Realistic Trades the 49ers Could Make in the 2015 NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers are entering the 2015 NFL draft with the fewest number of picks since the 2011 season.
At No. 15, the 49ers will also be drafting at their highest position since that same season.
While not having exactly earned the good graces of 49ers fans of late—considering his role in the Jim Harbaugh debacle at the end of the season—general manager Trent Baalke is particularly good at executing draft trades and stockpiling picks.
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The 49ers currently are slated for nine picks, as described further by Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
| 1. | Round 1 | No. 15 |
| 2. | Round 2 | No. 14 |
| 3. | Round 3 | No. 15 |
| 4. | Round 4 | No. 28 (pick from Denver) |
| 5. | Round 5 | No. 15 |
| 6. | Round 6 | No. 14 |
| 7. | Round 6 | Possible Compensatory Pick |
| 8. | Round 7 | Pick from Indianapolis Colts (No. to be determined) |
| 9. | Round 7 | Possible Compensatory Pick |
This number could increase or decrease based on whatever actions and needs the 49ers will have entering the draft this season.
Let's examine a few transactions that Baalke could execute leading up to, and during, the NFL draft. Much of these possibilities will hinge on the variety of aspects that will transpire this offseason. Will the 49ers sign a much-needed free agent, thus alleviating a draft need? Could the franchise part ways with cap-casualty players to free up some financial space?
It's all up for debate.
Include Linebacker Ahmad Brooks in a Pick Exchange
Veteran outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks has emerged as an expensive commodity who is no longer in need, given the rise of rookie linebacker Aaron Lynch during the season.
At 30 years old, Brooks still has plenty of amicable football left in his body. The veteran tight end accounted for six of the team's 35 sacks (tied with Lynch for the most in 2014) and posted 25 tackles and five assists.
But Brooks will count for $9,648,750 against the cap next season. Parting ways with him prior to June 1 would save the 49ers $4,102,500 in cap space, according to Over the Cap.
So what if San Francisco could turn Brooks into a draft pick?
Teams don't typically give up picks for aging veterans. The 49ers got wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a sixth-round pick prior to 2013, which was a win for both San Francisco and the Baltimore Ravens. Signs pointed to the Ravens releasing Boldin anyway if they couldn't find a trade suitor.
The Chicago Bears are one team that comes to mind when evaluating a potential landing spot for Brooks. They need pass-rushing help and could benefit from an experienced linebacker, per Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com also backs up the Bears' need to address this position.
The Bears' projected 2015 payroll—$113,954,687—is also low enough to give them some flexibility to work Brooks' contract into their plans. The team wouldn't have to rely on an unproven pick to solidify this need. Instead, they could supplement this position with an experienced veteran—likable considering the outside linebacker position isn't particularly deep in this year's draft class.
But the Bears are just one possibility. There are number of teams needing pass-rushing help.
A fifth- or a sixth-round pick might be all Baalke gets in return if such a deal was made straight up. But Brooks could theoretically be used as part of a trade-up package to move up in a particular round.
Trading Up for WR DeVante Parker in Round 1
Louisville wideout DeVante Parker is the second-highest ranked prospect at his position, per CBS Sports. The 6'3", 209-pound talent probably won't fall to San Francisco—which needs an impact wideout—at No. 15 when considering the multitude of ahead-drafting teams that need receiving help.
This would mandate some sort of trade-up scenario should the 49ers feel that Parker needs to be their guy in Round 1.
Baalke made a move that would be similar to this idea back in 2013. That year, the 49ers moved up to select LSU safety Eric Reid by sending off their own first- and third-rounders. Would a similar transaction work in 2015?
Examining Walter Football's NFL draft value chart gives us an idea how much each pick is worth when evaluating trades between teams.
Let's assume Parker gets drafted at or around pick No. 11, as suggested by Dane Brugler of CBS Sports. The 11th overall pick is valued at 1,250 points. San Francisco's pick at No. 15 is worth 1,050, which means the additional pick would have to be valued around 200 points.
The 49ers' third-round selection is worth 195 points, according to the chart. Therefore, sending off San Francisco's first- and third-rounders should net it the 11th pick overall.
The Minnesota Vikings—whom Brugler has picking Parker—would have to be OK with such a deal. If not, the 49ers could seek to go higher. But that would likely involve an additional late-round pick somewhere down the line.
Trading Down for a Fringe-Round 1 Wideout
While the 2015 wide receiver draft class is nowhere near as deep as it was a year ago, there are a number of amicable wideouts that should be available towards the end of Round 1 and, perhaps, at the beginning of Round 2.
Some late first-round names, per Brugler and Rang's mock, include ASU's Jaelen Strong, Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham and Michigan's Devin Funchess.
These prospects haven't generated quite as much buzz as bona fide first-rounders like Parker and Alabama's Amari Cooper, but all three have legitimate talent that would fit the need San Francisco has at the wide receiver position.
The 49ers could stay put at No. 15 and will possibly have a shot at West Virginia wideout Kevin White. But we know how much Baalke likes to stockpile picks. This would be the perfect opportunity to do so.
Let's use the Denver Broncos at 28th overall for an example. It's hard to speculate whether or not Denver would be interested in such a deal given its recent coaching changes, so let's not read specifically too far into that.
But if the deal were to happen, the Broncos would send their first-rounder (660 points, according to Walter Football) and their second-round pick (300) points to get close to San Francisco's 15th overall selection (1,050 points).
The 49ers would then have two picks with which to work in Round 2. This could be a significant bonus considering San Francisco's needs at wideout, along the defensive line and within the secondary.
Replicating the 2014 Trade for WR Stevie Johnson
Remember when the 49ers acquired former Buffalo Bills wideout Steve Johnson just prior to the 2014 draft? Baalke sent a conditional pick in exchange for Johnson, which will end up being a fourth-round selection, per Maiocco.
Then a flurry of Baalke's dealings resulted in San Francisco getting another Round 4 pick in exchange. The 49ers now own the Broncos' pick here.
The cost for Johnson basically meant the 49ers dropped from No. 14 to 28 in the round—San Francisco will be alternating its own spots with the Miami Dolphins every other round, per David Fucillo of Niners Nation.
Johnson immediately added experience at this position, which negated some of the pressing need the 49ers had to draft a wide receiver in 2014. Whether or not they should have tabbed into that wide receiver class earlier is up for debate. But Johnson did have a strong first half of the season before injuries hindered his second-half efforts.
San Francisco won't have quite the flexibility to work some sort of deal like this again. Fewer picks means Baalke doesn't have the same amount of ammunition with which to work. Additionally, cap constraints could make a draft-day trade less feasible.
For example, Johnson will cost just over $6 million against the cap, barring a restructuring of his contract.
The 49ers are projected to be just $2,195,902 under the yet-to-be-determined 2015 salary cap, per Jason Hurley of Niners Nation. Should this number not change much, the addition of a wideout via a trade seems less likely.
But parting ways with expensive vets like Brooks could open up the door for some moves here. Should that happen, Baalke could be set to work his draft-day magic once more.
Of course, the 49ers may take a conventional approach this season and simply draft at each slated point without engaging in any transactions. Or they could trade out of rounds altogether and start the stockpiling for 2016 and beyond.
These decisions are ultimately up to Baalke and are contingent on whatever developments take place in the months and weeks prior to the draft.
But Baalke has shown interest in making transactions before, so we shouldn't be that surprised if he does so again in 2015.
As long as those moves wind up generating positive results, of course.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Supplemental draft information courtesy of CBS Sports.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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