San Francisco 49ers: Ranking top 10 trades in franchise history
By Peter Panacy
No. 8: 49ers Offensive Guard Mike Iupati
Traded by Panthers as 2010 first-round pick (17th overall) to 49ers for 2009 second-round pick (43rd overall) and 2009 fourth-round pick (111th overall)
San Francisco had reworked its offensive line a bit in the years leading up to the 2010 NFL Draft, and they already had grabbed the Carolina Panthers’ top pick from a deal the previous season.
Earlier in Round 1 of the 2010 draft, the 49ers already selected Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis, yet soon-to-be general manager Trent Baalke doubled down on his O-line efforts by grabbing Idaho guard Mike Iupati with the pick acquired from Carolina.
Iupati would go on to have a very successful career with the Niners, even though it was short-lived. During his five-year tenure, Iupati would start all but five regular-season games and would be named a Pro Bowler three times during the span, including a first-team All-Pro nod in San Francisco’s Super Bowl year, 2012.
The Niners were unable to retain Iupati in 2015, however, and he’d leave to join their division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, in free agency.