3 trades SF 49ers should absolutely avoid making in 2021

No. 1: SF 49ers can’t afford a lucrative NFL Draft trade-up

There’s something to be said about teams aggressively moving up in the NFL Draft to get “their guy,” especially if he’s a quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs did so with quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, and that move worked out well enough.

Drafting at No. 12 overall, the Niners aren’t exactly in a near-identical situation. It would be one thing if San Francisco was merely a quarterback short. But with nearly 40 players hitting free agency, John Lynch will need as many draft picks — and most importantly, players playing on cheap rookie contracts — to maintain the team’s Super Bowl window right now.

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Especially with hefty contract extensions for players like linebacker Fred Warner looming in the near future.

Going back to the trade-up scenario, a move from No. 12 overall to, let’s say, the NY Jets’ selection at No. 2 overall would put the SF 49ers in a position to grab one of the top prospective quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Someone like BYU’s Zach Wilson, who’d be a prime target to helm the franchise for a decade.

In 2016, the Eagles moved up from No. 8 overall to No. 2 overall to grab Carson Wentz, and that deal involved an additional 2017 first-round pick, two mid-round picks in 2016 and a 2018 second-round pick, which might be considered cheap by what it would take to do something similar this offseason.

If the Niners didn’t have too many holes elsewhere, a move might make sense. Unfortunately, they have those holes and should say “no” to a move to get into the top three selections on draft day.