Early Black Friday Sale on 49ers Gear! Use Code CATCH30 →
placeholder image

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


Should the 49ers trade anyone on draft night?

Rohan Chakravarthi
Apr 21, 2023 at 3:15 PM

Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.

The San Francisco 49ers are in an interesting predicament with the 2023 NFL Draft, lacking both a first and second-round selection, while they begin their weekend at No. 99, possessing three of the final four picks in Round 3.

With talent at potential areas of need on the board, the 49ers could look to trade up, or even trade down from their initial spot to fill the holes where they currently lack draft selections.

However, the team could also look to move players on draft night in an attempt to get younger and/or cheaper at positions.

With that said, let's play a "buy" or "sell" game in regard to some players being dealt on draft night with the 49ers and how realistic it could be.

Brandon Aiyuk

The soon-to-be fourth-year wideout has been the subject of trade talks this offseason, with several teams inquiring about Aiyuk's availability, although the 49ers have been reluctant to engage in those conversations.

If the 49ers look to move Aiyuk this offseason, it would be at the NFL Draft, where they could fetch a potential first-rounder to improve their roster.

However, Aiyuk has two more years of team control and should be the receiver that San Francisco looks to prioritize between him and fellow star wideout Deebo Samuel by signing him to an extension next offseason.

Regardless, even if he isn't in the future plans of the team, Aiyuk's value should only improve with another strong season under his belt and a closer deadline to his extension, which would increase the package in return. He should be off the market this offseason.

Sell.

Trey Lance

Recently, former third overall pick Trey Lance has also been involved in trade talks, with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reporting that the 49ers have fielded calls on their quarterback, with a trade potentially occurring at the draft.

A Lance trade would be the 49ers admitting their wrongs and looking to sell high, as his value diminishes this offseason if he loses the starting job to either Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold.

However, it would be irresponsible for the organization to do so, as the 49ers currently have uncertainty regarding their QB1 spot with Brock Purdy's recovery timeline unknown until he starts his throwing regimen three months post-op, while Sam Darnold has never taken a snap in a 49er uniform.

Moreover, the 49ers need at least three healthy quarterbacks to conduct their offseason program, and they're currently one short, even with Lance on the roster. It seems like a poor decision to roll into the offseason with Darnold and two rookies/undrafted free agents, as it would take away from the depth that San Francisco emphasized when they added the former Panthers quarterback.

It also appears that the 49ers have an exorbitant price tag for Lance, like a first-round pick, which seems unlikely in return.

Sell.

Elijah Mitchell

The 49ers have consistently faced injuries at the running back position. So, why would they engage in a potential trade for their current backup running back who has two years of team control left?

Mitchell has been injury-prone, but very effective in his time on the field, and his trade value is currently high because he has two years remaining on a cheap contract and would fill in well as a complementary piece in any team's RB rotation.

The 49ers would then open up reps for second-year players Jordan Mason and Tyron-Davis Price, while likely targeting a rookie in the draft for their final running back spot.

With the trade, the 49ers would have years of team control over their entire room and unload Mitchell at the peak of his value.

Buy.

The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
Enjoy this article? Follow us to never miss more!

Powered by Follow.it


Comments

More San Francisco 49ers News

placeholder image

John Lynch: Ricky Pearsall emerging as player the 49ers envisioned on draft day

By David Bonilla
Nov 15

Ricky Pearsall's NFL journey has been anything but ordinary. The rookie wide receiver, drafted in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers, endured a life-altering setback before even taking the field. On August 31, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt,...


placeholder image

Seahawks nearly pulled off 2019 draft move that might have frustrated 49ers for years

By David Bonilla
Nov 17

In 2019, the Seattle Seahawks selected wide receiver DK Metcalf with the No. 64 overall pick in the NFL Draft. However, if their original plan had worked out, Metcalf wouldn't have been the only rookie wideout headed to the Pacific Northwest that year. According to ESPN's Adam...


placeholder image

49ers add protection for Brock Purdy in latest ESPN mock draft

By David Bonilla
Nov 21

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller has unveiled his latest mock draft, projecting each team's potential first-round pick for next year. In this mock, Miller has the San Francisco 49ers selecting at No. 16 overall. However, this placement doesn't necessarily reflect how he expects...


placeholder image

49ers' Brock Purdy won't face Packers, status for Bills game 'up in the air'

By David Bonilla
5 hrs

The San Francisco 49ers were caught off guard by how significantly quarterback Brock Purdy's shoulder injury has limited him this week. The setback, sustained during last Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks, was not initially expected to sideline him for this weekend's...


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone