Saddled with more needs than most teams in the NFL, the 49ers are making it clear they’re open for business regarding the No. 2 overall pick. A draft without a surefire No. 2 prospect, after Myles Garrett, has led John Lynch to consider trading down, per Eric Branch and Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
“We could stay pat right there and find a fabulous player, a game-changing player,” Lynch said. “It gives us a lot of flexibility to do some other things if we chose to be bold. There are going to be people that covet the pick we have, so there’s going to be some people that want to move up.”
This is the 49ers’ highest draft pick since the franchise held the 2005 No. 1 choice, taking Alex Smith with that opportunity. Lynch acknowledged in a recent radio interview with KNBR the No. 2 selection is a “tremendous asset.” Mock drafts don’t have a consensus for the 49ers at No. 2. Both ESPN.com’s draft expects, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, have the team going quarterback here (Insider links), Kiper sending Mitch Trubisky to San Francisco and McShay envisioning Deshaun Watson impressing the Lynch-led staff enough to invest in him at No. 2. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report recently mocked linebacker Reuben Foster to the 49ers here, and CBS Sports’ Rob Rang pegged Foster’s Alabama teammate, Jonathan Allen, to San Francisco.
Branch and Tafur note the 49ers would presumably be thrilled if the quarterback-starved Browns passed on Garrett, with the 49ers being devoid of a high-end pass-rusher. Cleveland’s trade out of the No. 2 pick last year would help provide a blueprint should the 49ers pull the trigger on a trade. The Eagles surrendered their 2017 first-rounder (No. 12), third- and fourth-round picks last year and a 2018 second-rounder for the right to move up and take Carson Wentz.
Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the 49ers won’t reach for a quarterback. Fronted by Trubisky, Watson and DeShone Kizer, this class has been among the more scrutinized quarterback rookie pools in recent memory. Another team viewing one of these passers in higher regard than the 49ers may be the circumstance that induces a trade.
“The worst mistakes you can make is you take a guy who isn’t that good of a player, or worthy of that,” Shanahan said. “The expectations change. You put a guy in a position that is really unfair to him and you set your organization back. And then you’re trying to commit to a guy who … shouldn’t have been put in that position.”
The 49ers have been connected to veteran quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Jay Cutler and Jimmy Garoppolo, and Lynch recently met with Colin Kaepernick, who has an opt-out decision forthcoming. San Francisco has 10 picks in the coming draft.
I think they will try really hard to trade this pick for Cousins or even try to trade it for the Browns 12th pick and the first pick of the second round. If they do not then I think they will end up keeping it and maybe signing Tyrod Taylor or Cutler.
Why would the browns trade the 12th and and the first pick in 2nd round to the 9ers? So they can have the first two picks of draft, the reason 9ers would be trading down is cause there is no consensus number 2.
That would be a steal for the Browns (the 12th pick and their second rounder for the 2nd pick) when you consider past hauls for top 3 picks. At that price, it makes sense because they could nab Garrett and draft whatever QB they want (as it wouldn’t be guaranteed he would be available at 12). Or they could even go Garrett and another defensive player (like Allen or Foster). Whether or not there’s a consensus pick to go 2nd, if San Francisco asked for that, it would make a ton of sense for Cleveland unless they already have guys in mind for those picks and don’t want to reach.
Please? If the Browns pick Garrett, the 49ers should select AL’s LB Foster. Furthermore forget about Cousins. Despite the huge Niners salary cap space Cousins will NOT be cheap. The Niners should draft mostly defensive players in 2017. Defense win championships.
2018 QB draft class will be better therefore the Niners should go ALL out after USC QB Sam Darnold CFB gest QB BAR NONE.
Correction: BEST not gest when referring to USC QB Sam Darnold>>>CFB best QB BAR NONE. Niners please go go after this young man.
I watched some of his tape. Meh, I wasn’t impressed.
D U L Y N O T E D
On a second thought “some of his tape” is NOT good enough. Watch the 2017 Rose Bowl again USC VS Penn Sate.
