San Francisco 49ers: Avoiding Solomon Thomas headache a big deal

By Nicholas McGee | Jul 29, 2017

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: (L-R) Solomon Thomas of Stanford poses with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked /

The San Francisco 49ers managed to get Solomon Thomas signed on the first day of camp in a move that is significant for a number of reasons.

The San Francisco 49ers avoided a headache as they finally got the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Solomon Thomas, signed to a contract.

General manager John Lynch announced the contract as the 49ers were gearing up for their first practice of training camp and, though Thomas was unable to take part on the opening day, the fact San Francisco has stopped this situation from lingering is a big deal for a regime that — at least from an outside perspective — appears to have had very little problems to deal with so far.

In recent years, the 49ers have been unable to dodge off-the-field issues. Had it gone unresolved, Thomas’ contract saga threatened to become an unnecessary drama as the Niners gear up to try to bounce back under Kyle Shanahan and Lynch after two dreadful seasons.

San Francisco will have been all too familiar with how a similar issue with Joey Bosa and the Chargers last year turned into a war of words before the former Ohio State defensive end eventually signed in late August.

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And the Niners only had to look back to 2009 for an example of how an unsigned rookie contract can affect a season, with Michael Crabtree not making his first start until late October after being picked 10th overall by San Francisco.

The situation surrounding Thomas was never likely to reach that kind of territory. But with only one day of camp missed, the 49ers can be comfortable knowing he has ample time to learn the defense and can be ready to go come the Week 1 game with the Carolina Panthers. Having him there will mean the 49ers do not have to place extra strain on DeForest Buckner, who played way too many snaps in his rookie year, and a defender in Arik Armstead who has a troubling injury history.

Instead they can approach the new season with their defensive line as stacked with talent as advertised, with the 49ers front very much the strength of a young defense that should be better in 2017.

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Indeed, the 49ers will be very pleased to have prevented a saga akin to that of Bosa’s last year. Now they will be looking for the Stanford product to hit the ground running and justify the decision to take him at No. 3 — the same spot where Bosa went in 2016. If Thomas can match the production of the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, then nobody will remember this contract impasse come the end of 2017.