49ers roster: 4 dark-horse trade candidates entering 2022 offseason

49ers dark-horse trade candidate No. 1: Right tackle Mike McGlinchey

If there’s one dark-horse trade candidate who’d be more likely to be moved than anyone else this season, it’s right tackle Mike McGlinchey.

Even then, San Francisco trying to convince another team to take on a player coming off a torn quad and entering the fully guaranteed final year of a rookie contract with a fifth-year option would be a stretch. It’s hard to envision another team willing to take on $10.88 million unless its offensive line is in complete disarray.

There are some playoff-caliber teams entering 2022 that have bad O-lines, though.

At any rate, McGlinchey might not be a fan favorite when it comes to pass protection, but his run-blocking skills remain a key reason why he’s been a factor in the 49ers’ ground game. The Niners don’t exactly have any proven replacements for McGlinchey on the roster, unless backup linemen like Colton McKivitz or Jaylon Moore take a huge leap in 2022.

There might not be any worthwhile upgrades over McGlinchey on the free-agent or NFL Draft markets this offseason anyway, pushing the likelihood of him being dealt to the periphery.

Still, a trade would clear all of that $10.88 million without any dead money, and San Francisco could easily feel its O-line would perform at about a similar level without him in the mix as it would with him there.