49ers roster: 5 creative trades John Lynch could execute in 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers general manager John Lynch has never been shy about making trades, and the 2022 offseason could see a good deal of these kinds of moves.
The NFL might not hold the same kind of trade rapport as other leagues such as the NBA, MLB or even the NHL.
At the same time, though, blockbusters do happen. And there are plenty of less-discussed trades, too, particularly for role players. We aren’t even throwing in the madness associated with trade-ups and trade-downs in the NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has never been shy about making trades. In fact, in each of the last three offseasons, there has been at least one big blockbuster: the 2019 deal for EDGE Dee Ford, the 2020 trade of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and the 2021 NFL Draft trade-up to acquire quarterback Trey Lance.
Lynch and the Niners may not be aggressive buyers on the trade market heading into 2022, namely because of the assets used to grab Lance. Yet that doesn’t mean Lynch will avoid the trade market altogether.
And here are five creative moves Lynch might engineer this offseason anyway.
Creative Trade No. 5: 49ers trade Jimmy Garoppolo to Steelers
Let’s face it, despite some of the contrary reports out there, San Francisco is going to look to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, especially if it means freeing up over $25 million in much-needed cap space.
In a stronger offseason quarterback market, Garoppolo might command no more than a third-round pick. But with few likable options in NFL free agency and arguably fewer in the draft, it’s possible there winds up being a bidding war for Garoppolo’s services.
One such team potentially in the hunt is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just watched quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retire.
Read More: Comparing Jimmy Garoppolo trade value to other recent QB trades
Pittsburgh might be eyeing Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the NFL Draft, yet that could merely be a ploy to drive the bidding war on Garoppolo down a bit.
Still, in this market, Garoppolo is worth more than just a second-round pick, which would prompt Lynch to engineer a Round 3 pick swap with the Steelers, plus netting a second- and a fourth-round pick in return for a starter who’d immediately go to a winning program under head coach Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.