Exclusive: 49ers Secretly Courting Mysterious Draft Prospects – Who’s Catching Their Eye? – Page 4

“I heard the same thing from NFL sources this week that I heard in the weeks and months before ESPN reported that Williams and the 49ers were struggling to come to an agreement, which the report heavily implied could lead to the 49ers releasing Williams before they’d have to make a $10 million up-front payment.

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“Umm, no, my NFL sources said. Unless something crazy happens, the 49ers intend to add more guaranteed money to Williams’ deal and Williams, who turns 38 in July, intends to be with the 49ers through the rest of his career.

Certainly, the financial terms have to be figured out. Definitely, there could be, as there almost always is with the 49ers and high-profile players, some tension during the back and forth. The player wants more. The team wants to pay less. And guaranteeing future money gets riskier as players age. ….For this negotiation, maybe the 49ers’ negotiators tossed out a big-bluff, “hey, we don’t have to pay you anything, starting with that $10 million.” And the ESPN report easily could’ve been the Williams camp’s loud retort — yeah, go ahead. Because they’d know the 49ers were just bluffing. It’s part of the process, I guess.“

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“Raheem Morris’ arrival as defensive coordinator means the 49ers will likely consider more small, speedy edge rushers than they’ve scouted in the past. There are a lot of those in this year’s draft, including Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas and Texas Tech’s Romello Height.

[Texas AM DE Cashius] Howell might be the best of the sub-250-pounders, finishing with 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. Howell’s GTFO time — a 49ers calculus that determines a lineman’s explosion — ought to catch defensive line coach Kris Kocurek’s eye in the run-up to the draft.