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Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s first draft wasn’t exactly a raging success. They mostly flopped before making a fantastic, if not fortuitous pick in George Kittle along with Trent Taylor in the fifth, and D.J. Jones in the sixth.
Their first pick? Solomon Thomas, number three overall. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the team will, as you’d expect, decline his $13.14 million fifth-year option.
The #49ers are declining the fifth-year option on DL Solomon Thomas, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 1, 2020
In acquiring Thomas, the 49ers made a one-spot trade down with the Chicago Bears, which turned into two third-round picks in 2017 and 2018 and one fourth-round pick in 2018.
Originally drafted as an edge rusher, Thomas has since moved inside as more of a 3-technique, who’s played some nose tackle. He had a few encouraging moments last season, but still seems, despite his physical attributes, to lack any sort of consistency and form in order to be an every-down player. That said, he’s only been through three seasons, and had to deal with the unfathomable loss of his sister, Ella Thomas, in his second season.
To expect any player to chug along with a business-as-usual attitude or level of performance after that is deranged thinking.
The 49ers’ decision to draft Javon Kinlaw did confirm, however, that they weren’t willing to rely on Thomas to be an interior disruptor.
This doesn’t meant that Thomas is definitively on the outs, however. He could well return on a significantly cheaper deal if he has a successful, or at least promising season. There’s also something to note, if you want to look at his career from a pure statistical perspective.
Thus far, he has six total sacks in his career. Arik Armstead, through three seasons, had… six. He then had three in his fourth year and 10.0 in year five. Through three seasons:
Armstead: 6.0 sacks, 7 TFL, 17 QB hits, 31 solo tackles, 19 assisted
Thomas: 6.0 sacks, 23 TFL, 23 QB hits, 73 solo tackles, 20 assisted