Deadline deal possible under right conditions
After aggressively trying to trade for pass-rusher Khalil Mack and exploring a deal for wide receiver Josh Gordon this season, it’s possible the 49ers could make news around the NFL’s trade deadline for a second straight season.
On Monday, 51 weeks after they traded for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t rule out the 49ers being buyers before the deadline passes at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
“Yeah, definitely,” Shana-
han said. “We’re always looking for things to improve our team.”
For starters, this is no surprise. Shanahan isn’t about to publicly announce other teams shouldn’t bother calling, especially after New England head coach Bill Belichick’s sweetheart, out-the-blue proposal involving Garoppolo in 2017.
In addition, Shanahan went on to provide context. The 49ers, at 1-6, are in mid-rebuild and aren’t seeking Band-Aid solutions.
That is, they would have interest in young players with either manageable contracts, such as Garoppolo when he was acquired last year. Or young, expensive players whose talent justifies altering plans for spending the 49ers’ roughly $63 million in salarycap space in the offseason.
The prime example of such a player is Mack, who signed a six-year, $141 million extension after the Raiders dealt him to the Bears.
“Everyone would love a quick fix right now,” Shanahan said. “I know I would. I know our players would. I know (general manager) John (Lynch) and the personnel staff would. But it’s not just about a quick fix. We’re dedicated to try to win this Sunday — but we’re also not going to just do something that makes us feel better today that hurts us for the future.
“When it comes to trades and things like that, there’s more business involved in that that doesn’t just affect this week. Things that affect the salary cap and things like that into next year and how we’re trying to build this. And we’re trying to stay committed to that.”
In other words, given their parameters, the 49ers are unlikely to acquire a big name. Despite the aforementioned examples, NFL teams don’t often trade promising 25-year-old quarterbacks or premier pass-rushers in their prime.
The same goes for 28-yearold All-Pro cornerbacks, which is why the Cardinals have insisted Patrick Peterson isn’t on the market. Peterson, per an ESPN report, “desperately” wants to be dealt from the Cardinals, and the 49ers could use cornerback help. However, even if Arizona (1-6) does change its stance, it might not be eager to send Peterson to an NFC West rival.
It’s possible the 49ers encountered a similar issue when trying to acquire Mack from Oakland, which might not have wanted Mack boosting the Bay Area’s other team. Lynch said the 49ers’ offer for Mack was “very similar to the one that ultimately won out.”
The 49ers also could be sellers at the deadline. A logical player to deal is wide receiver Pierre Garcon, 32, who is in the midst of a quiet season (21 receptions, 230yards). Garcon’s performance raises the question of whether the 49ers will pick up the 2019 option on his contract, which includes a $5.65 million base salary.
Given his age, Garcon doesn’t seem to fit into the 49ers’ long-term plans. Shanahan said those plans aren’t changing — despite a rebuilding process that has ground to a halt.
“Our record right now doesn’t impact the big picture to me,” Shanahan said. “... We’re trying to build this thing to last, and to do that, it does take some time. (We) planned on it going faster and it hasn’t so far. But that doesn’t make me lose any confidence in what we’re doing.”