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It took $50 million of Jed York’s cash to simplify things a bit for the 49ers going into this week’s draft, which John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan almost certainly will tell you is worth every penny.

That money’s now committed to a new two-year contract extension for Trent Williams — increasing his current guarantee from nothing to $37 million and ensuring that the 49ers won’t have to invest a high pick on an immediate replacement (who might not be any good) for Williams at left tackle.

Instead, the 49ers can use top picks on a wide receiver and a pass rusher (in whatever order works), their two most immediate needs as they try to chase down the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. And the 49ers can finally start a serious plan for Williams’ eventual departure, now pegged for 2028 (when he’ll be 39), by drafting a tackle in the third or fourth rounds and working the new guy in slowly.

“We did a two-year deal with Trent with great confidence that Trent’s going to be here for a couple of years,” Lynch said Monday at his annual pre-draft media session. “The way he takes care of himself. Where his heart’s at. …

“But absolutely you have to be looking … that’s a premium position as it is. I can tell you we’re really excited about [free-agent signee] Vederian Lowe. … I think we have really good depth at tackle. But absolutely that is a premium position and the end is closer than it has been.”

This was, by far, the most significant 49ers news of the day — Williams won’t be holding out; he’ll be on the 49ers’ flight to Australia for their Week 1 game against the Rams and the 49ers won’t be rushing in a rookie to try to block on Brock Purdy’s blind side.

Other than that, Monday was about hints and generalities. It’s not like Lynch is ever eager to fire off clear clues about the 49ers’ strategy going into the draft — and as they sit with the 27th overall pick, it’s hard to predict what will happen before it gets to the 49ers’ selection, anyway.

But here are a few notable things we can extrapolate from what Lynch said and how he said it …

As Lynch mentioned a few times, they only have six picks in this draft (a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and four fourth-rounders) after previous trades to acquire veterans. And to trade up, you usually have to bundle up a bunch of picks.

Also, Lynch said that the top talent runs out after about 15 players this year, probably taking those picks out of the 49ers’ price range.

“I’m not gonna tip our hand … [but] I would tell ya we don’t have a ton of picks in this draft, right?” Lynch said. “So it does make some sense, ‘How can we find some more picks?’ We’ll certainly be open to that.”

First, Lynch is probably telling the literal truth — those spots do seem to be fairly well stocked this year. But also, I imagine he can say this confidently because those are the positions the 49ers are spotlighting in their evaluations.

Lynch wasn’t asked specifically about taking a WR high, but that’s presumed given that new signees Mike Evans and Christian Kirk are only owed guaranteed money for one year and Ricky Pearsall hasn’t gotten through a full NFL season.

• Inside the 49ers’ special teams overhaul, and why there’s still room to improve

Oh by the way, here’s Purdy (on site as the 49ers begin their offseason program) on Evans: “Obviously a big frame which is always nice for a quarterback, especially outside at receiver. But also even going into the red zone and stuff, just watching some clips of what [he did with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay], with certain routes that he did and creating leverage and being able to throw back-shoulders and really getting that guy in one-on-one situations. I think as a quarterback you sort of dream of those kind of situations.”

And here’s what Lynch said about the need to improve their pass rush, which generated a league-worst 20 sacks in 2025.

“Can you put that quarterback under duress? Can you hit that quarterback? Can you pressure that quarterback? We fell short of that last year,” Lynch said. “There’s some reasons, absolutely. Nick Bosa was hurt. Mykel [Williams] got hurt halfway through. But I think we can get better at that spot.”

I’m sure other 49ers assistants have been enthusiastic about draft prospects and livened up the building in general, but it seems like Morris — one of Shanahan’s best friends in coaching — is already in a class of his own.

“He’s a bundle of energy. He’s curious. He’s insightful,” Lynch said. “We always talk about there’s guys who drain a room and then there’s guys who give life to a room; he gives life to a room. He’s funny.

“His whole thing is, ‘If we draft this guy, I’m throwing a pool party.’ We’re hoping we’re having a lot of pool parties with Raheem.”

Three months after Lynch said that Aiyuk wouldn’t play another down for the 49ers, he’s still on the roster. Why? Because the 49ers can fit him on their payroll and they could take this past the owners’ meetings and through the draft just to see if they could get anything for him.

It won’t be much. Maybe a flip of seventh-rounders or a conditional 2027 sixth-rounder. But still, so far, nothing, despite a few conversations.

“Do I think it’s a high probability? Likely no,” Lynch said. “But is there a chance? Yeah, there’s a chance. … We’ll focus on our draft. If something happens there, great. If not, we’ll re-evaluate it.”