San Francisco may sell by trade deadline
SANTA CLARA » Sprinting out of the 49ers’ bye and into this Week 7 mailbag via my Instagram and Twitter gates:
HOW NEAR — OR FAR — DO YOU
THINK 49ERS ARE FROM OFFERING ROSTER TALENT FOR FUTURE DRAFT ASSETS BEFORE
THE NFL TRADE DEADLINE? (@SUNSET_DISTRICT)» This becomes a truly worthwhile exercise if their losing streak hits four Sunday night, or if loss No. 4 is delayed a week. Who could they offer? Jimmy Garoppolo is the big-name (and high-salary) ticket, but Trey Lance’s knee sprain figures to extend their loyalty to Garoppolo through season’s end. Garoppolo reportedly has veto power, so any move would have to entice him, too.
Trade candidates often come from, (a) Kyle Shanahan’s
doghouse, (b) wherever they have a surplus of players, (c) when a disgruntled veteran wants a bigger role, and, (d) a players’ contract is alluring.
It’s far too early to surrender Brandon Aiyuk (a la Dante Pettis, 2020). Veteran cornerbacks Josh Norman and Dre Kirkpatrick just got here, but, then again, a team like Tennessee could suddenly be in greater need, and the 49ers do have two rookie draft picks stuck on the sideline.
IS IT TIME FOR JAYLON MOORE TO REPLACE MIKE MCGLINCHY AT RIGHT TACKLE? (@SFFOOTBALL99) » Nope. But, in revisiting the previous question about trade candidates, McGlinchey could be an intriguing asset. He plays an in-demand position and is only under contract through a 2022 option, seeing how the 49ers balked at awarding an extension to their 2018
first-round pick. Precedent: DeForest Buckner didn’t make it to Year 5 (more on that all this week as he returns Sunday with the Colts). The 49ers covet McGlinchey’s run blocking and consistently defend his worth (more so than his predecessor, Trent Brown, who
got dealt to the Patriots after McGlinchey’s 2018 arrival). He was enjoying a bounceback season before last game’s woes. Most likely: he stays the next decade, rather than leave in the next week. WHAT DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE IS GOING ON WITH THE BRANDON AIYUK SITUATION?
(@YURRBOI _GABE444)
It’s still a “situation” and not a “crisis.” My educated guess: on-field lapses and drops eroded coaches’ (and perhaps quarterbacks’) trust in him. A month ago, when we interviewed him after the final practice in West Virginia, Aiyuk seemed contrite and focused on improving. If others are practicing better, than meritocracy rules in football. The bye could reboot him.
WHO’S THE STARTING QUARTERBACK AGAINST INDY? (@SFLOOD2542) » Jimmy Garoppolo looks ready to reprise his role after a 1 ½ -game absence, judging from how he looked in Monday’s warmups — and how Trey Lance was absent with a knee sprain.
WILL TREY LANCE PLAY THIS
WEEK? (@THEREALAD422) » A week after Lance got diagnosed with a left-knee sprain, Shanahan said to expect a week or two of recovery. This would be Week 2, and it started without Lance on the practice field. Wednesday will be a better reflection of his availability. Rushing him back from his first NFL injury is not smart, especially with Garoppolo apparently capable of coming back, himself.
WHEN JEFF WILSON COMES
BACK, WILL HE BECOME RB1? (@JSJAGGA) » Check back in a month, when Wilson is more likely to return from his May meniscus tear. Until then, Elijah Mitchell could establish himself as a bona fide starter, otherwise that opportunity falls on fellow rookie Trey Sermon, or, once cleared from injured reserve, JaMycal Hasty. Wilson, last season’s team-leading rusher, obviously has the ability to carry the load, if healthy, which he currently is not.