I stick by my guns:
USC QB Sam Darnold is CFB best QB BAR NONE.
He’s not eligible for the draft until 2019. He was a true freshman this year
He was a redshirt he can come out after next season
Dude are you related to darnold? If not, what’s your fascination with him? I’ve seen him play a lot and like someone else said, “meh”. And I’m basing that off a whole big chunk of games, not just one bowl
Paul, bigz51:
bigz51: I agree with you. According to NFL draft rules USC QB Sam Darnold can enter the draft as a declared underclassman asking permission to enter.
Paul: Please read above.
Thanks
Dianxue:
NO, I am NOT related to Sam Darnold, period. I am a huge USC Trojans fan. That means I have followed the FB team for a long time. I’ll go further this young man eventually will be as good as Carson Palmer if not better. Right now he’s CFB favorite to win the 2017 Heisman trophy. BTW Palmer was USC first NON RB Heisman trophy winner in 2002.
Stay tuned…
Garoppolo is a veteran? I guess since he’s been on the roster for a few years but hardly a veteran starting QB.
Eagles traded the 8th overall pick in the Wentz trade. Not the 12th. They originally owned the 13th pick, but moved up to 8 in the Byron Maxwell trade.
The Redskins are clearly not going to sign Cousins to a LT deal. Go get the 2nd pick. It’s a much better outcome than franchising him one more year and let him walk for nothing.
IMO if they do trade the 2nd overall pick for a “vet” QB it’d be much smarter to trade for Jimmy G than Cousins. Jimmy G is younger, and will be about half as much as Cousins. Do you really want to trade a potential franchise player for a QB that’s going to be in his 30s and paid 25M plus? Not to mention the team is no where close to contending and adding Cousins would be a waste
Clark:
Cousins has a winning PROVEN record with over huge monetary earnings. Does Garoppolo? The answer is a big fat: NO, period. Like I said earlier the 2017 draft should be to address the defense. Wait until 2018 draft which is going to be a good QB rich. Meaning they can get a young QB on a much better deal.
Before you come at me I was stating facts, never compared record. By no means was I saying trade the pick, I was just saying if I was GM I would rather trade for Jimmy G over Cousins if I absolutely had to for the reasons listed. Cousins imo isn’t top 15 QB maybe not even 20
Clark:
Cousins was franchised by the Redskins 2016>FACT. Garoppolo had what one or two decent games. He’s NOT worth a first round second pick IMHO.
Check espn.com/nfl/qbr Cousins is rated # 6. I do not know if you have ever calculated the QBR using the passing rate formula. It’s relatively simple if you handled HS Algebra. ESPN has a very subjective formula that I do NOT like. ESPN in their formula that nobody knows subjectively gives points for passes based on situations. The best analogy that I can come-up with is points awarded like they do in diving and gymnastics competitions. You are welcome to research that.
Thanks
Cousins just got franchised again by the Redskins>FACT…
How bout for ROMO. jk had to put it
PLEASE? Romo is too fragile. He got trampled despite Dallas best NFL OL. SF OL is NOT anywhere Dallas.
Jeez, the guy was joking. I agree with your points but I think you missed the “jk had to put it.”
¡I sure did!
I think the 49ers should trade the 2 pick for in the first round for at least 4 picks and they should one this year and three next year in the early rounds.
Maybe it’s just me, but Jonathan Allen feels like the second-best player in this draft by a comfortable margin.
Ya signing Cutler will make them better. Hahahahahahaha
Whoever said they wanted the Redskins to trade up to 2 to draft a quarterback just remember the last time you drafted a quarterback at 2 you drafted RG3 lol
I remember when people were saying RG3 was going to be better than Luck…
Trading down would be the prudent thing to do. They aren’t one star player away.
Keep in mind that it is very possible that a clear number 2 draft pick will emerge at the combine, and if its a position SF needs they will jump on him.
Pats trade their 2nd this year, first in 18/19, swap late round picks, and Garoppolo for the pick?