49ers potential draft-day trade partners for Trey Lance (if that happens)
By Peter Panacy
49ers Trade Partner No. 5: Miami Dolphins
Wouldn’t this be ironic, San Francisco trading back with the original team, the Miami Dolphins, that partnered to engineer the initial trade-up for Trey Lance last spring?
In this case, the 49ers wouldn’t recoup all of their investments, and the Dolphins would likely drive a bargain that might end up costing the Niners one of those two first-round picks dished out anyway, perhaps the 2023 one whose value isn’t yet close to being known.
Still, if San Francisco is eager to get its original first- and third-rounder back in 2022, it’s feasible.
Much of this centers on how the Dolphins feel about their current quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who has impressed enough as of late and even has Miami back in playoff contention after having a wholly abysmal rookie season. But the fact the Dolphins traded away some additional draft capital anyway could potentially keep them out of the running for other more-established veteran quarterbacks like the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers or the Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson.
Currently, Miami has the 49ers’ 2022 first- and third-round picks, its own second- and fourth-round picks, a Round 4 pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers and three picks in Rounds 5 through 7.
Like any team potentially interested in Lance, his rookie contract is going to be enticing, and the Dolphins’ NFL-leading projected $77 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, could then be used to splurge on weaponry to support Lance’s continued development.