3 teams 49ers don’t want to see Julio Jones traded to

No. 1: Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco plays both the Bears and Packers this season. But the 49ers also play the Arizona Cardinals twice, and it’s not hard to think how Julio Jones’ presence in Arizona could create all kinds of problems for Kyle Shanahan and Co.

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The Niners already had enough problems with Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in Week 1 last year. And while the red birds appear set at the position with Hopkins, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and Rondale Moore, adding Jones to the fray would give third-year quarterback Kyler Murray an array of weaponry few defenses would be adequately equipped to stop.

On top of that, the Cardinals are in a situation where they don’t have to worry about long-term cap problems and have enough money now ($13.5 million) to make things work with a little bit of roster jockeying.

And just like the Packers, the Cardinals have their full array of draft picks next year. Plus, if the Falcons are entertaining trade offers from multiple teams like Green Bay and Arizona, the latter is likely to have the better context for a would-be trade. The Cardinals aren’t projected to finish with a deep playoff run, meaning those 2022 draft picks would be worth more.

Meanwhile, a team like San Francisco wouldn’t be too thrilled about having to face off against Hopkins and Jones twice a year.