The 49ers plan to meet with Paton on Saturday for a second interview. After others withdrew their names from the 49ers' general manager search, Paton instantly became the frontrunner for the job. Also in the running is Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough, who, like Paton, will meet with the 49ers in Atlanta.
Paton completed his 10th season with Minnesota, working under general manager Rick Spielman. He was a finalist for the general manager job with the St. Louis Rams in 2012. Since then, he has turned down multiple interviews from teams like the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears for their general manager positions. Paton also rejected proposed meetings with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions last winter.
On Saturday, the 49ers will hold their second interview with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He is expected to become the 49ers' newest head coach following the Super Bowl. The team hopes to have Shanahan sit down with both Paton and McDonough to determine which pairing would be a good fit for the future.