The Las Vegas Raiders are desperately trying to climb out of the mess that was 2025 (and, according to this The Athletic article, a near-decade).
Clearly the bottom-feeders in a tough AFC West, Vegas needs playmakers in addition to using the No. 1 overall pick on a franchise-hopeful quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, need to get younger across the roster. While they own the No. 27 overall pick, the Niners only have two in the top 100, and four of their six picks are in Round 4 in what's generally considered a thin draft class that lacks depth.
Simply put, general manager John Lynch needs more darts. Las Vegas has some while also boasting a need to find immediate-impact talent.
That was the context behind Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame's recent all-trades mock draft for Round 1; having San Francisco pull off a trade coup with the Raiders that helps get them a key component to a defense devoid of talent.
49ers pluck draft assets from Raiders by trading out of Round 1
49ers fans may be disappointed if their team trades out from the first round, but it's a notion that's been discussed before already, especially in light of the relatively few picks at Lynch's disposal.
Granted, Verderame's premise was having every pick traded, so the 27th pick has to be on the move.
Vegas grabbed Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the pick, hoping he can beef up a defense that'll have to contend with in-division quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year.
The Niners, meanwhile, grab a high-end Round 2 pick (No. 36 overall) while adding Nos. 102 and 134 overall.
There'd likely be plenty of Lynch's top targets still available at No. 36 overall, slipping out from day one of the draft, so that move makes plenty of sense. And adding two additional mid-rounders would help supplement a roster's depth that was sorely tested during last year's injury-riddled campaign.
If Las Vegas offers this deal, San Francisco shouldn't hesitate.