49ers trade rumors: Cowboys interested in Marquise Goodwin

The San Francisco 49ers could look to move wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, especially if an NFL rumor about the Dallas Cowboys being interested in the speedy pass catcher.

Back at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, San Francisco 49ers general manager Kyle Shanahan said the team wasn’t considering simply cutting veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin who, after a near 1,000-yard campaign in 2017, hasn’t been much of a factor for the Niners offense the past two seasons.

Shanahan felt Goodwin was simply too good to part ways in such a way, yet the head coach made it clear he would be open to trading the speedster and Olympic athlete if the price was right.

And according to a recent rumor from Sports Illustrated’s Mike Fisher, there could be interest from the Dallas Cowboys.

The rumor centered first around Dallas eyeing a player like third-year Arizona Cardinals slot receiver Christian Kirk to fill a void on the Cowboys roster there. Whether or not Arizona is interested in moving Kirk is another question altogether, yet Goodwin was also mentioned in the report.

Fisher’s words were as follows:

"That’s right. As it relates to Kirk, or Marquise Goodwin, or any other affordable slot receiver on the block, the answer is a general “yes.” … What would it cost to pry Kirk or Goodwin from their present homes? We’d suggest something in the range of a fifth-round pick – with the understanding that other teams may outbid Dallas … all part of the Cowboys’ process of deciding just how much they need to spent on a player “like” Kirk or Goodwin."

A few things to consider here. First, Kirk turned 23 years old last November, and it might be way too premature for the Cardinals to move on from him even though second-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury might be interested in building his own offensive arsenal around quarterback Kyler Murray.

Goodwin, meanwhile, is 29 years old and has dealt with both injuries and family tragedy the past two seasons. While the 49ers have plenty of wide receiver question marks ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, Goodwin’s eventual role in Shanahan’s offense this upcoming season is questionable, too.

That said, it’s not likely the Niners would command much of anything in return should a trade materialize.

There’s the financial ramification to consider as well. According to Over the Cap, a trade before June 1 would save San Francisco just over $3.6 million in cap space against $1.25 million in dead money. Should such a trade with Dallas take place after June 1, the 49ers would clear almost $4.3 million in cap space with just $625,000 in dead money.

But the Cowboys know that, too. And considering they have their own cap restraints, they might be more inclined to execute a move before that deadline, which would have the added benefit of shipping a 2020 draft pick to San Francisco instead of a would-be selection in 2021.

The Niners currently own seven picks in the upcoming draft, which include two in Round 1 and then five more split between Rounds 5 through 7.

Goodwin, originally from Lubbock, Texas, might benefit from a change in scenery anyway. Especially if the 49ers elect to bring aboard one or two more pass catchers in a notably deep NFL Draft class later this month.

The only remaining question is whether or not Dallas would want to go through with such a transaction, as well as whether or not San Francisco would accept the trade offer.