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5 49ers Trade Scenarios in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Logan Stanley

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 30, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick listens to a question during a news conference before training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick listens to a question during a news conference before training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Trade With The New England Patriots

Pick: 32

Value: 590

This trade is different from previous:

  • 49ers trade second overall pick to the Patriots for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and 2018 second round pick.

A simple trade.

Right now, the Patriots simply do not need Jimmy Garoppolo. Tom Brady is the man in Foxboro until he hangs up his cleats and the ageless wonder shows little signs of slowing down. The rest of the league? Most are still searching for an answer at quarterback.

That is a privilege to have in this league, two startable quarterbacks on one roster. New England has a track record of being very active and sometimes, surprising, in terms of their personnel decisions — they have made moves that caught some off guard (most recently with Jamie Collins being traded to the Cleveland Browns).

Garoppolo shined during his time as the starting quarterback: 43-63 with 502 passing yards and four touchdowns and zero interceptions, per Pro Football Reference. The Patriots went 2-0 when he started as well. It is an acutely minuscule sample size, but it is nonetheless a positive sample.

I believe Garoppolo is one of only two quarterbacks the 49ers should seriously invest in, the other being the Redskins’ Kirk Cousins. Only at the right price though. Cousins is only worth it if he’s available on the open market. It would not make sense for San Francisco to trade away an excess of picks for a player, as Washington would command a high asking price for Cousins, that might be available in free agency — either this year (Washington lets Cousins test the market) or next year (if Washington tags Cousins).

Then of course if Washington signs Cousins to an extension, which the team is vying to do, that leaves Garoppolo as the only viable quarterback option. I think Garoppolo is worth the trade, as the asking price will be lower, and no first round pick this year is fine — the 49ers own the second most cap space in the league.

Next: Kyle Shanahan Confirms Robert Saleh As DC

The San Francisco 49ers have options heading into this draft. Picking at the No.2 spot is obviously advantageous. Essentially the entire pool of players is available for selection, which attracts other teams. This is going to be a rebuild, a long one, and stockpiling draft picks has proven to be bountiful in year’s past.