3 trade-down scenarios for 49ers in Round 1 of 2020 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Fleece the Bears Once More
Remember when John Lynch pulled off a trade with the Chicago Bears, moving the 49ers down from No. 2 overall in the draft order to No. 3, allowing Chicago a chance to grab a new quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky, by giving up a plethora of picks to San Francisco?
That was a fleece job, sure. It would have been even better if some of the players Lynch subsequently selected, namely defensive lineman Solomon Thomas and linebacker Reuben Foster, would have panned out to desired expectations.
Still, the Bears have to be thinking their own move to grab Trubisky was a huge blunder.
It’s possible, perhaps even likely Chicago is considering moving on from the embattled quarterback, at least finding some worthwhile competition on draft day. And with zero picks in Round 1, albeit two in the second round, it wouldn’t be out of bounds to see the Bears try moving back into the day-one slate of picks to grab a quarterback who fell to the very end of the picks.
Especially knowing the Chiefs, who don’t need a quarterback, could entertain the same idea with other teams.
So, what happens here is the 49ers ask for both of Chicago’s Round 2 selections — Nos. 43 and 50. Straight up, no back-end day-three returns from San Francisco.
Per that draft-value trade chart, it’s a steal for Lynch. Yes, another fleecing.
If the Bears want a quarterback well enough, they won’t be able to wait into the middle of Round 2 and will have to pay up front. Lynch will get his asking price, bolstering the Niners draft stockpile.