Malik, you mentioned the Niners have an attack front.
What do you like about the Wide 9 and why
is it a good fit for you?
I don't think I'd be lined up out there.
Why or not, Well I I don't know though but
I think I think it the way it sets edges
and the way it allows the interior guys to get
off
and you know the way you can redirect and get
down the line and make ATFL.
I think it, I think it's I think it's great.
I actually, you know I actually played in the,
I would say the same system last year
under D'amico and
I mean you seen how that how that bolstered that
team in Houston
and you know I mean I'm excited to come to
the places that's had the most success in it as
of lately.
Emily,
welcome. This is Eric Branch with the San Francisco Chronicle.
Did this catch you by surprise?
I mean, did you have any idea this might be
coming and and kind of need to tell us just
how you how you found out
It was a It was a surprise,
but I heard it. It had been a couple talks.
My agent had called me after the Texans had informed
him that it could be a possibility.
And
you know
what? What a great place to be in,
though. You know, a place has had a lot of
success,
a storied organization like the 49ers.
I couldn't ask for a better situation,
but it did come as a surprise,
As a surprise. But I'm super excited to be here
to be in the Bay Area
and just be out here to you know add to
the success of this this this team and this franchise
as as that.
Hey Malika on your on your way out of Houston
how what kind of conversations did you have with D'amico
Ryan's and also just playing for D'amico last year what
kind of transition how much do you how much do
you think that could help your transition here to to
this defense.
Well actually D'amico called me to inform me that I
was that I was,
that the trade had went through.
So I was, I was grateful for that.
And I think that just showed his his character and
show who he is as a man that he would,
he would call and break the news to me himself.
You know we said I thank yous and
you know he said I couldn't be going to a
a better organization with great people.
And I mean as I,
as I walked around here today a little bit I
mean I think that's
I mean a true testament is of what he told
me.
Hey, Malik,
you mentioned the
2016 combine. Wondering whether you remember Jayvon Hargrave from that
and you know a guy that you're going to be
lining up next to and what you think of his
game and how you might be working together.
Yeah, I mean it's a lot of guys on this
line that I'm excited to play with
under, under, being close to,
under, Chris, the main one,
but like being played, playing next to
some of the guys that's here.
But you know, me and me and Hargrave,
we, we train a lot together in the offseason.
So he's a guy I'm familiar with.
He's a guy I I know
and I'm excited to be to come in here and
contribute.
Malik, this is Matt Mayoko from NBC Sports Bay Area.
A little earlier you talked about how you've been waiting
to play for Chris Kosarek.
What What is it about him?
Why do you want to play for him?
What do you remember about those interactions?
Pete pre draft?
I mean the same same thing I remember before was
the same thing
when I, when I talked to him on the phone
was,
you know, just his passion that he brings to the
game.
He's all about, you know,
getting a dub and then he wants to be the
most productive defensive line
and he wants to be #1 and everything.
You know, that's something that I want to come in.
I want to contribute to and
you know I'm I'm excited to be coached and coach
hard
and you know better. It couldn't be a better situation
a story franchise like this
at this point of my career.
You know I'm I'm I'm I'm excited
at the you know like you say you're excited to
come to the 49ers.
At the same time is there a part of you
that's
you know not happy to be leaving
the the place you were just at.
I mean, what what does it feel like to to
get traded?
You know, it kind of happened fast.
You know,
I mean, you can't really dwell on anything.
You just move forward.
Everything happens for a reason.
I feel like this is the,
I mean being here. I mean the love that you
get,
the high people embrace you.
I think it. I think this is the best situation
that could have possibly happened.
And what is it about the 49ers style of play
you think that you can step in and and make
it an immediate impact?
What what is it about their style that lines up
with your style of play?
What's an attack front, which is something I'm very fond
of,
but just coming in and adding to the success that's
already it's already been had.
You know,
this is the team that was in the Super Bowl
last year.
It's the team that was in the Super Bowl in
2019.
You know, just seeing that,
seeing that success and seeing,
you know, the NFC championships and all that,
I just want to come in and and and
help bridge that gap that to get us over the
hump.
Malik, you're obviously in effect replacing Eric Armstead.
It was a obviously a productive and
you know, popular player and leader
for a long time with the 49ers.
Does that come with any
pressure? I
don't think you replace a player like Eric Armstead.
The,
the person that he is in the community,
the person that he is on the field.
I don't think you replaced that.
I'm just here to add my skill set and
bring what I bring what I,
who I am to the table.
Gary
and Malika over the last few days here has been
kind of a renovation of that defensive line room.
You're one of one of four new guys coming into
that group.
I'm just, I'm curious if you're familiar with any of
those other three and maybe kind of what your impressions
are of of what those guys can bring to the
table. I'm familiar with Elliot.
I've seen him on film
playing in Cleveland.
You know,
I mean I'm, I'm excited.
I seen, I seen Kevin Gibbons play.
You know, I just, I I watch football and I
I know I trust
that. I mean, I you got to trust what John
Lynch is doing here when he's bringing in these guys
and
the product that's been put on the field.
And
you know,
I'm Ali, Jennifer Lee Chan with NBC Sports Bay Area.
Did you watch the Super Bowl?
And what did you think about the shift from
what the 49ers did in the defense in
2023 versus what they've done in the past,
if you've watched it at all,
I mean, to be in the Super Bowl is,
is a is a great accomplishment.
You know, you get in the Super Bowl and you
want to you want to bring it home.
So it's,
you know, that's the only the only goal.
So I'm sure that as many things that when you
look at film and stuff like that,
as many things that could have went different ways or
however you want to look at it.
But I know everybody, you know the the goal is
to win them.
Did you see any difference between when I know it's
a new defensive quarter now
2022 versus what you've seen in
2023 and I know they're going back to Nick Sorensen.
Have you spoken to him yet?
Yeah, I actually, I actually have spoke to him,
but that was pretty much it.
I haven't got to talk about no scheme or anything
like that.
And quite frankly, I don't really have anything to compare
it to.