4 players 49ers must put on trade block during 2023 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Yes, it’s easy to put trending-downward players on the trade block. Teams would love to get rid of players who “aren’t good” and trade for players who are, right?
It doesn’t work that way, though.
Hence, second-year linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball should find himself on the trade block during the NFL Draft because his stock value is somewhat high. The former undrafted free agent out of Indiana who impressed during the 2022 preseason is someone who may easily replace now-Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s spot on the 49ers depth chart behind backers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
Another linebacker, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, should be viewed as ahead of McCrary-Ball, though.
Sure, the Niners would love to keep both. But, should another team be willing to offer a decent late-round pick, San Francisco could easily turn McCrary-Ball into another selection not unlike how it moved linebacker Jonas Griffith to the Denver Broncos in 2021.