Now John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan appear to be pivoting to a strategy that might sound radical in the era of blockbuster trades: actually using the NFL draft the way it was designed.

The idea is simple, almost boringly so. Stockpile picks. Cast a wider net. Find core contributors on rookie contracts that don't obliterate your salary cap. It's the unsexy, fiscally responsible approach to roster building — and historically, it's how dynasties are actually constructed.

Look at every sustained winner in the modern NFL. The teams that stay competitive year after year aren't the ones mortgaging their futures for one splashy addition. They're the ones who draft well, develop talent internally, and maintain the financial flexibility to keep their best players when it counts.

For a 49ers roster that's aging at key positions and facing some brutal cap decisions in the coming years, this pivot isn't just smart — it's necessary. You can only rob Peter to pay Paul for so long before Peter stops returning your calls.

The risk, of course, is that draft picks are lottery tickets, not guarantees. More selections improve your odds, but they don't eliminate the possibility of whiffing entirely. Lynch's scouting department will need to be sharp. The development staff will need to actually develop.

But here's the bottom line: the 49ers' championship window isn't closed, it just needs new hinges. And the cheapest, most sustainable way to install them is through the draft. It's not glamorous. It won't generate breathless ESPN segments. But building through fiscal discipline rather than leveraged bets?

That's a formula we can get behind — on the field and off.