49ers President/CEO Jed York has talked openly about his desire for experience in his search for a general manager, and it wasn’t long before the media had compiled a list of candidates.

A source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora the candidates include former NFL GMs Charley Casserly, Floyd Reese, Ted Sundquist and Randy Mueller, as well as the team’s current vice president of personnel Trent Baalke. The 49ers later confirmed the interview process started with former Rams and Panthers executive Tony Softli.

In the meantime, a report suggested NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi interviewed for the position. While Lombardi didn’t deny the interview to NFL Network Wednesday, he did deny he was a candidate for the position.

“The 49ers are going to hire Trent Baalke as their general manager,” Lombardi said. “I think a lot of speculation, a lot of the talk, about other candidates is really just speculation and other talk. It’s great to have names in … but I’m not a candidate there. I think Baalke will be named the GM, probably in 48 hours, if I had my guess on the situation.”

As La Canfora has reported, there’s a consensus that the job is Baalke’s to lose.

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