing a lot of phone calls as part of background checks into some of the draft-eligible prospects.
Also, when the 49ers begin inviting prospects to visit the team’s offices, that is when Singletary can sit down with a kid, look to his eyes and gauge the player’s passion for the game. That is not a small thing for Singletary and the 49ers.
McCloughan’s strength is watching a player on film. Singletary’s strength is looking into the eyes of a kid, getting to know him, and determining if his mindset is a good fit for his team.
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The Merc’s Tim Kawakami reports, “Source: 49ers are making short-term adjustments in front-office structure to fill McCloughan’s duties. Nothing final on a departure, but…it seems pretty clear that McCloughan is out or on his way out.”
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