3 trades John Lynch, 49ers could make to get into Round 1 of NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Trade No. 2: 49ers trade Jimmy Garoppolo to Steelers, use picks to get into Round 1
Let’s get a bit creative, and we’ll do so with the understanding the aforementioned deal doesn’t pan out all at the same time.
Like the Buccaneers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to replace their now-retired quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. With an array of offensive skill players and one of the league’s best head coaches, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh is arguably the best possible landing spot for Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.
A mere second-round pick for Jimmy G sounds a bit cheap, particularly in a weak offseason market and with the realization quarterback Sam Darnold was traded by the Jets to the Carolina Panthers a season ago for a second-, a fourth- and a sixth-round pick.
Read More: Comparing Jimmy Garoppolo trade value to other quarterback trades
Garoppolo, for all his limitations, is vastly superior to Darnold, so the Steelers bite and send off their Round 2 selection this year, No. 52 overall, plus next year’s second-rounder to the 49ers for Jimmy G.
That’s the ammunition John Lynch and Co. use in a deal with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who currently is projected to have just five picks in this year’s draft.
Belichick might be eyeing quantity this offseason, and the Niners using their array of newly acquired picks from Pittsburgh, plus their own Round 3 selection, might be enough to convince the Pats to trade down.