49ers roster: 4 easy trades John Lynch can make before 2021 deadline

2. 49ers Target CB Cam Dantzler from Minnesota

There have been a lot of shifts in the league at the cornerback position this season, and San Francisco desperately needs to get in on the action.

A cheap, young, high-ceiling target to go after is Cam Dantzler.

In his second year with the Minnesota Vikings, the 2020 third-round pick opened the season as a healthy scratch. He’s spent most of his time on the bench behind Bashaud Breeland, despite Breeland being the worst ranked corner in the league through Week 5. Clearly he’s fallen out of favor with the Vikings, but not for lack of talent. Dantzler was the fourth ranked corner in the league through the last seven games last year for passer-rating allowed.

That’s just too much potential for the 49ers to pass up. The corners have been banged up this season in San Francisco, and a young, healthy Dantzler could start making an impact right away. He’s still on his rookie contract, which is a four-year, $4.59 million deal.

One wrench in this plan is the recent injury of Minnesota’s Patrick Peterson, which elevated Dantzler in the depth chart for the next three weeks and makes him a bit more essential for the Vikings depth. But given he’s sparingly used anyway, Minnesota should still be open to trading him even after the Peterson injury, just for a higher price.

It might take fourth rounder to get Dantzler in a red and gold jersey, but Lynch might end up solving the team’s long-term needs at this position anyway by doing so.