San Francisco 49ers: 10 biggest ‘what ifs?’ in NFL Draft history

No. 1: What if the 49ers didn’t trade up for Jerry Rice?

This is actually a simple one: The greatest NFL player of all time… in a Dallas Cowboys uniform.

As much as that might sicken you, the very near reality of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice being a Cowboy nearly happened.

The 49ers, coming off a Super Bowl win the previous season, were entering the 1985 NFL Draft with the final pick in Round 1. Rice was already cemented as a first-round prospect coming off a dynamic collegiate career at Mississippi Valley State. The only problem, though, was the Cowboys wanted him and were in a prime position to land him at No. 17 overall.

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Good thing the Patriots, owning the No. 16 overall pick, were willing to trade down with the Niners. The rest is chock full of San Francisco playmaking and record-setting lore.

The “what if?” is the $64 question. What if Walsh thought whatever trade ammunition to get up to No. 16 was simply too much to afford? Walsh had, after all, players like Clark in his arsenal and could have turned to other promising wideouts like Andre Reed, Jessie Hester or Vance Johnson later in the draft, right?

Well, Walsh went with the luxury move, putting Rice into a situation where he’d define not only the 49ers’ dynasty years of the late 1980s and into the early 1990s but would also emerge as the No. 1 Niners player of all time.

And arguably the No. 1 football player of all time, too.

Just like Walsh’s move with Joe Montana, it’s a good thing we don’t have to consider the “what ifs” with Rice.

Particularly with him being in a Cowboys uniform.