Over the weekend, the football world was treated to a blockbuster trade just days before the NFL Draft.
Dexter Lawrence III, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle in the midst of a contract dispute with his now-former team, was sent from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the 10th overall pick in the draft. Beyond shaking up the top 10 in the draft, the deal may have downstream impacts on the San Francisco 49ers sitting at the 27th overall pick.
For the Niners, this has a likely bigger impact on a potential (albeit unlikely) trade target.
The Myles Garrett story
Rumors had circulated over the last few weeks that all-world two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett could be back on the trade block from the Cleveland Browns. Following a public trade request last year, Garrett received a massive contract extension that seemed to seal his future in Cleveland. He followed that up with a monster season, breaking the single-season record for sacks.
Chapter closed, right?
Not so much. Late in March, the Browns did a major restructure of Garrett's contract, pushing back his option bonuses and changing his base salary into a signing bonus; signs that a trade could be coming, even though the Browns continue to deny any such plans.
The 49ers have been mentioned in the Garrett sweepstakes, and with good reason. He is the rare player who would make Nick Bosa the second-best defensive lineman on the roster and would easily place the Niners defensive line as the best in the league while shoring up a position of need.
But such a trade would have obviously come with a high price. The failed Maxx Crosby trade between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders gives one such indication.
The price is likely too high now for 49ers
Garrett was going to cost any team a bounty, but now with Lawrence going for the 10th overall pick in the upcoming draft, that bounty might just be an understatement. While Lawrence is indeed a phenomenal player, he is coming off one of his worst years as a professional and required a contract extension. Garrett is off the peak of his powers, signed for the next three to four years, and not putting any pressure on the Browns to move him, as of right now. Especially for the 49ers, who only have the 27th overall pick, trading for Garrett would deplete their already bare cupboard.
It was always a pipe dream for the Niners, but the Lawrence trade likely sealed it.
Garrett will probably not be coming to the Bay.
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