NFL Trade Odds: 4 Players the San Francisco 49ers Could Make a Play for

It is a testament to the rich and deep talent of the NFL that front office personnel often find themselves scanning other rosters and saying, “I wish we had him.”

But it is a peculiar nature of the game that teams with long-term success tend to be those who build through the draft, add free agents judiciously and maintain an overall balanced pay schedule. Trades are by and large rather rare.

However, that doesn’t mean personnel directors and fans alike cannot dream. Though trades among NFL teams come close to being extinct, we can dream about what might be and the effect these four players could have on the San Francisco 49ers.

Disclaimer: Chances of these trades happening are highly unlikely. But in wishing we can also get an idea of what the 49ers need to become the best in the NFL.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

You can win a lot of bar bets with the following question: Who has more receptions in the NFL over the last two years? To make it easier, here’s a hint: He was No. 2 in 2011 and No. 1 in 2010.

My guess is that the avid fan will know that Wes Welker led the league in 2011, but no one knows who finished second. It was Roddy White of Atlanta with 100, the same Roddy White who led the league in 2010 with 115 catches.

That’s 215 catches in two seasons, or 40 more than Michael Crabtree has had in three seasons.

White has been a key player in Atlanta’s resurgence, but he’s also 30 years old. There’s no chance that the Falcons would let such a vital, effective player go, but then again the Niners do pick at No. 30 in the draft. It might be worth a look by general manager Trent Baalke to look at his eight-year veteran out of Alabama-Birmingham.

Odds: No chance

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are in the midst of a salary dump. They lost Michael Bush to free agency, and they have been shaving more dollars off their cap number. At the top of the team’s list in terms of contracts is Darren McFadden, whose six-year, $60 million contract, according to Spotrac.com, ends after 2013.

It would take some serious guts for new Raider general manager Reggie McKenzie to part with arguably the team’s most dynamic offensive player, but this is an organization that appears to be in a complete re-organization. The best way to lower the cap is to add a lot of draft picks.

That’s where the Niners come in: A package of first-, a third-, fifth- and sixth-round picks from the Niners sends McFadden across the bay.

Odds: Perhaps because no one really knows the true condition of the entire Raiders' organization.

Steve Hutchinson, OL, Minnesota Vikings

In 2011 the Niners did well enough on offense. Well, check that. The defense did everything to hold the other team down until the offense gained any traction. Of course, the lack of a game-breaking wide receiver was the most common reason for the less-than-thrilling performance.

But better blocking would have helped, too. Right guard was the team’s sore spot on the offensive line. First it was Chilo Rachal, and then it was Adam Snyder. Bleacher Reports’ Matt Miller ranked Snyder No. 32 out of the league’s right guards.

Hutchinson is in his seventh year in Minnesota. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler who might feel he is due high compensation for a storied, successful career. But in Minnesota, one of the worst teams, he might be the lure needed to secure more draft picks that spur a rebuilding phase.

Could second- and third-round picks be enough to bring over one of this decade’s best offensive linemen for a last-ditch run to the Super Bowl?

Odds: Trent Baalke is probably thinking over some likely scenario as we speak.

Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans

Before he got hurt two-thirds of the way through the 2011 season, Schaub had a 15-6 TD-INT ratio and averaged 250 yards in the air. And this was with a team slanted more to the run due to its best receiver being hurt.

Why would Schaub be on the block then? Perhaps because Peyton Manning moves to Houston. Why would that happen? Let’s count the ways. The Texans are an AFC team, and they play in the same division as the Colts.

The Texans’ defense proved one of the best, but their playoff chances went down due to injuries at the quarterback position. Bringing in Manning means Schaub becomes available.

Odds: It is one example of the effect Manning will have on free agency and the draft.