(© Cary Edmondson | 2019 Nov 17)
Good morning, folks. That is, to everyone but Jimmy Garoppolo. The San Francisco 49ers, having addressed just about all of their needs in free agency, are making an absolutely massive move up in the 2021 NFL Draft according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Per Schefter, the 49ers are sending the Miami Dolphins the 12th overall pick, their third-round pick (compensatory from Robert Saleh hiring) and both of their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
UPDATE: According to Schefter, the third-round pick is in 2022, not this year. That means the 49ers will keep all nine picks in this year’s draft, but their No. 12 overall pick becomes No. 3.
Filed to ESPN: Dolphins trading No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick (SF’s comp pick for Robert Saleh hiring) and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, per sources.
Blockbuster deal with massive ramifications for years to come.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
What does this mean? It means the 49ers recognized that if they are going to upgrade at quarterback, this is the best position they are likely to have for the foreseeable future, sitting at pick 12, and knowing that there are many other teams who are perhaps more desperate for a quarterback who they had to jump.
According to Schefter, the 49ers aren’t targeting one quarterback in particular, but like multiple options at that spot.
And the 49ers did not trade up with one QB in mind. They traded up because they’re good with the options that will be their at No. 3.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
It also points to the fact that the 49ers have some monster contracts coming up and if they have a quarterback on a rookie deal, contracts for people like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, etc. become much more viable. This trade, it goes without saying, will largely decide the future of this franchise for the next half decade.
