San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has repeatedly stressed how his team will explore any and all available opportunities to improve, going so far as to joke that the Niners would trade either him or head coach Kyle Shanahan if the offer was good enough.
Ultimately, Lynch and Co. weren't the winners of the blockbuster trade that sent All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers on the eve of the regular season.
But, was San Francisco at least in pursuit?
According to Lynch, yes.
John Lynch reveals 49ers asked about trading for Micah Parsons
Speaking on KNBR 680's Murph & Markus Show the Thursday before the regular-season kickoff, Lynch was asked whether or not the 49ers had any interest in trading for the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
The GM's response was revealing if not necessarily shocking.
"You know, we always are going to listen," Lynch said of Parsons' availability. "We weren't really in position to do that, but you're always going to make calls and have your ear to the ground. I just mentioned a couple of big trades we made. If you don't shoot, you don't score."
Fair point. What's the old saying? "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take," right?
However, even Lynch acknowledged the reality of trading for Parsons -- a deal that not only included two first-round picks and a defensive starter, but also required a hefty extension after the trade was finalized -- was far beyond the Niners' realm of possibility.
"So, I think you're always listening," Lynch continued. "But this one wasn't very realistic for us."
You can listen to Lynch's full interview below:
Instead, Lynch and the Niners hope their current crop of star defenders, including Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, will be sufficient enough and can pair well with newer faces like veteran edge Bryce Huff and rookie defensive end Mykel Williams.
Having Parsons would have been wonderful, but it edged on a dream scenario.
One that Lynch expressed interest in having but ultimately realized was far too unlikely.
At least San Francisco asked, though, right?
Hat tip toTristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area for the find and transcription.