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San Francisco 49ers: 3 trades to explore making this 2018 offseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 17: Arizona Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim speaks with head coach Bruce Arians before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 17, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 17: Arizona Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim speaks with head coach Bruce Arians before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 17, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Ah, yes. Another draft-day move by general manger John Lynch.

First, let’s establish criteria. The way things stand now, the 49ers are to pick either at No. 9 or No. 10 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The exact order will be determined by a coin flip at the NFL Scouting Combine.

This trade down also assumes some of the Niners’ likely draft targets — offensive guard Quenton Nelson, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Courtland Sutton — are all off the board by the time San Francisco’s number is called.

If that’s the case, Lynch stretches the pick’s value by moving down in a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

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With quarterback Carson Palmer retiring, the Cardinals are even more needy of a signal-caller in this year’s draft. And with a number of QB-needy teams picking ahead of them, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Arizona get a little desperate.

Remember, the Cardinals gaffed last year by not moving up to grab now-Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Round 1. With Palmer gone, they can’t afford to make the same mistake twice.

Getting up into the top five will be both difficult and costly, especially out of No. 15. But not so much to move up five or six spots.

Next: Early look at 49ers players possibly on the 2018 roster bubble

Meanwhile, the Niners get a nice little return and can look to stockpile even more picks later in the draft and even next year.