Niner Noise
FanSided

3 players 49ers could trade before 2019 deadline

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs out on the field during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs out on the field during warm ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin

The first suggestion seems a bit odd, but hear the situation out before rushing to judgment.

Veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin entered 2019 coming off an injury-plagued 2018 campaign, and Kyle Shanahan intended to use the speedy wideout situationally.

To date, it seems that approach has worked, as Goodwin’s 125 yards on six receptions and a touchdown look to be more productive over the first quarter of the year than his splits would have suggested a season ago.

That said, the Niners have a bit of a logjam at wide receiver anyway. Second-year wide receiver Dante Pettis, in whom the 49ers are heavily invested after using a Round 2 draft pick last year, hasn’t been able to see much of the field. And while his speed is nowhere near that of Goodwin, Pettis’ route-running abilities are a skill Shanahan would be wise to deploy much more often.

Now, Goodwin is taking away some of those snaps.

Teams typically don’t trade for players on contract years, unlike the NHL or MLB. “Rentals” aren’t common in the NFL, which means it’s helpful to have contractual control over a traded commodity.

Goodwin is such a case, with the 49ers having him signed through 2021. And while his 2019 contractual numbers all but guarantee he won’t be cut, the cap savings versus dead money in the following two years make a good situation for any team owning his current deal.

The 49ers can be picky with this situation. They’re not in a need to trade Goodwin at all, but doing so would free up the depth chart a bit for younger, up-and-coming players like Pettis.

If a team is interested, the Niners should at least explore a move.