John Lynch Says the 49ers Might Consider Trading Out of Round 1

It sounds like the 49ers think they can get a nice trade haul if one of the top quarterbacks is available when they're on the clock.

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch talks to the / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

SANTA CLARA -- John Lynch was asked on Monday if he would consider trading down from pick 31 in the upcoming draft. Here's what Lynch said, courtesy of the 49ers' P.R. department.

Q: At that spot at 31 where sometimes teams try to trade back into the first round, maybe to get a quarterback. Have you had any sort of laying the groundwork-type discussions with other teams about, ‘hey, if this comes up, maybe we're interested in being at 31?’

LYNCH: “My experience is that happens some at owners meetings, but really this week is kind of the week those calls start to say, ‘hey, just so you know we have some interest in potentially coming up’ and you kind of take note of that. So I anticipate that some of that will come."

ME: What's your philosophy on trading down in the Draft, particularly early?

LYNCH: “Yeah, so I think we've shown in our time here, the very first move we made in the Draft was trading back a spot. So, we've traded back. We've traded up. I just think you have to be flexible. I think having said what I just said, sometimes trading back gets you later round picks or midround picks. I think maybe your thought process, if that pick you gain allows you to move back up someplace else, then maybe that's a good thought. But those are the things you’ve got to prepare for all these scenarios. And we'll see where that goes. I think 31 is an interesting spot, kind of where [The Athletic SF reporter] Matt [Barrows] was coming. I think at the end of day one, teams are eager to go get someone. So I would imagine there'll be some calls and we'll be open and flexible. We've done it, both ways in a variety of ways and been successful doing some. The big thing is just be prepared for every scenario. I think you have to be flexible. Human nature is to underestimate the uncertainty of a Draft. I think we try to account for that and the only way you do that is being prepared for everything.”

GRANT'S TAKE: It sounds like the 49ers think they can get a nice trade haul if one of the top quarterbacks is available when they're on the clock, which is good news. Trading down should be the 49ers' no. 1 option in Round 1 because there isn't a big difference between the players the 49ers can get at the end of Round 1 and the beginning of Round 2.