Monday is the earliest day possible the 49ers can begin their offseason program under new coach Chip Kelly, and that’s indeed when it will commence, the team confirmed Thursday.
By virtue of having a new coach, the 49ers also will gain a minicamp for the second straight years, albeit a voluntary one, from April 26-28. That will allow Kelly and his staff further evaluation of the roster leading into the April 28-30 draft, when the 49ers have a league-high 12 picks to use.
Their mandatory minicamp is June 7-9, and it caps off the offseason program before they reconvene for training camp in late July.