SF 49ers: Ranking 5 best trades under John Lynch

No. 4: SF 49ers get wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders

This trade was the definition of a Super Bowl-contending team pushing in the chips to get a player it thought could help, and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders did just that.

Though his production on the field wasn’t always apparent, his influence and impact on the field were tangible. He was able to warp defenses and more importantly, provide a powerful mentor for the young receivers on the team.

The trade itself was fair in terms of draft compensation, as broken down here. The biggest mistake in that calculation was assuming a 2021 third-round conditional pick for Sanders when it will likely become a fifth-round pick.

The reason this trade isn’t any higher is that it was a true rental. Though it was a good cost value, the amount of time Sanders spent on the team limits how good this trade can be when compared to some longer-term trades.

The positional value, while not as important for this situation, puts it lower than another trade like this the Niners made.