As 49ers general manager Trent Baalke finishes picking up the pieces from a disastrous offseason full of high-profile retirements, he can finally look toward the future.
Hearing him say it (via ESPN.com) that future includes long-term deals for star defensive end Aldon Smith and possibly tight end Vernon Davis.
Here's Baalke on Smith: "He's in his contract year," he said. "He's poised to have a very good year. We expect him to have a very good year. I think he expects himself to have a very good year.
"We're going to work hard to make sure that he remains here."
Here's Baalke on Davis: "He wants to be here long-term.
"We're always going to try to keep our own. Sometimes it works. As you've seen, sometimes it doesn't. But Vernon and I have had conversations, and we'll leave it at that. He understands where we are, and we certainly understand where he is."
Right now, there may be a sense that Baalke doesn't have a choice. Any young player, or any player close to his prime on either end that actually wants to stay should be able to stay.
But it's important for Baalke to maintain his head at a moment like this. Despite the mass exodus he dealt with, this is still a business; a revolving door of good young players.
He seems to understand that.
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