NFL Draft 2021: 5 predictions for potential first-round trades

NFL Draft Trade No. 1: Patriots, 49ers exchange picks and Jimmy Garoppolo

Perhaps this is a bit more of a bold NFL Draft-day prediction, but there’s some logic to it.

The 49ers are going to move on from their starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, but all intentions point to them keeping him at least one more season while a rookie develops to take over in 2022.

At the same time, though, the Niners are reportedly entertaining nothing less than a first-round pick in exchange for Garoppolo.

San Francisco 49ers

Now, San Francisco probably won’t get that for Jimmy G. Especially with him coming off two serious injuries over the last three years and being only modestly effective under center the last three-plus years.

Yet there’s still plenty of smoke the New England Patriots, despite re-signing quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year deal, are still flirting with the idea of bringing Garoppolo back.

Head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t send off his team’s first-round pick to the 49ers for Jimmy Garoppolo all by itself, no.

But if the Pats were a bit more on the desperate side, it’s feasible they and the Niners could exchange first- and second-round picks (Nos. 15 and 43 overall), which would give San Francisco another Round 1 selection while shipping Garoppolo back to New England.

That might make both parties happy, as Belichick would get his former protege and the 49ers would move back up into the first round.

Again, probably nothing more than a dark-horse prediction. Yet if it was on the table, it certainly could work.

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 29.