5 49ers Trades to Watch Out For During the Draft

While the 49ers have plenty of questions about the depth on the roster, the reality is that it is unlikely that 11 rookies can secure a spot on the 53 man roster.

The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2023 NFL Draft with 11 picks but only one in the top 100 at pick 99. While the 49ers have plenty of questions about the depth on the roster, the reality is that it is unlikely that 11 rookies can secure a spot on the 53 man roster. That begs the question, what trades can the 49ers Faithful expect this week? Let’s get into it.

1. Pick Swap

While the 49ers are entering the 2023 season lacking the most depth we’ve seen in a couple years, this remains one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. The likelihood that the 49ers will add 11 rookies to the roster in the upcoming draft is slim to none making it a foregone conclusion they will target specific players and package picks to move up and acquire players at positions of need. Last year's draft was the first time in the six-year Shanalynch era that the team didn’t make any trades during the draft. Don’t look for a repeat this year.

Trade Probability: 95 percent. It’s a virtual lock.

2. Elijah Mitchell

The 49ers have one of the most talented backfields in the NFL. Although Mitchell is the best pure runner on the roster, he is injury prone. Mitchell has a very attractive contract with two years of team control remaining making him an easy contract to move with almost no dead cap. Mitchell has proven to be one of the most productive running backs since entering the NFL with a career 4.9 yards per carry average. He would be an immediate upgrade to every running back room in the league and will only be 25-years old this upcoming season. The 49ers have emerging second year players in Jordan Mason and Ty Davis-Price behind last season’s most valuable offensive player Christian McCaffrey which makes this the strongest position on the team from a depth and talent perspective. Not to mention, Shanahan is in love with the idea of drafting RBs in the 3rd round of the draft where the 49ers own three picks (eyeroll).

Trade Probability: 85 percent. Signs point to yes.

3. Brandon Aiyuk

We sat and listened to John Lynch discuss a number of players during his pre-draft press conference on Monday. Surprisingly, once the topic of a possible Aiyuk trade came up, Lynch all of a sudden decided he didn’t want to get into specific conversations with other teams regarding a trade. 10 minutes later he emphatically denied any possibility of a Nick Bosa trade even being discussed. Let’s face it, Aiyuk is a very productive player, albeit as a fourth option on a run-first team who will carry a $14 million cap hit next season. Deebo Samuel’s cap hit will also jump to over $28 million next season meaning if both players are on the roster next season then the 49ers will have more than $42 million dollars invested in two wide receivers. Aiyuk’s age, production and ability to be tagged with a fifth year option make him the one of the most attractive assets the 49ers have available.

Trade Probability: 82 percent. Aiyuk still wasn’t in Cabo this offseason.

4. Arik Armstead

This is probably the player the 49ers organization and fanbase most likely wants to be traded. While Armstead is a very talented player, his production has continually undermatched his contract since signing a five-year, $85 million contract in 2020. Unfortunately for the Faithful and the organization, Armstead is coming off an injury-plagued season that saw him record zero… yes zero sacks in the 2022 regular season while appearing in 9 games. The market for Armstead won’t be enticing enough to trade him and that doesn’t take into account the fact that Armstead carries a $23.9 million cap hit with $21 million of that being a dead cap hit if traded.

Trade Probability: 5 percent. Pipe dream.

5. Trey Lance

Obviously the biggest topic of the offseason along with the prospects of Brock Purdy’s new bionic arm. Lance has been the biggest enigma in the NFL since entering the league as a 20-year old, No. 3 pick in the draft after only playing one season of football. Lance has unlimited potential but nobody really knows if he can play quarterback… which is the problem. While he carries a significant dead cap hit if traded, the 49ers have all but given up on him as the possible future franchise quarterback. The addition of Sam Darnold on Day 1 of free agency along with the in depth look at rookie QBs in the upcoming draft has fueled the speculation that Lance could be on the way out. All signs point to the organization wanting to move Lance before the draft, but ultimately the 49ers must convince a team to give up significant compensation in order to avoid looking like complete buffoons. Let’s just say they’ve royally screwed up this situation and there’s no clear win for the 49ers. With all that said, Lance remains an intriguing prospect that will remain a topic of conversation on Thursday and Friday night.

Trade Probability: 1 percent. Let’s be real -- if anyone can mess up this worse than it already is, it’s the 49ers.

Bonus Trades: It has been reported the 49ers have spent the most time of any team evaluating the tight end position group in this years draft… George Kittle? Also, we never know if we’ll be alive after this weekend, so Kyle Shanahan might throw a tantrum and trade John Lynch… you just never know, this is the 49ers we’re talking about.