5 Players the San Francisco 49ers Should Trade Before the Deadline

The San Francisco 49ers must be honest with themselves.

Even though they’ve played only seven games, their season is over. They’re not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs just yet, but we can see where they’re headed.

First, quarterback Colin Kaepernick will get benched. Then, head coach Jim Tomsula will get fired. And then, general manager Trent Baalke will probably get fired, too. This team is imploding.

It’s time for San Francisco to prepare for the future. That means playing guys who will be on the team next year and trading guys who won’t.

Here are five players the 49ers should deal before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Vernon Davis (TE)

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

On October 18, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported that Vernon Davis “will not be returning to San Francisco next year” and “would very much welcome a change of scenery.”

Davis, 31, will be a free agent at the end of the season. He probably wants to play for a winning team—or any team that will pass him the ball.

The Niners should make Davis’ wish come true before the deadline on Tuesday. Throw him the ball 10 times Sunday against the St. Louis Rams just to pump up his stats and boost his trade value. Then send him to the team offering the highest draft pick, which probably will be no higher than a sixth-rounder.

Tramaine Brock (CB)

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Tramaine Brock is a solid cornerback who’s only 27 years old. He intercepted five passes in 2013 and has intercepted three passes through seven games this season.

Brock is earning a reasonable $3.5 million per year on average and is under contract through 2017, according to Spotrac. A lot of teams could use this guy right now.

The Niners aren’t one of them. The Niners aren’t going anywhere this season, next season and maybe the season after that. By the time they’re good again, Brock could be in his 30s.

The Niners should play their second-year cornerbacks, Keith Reaser and Dontae Johnson, to see what they can do and trade Brock now while he’s still young.

Maybe San Francisco can get a fourth-round pick for him.

Anquan Boldin (WR)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Trading Anquan Boldin is a no-brainer.

Like Vernon Davis, Boldin will be a free agent at the end of this season. Unlike Davis, Boldin is still good, even though he’s 35 and slower than ever. He could be a difference-maker for a contender.

Take the Carolina Panthers, for example. Their record is 6-0, and their No.1 receiver is Ted Ginn Jr. Maybe they’d give the Niners a fifth-round pick for Boldin, who would instantly become quarterback Cam Newton’s go-to guy.

Trading Boldin to Carolina would allow the 49ers to play young receivers Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton and veteran Jerome Simpson, who signed a two-year contract this offseason. The Niners need to know how good those three are.

NaVorro Bowman (LB)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Former All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman is a leader on a 49ers team that lacks leadership. Trading Bowman would hurt the Niners now but would benefit them in the future.

Bowman is not, and probably never will be, the player he was before he tore his ACL and MCL almost two years ago. He’s a flat-out liability against the pass and really shouldn’t be on the field on passing downs.

But he’s still a good run-defender. Pro Football Focus has given him a plus-6.6 run-defense grade this season—tops among inside linebackers. A team that’s weak against the run probably would want Bowman and might give the Niners a third-round pick for him.

Joe Staley (LT)

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Joe Staley is only 31, plays a critical position—left tackle—and is signed through 2019. He’s the best player left on the 49ers. Ordinarily, he’d be someone they would rebuild around.

But he’s too old to be part of the Niners’ future. He could be 34 or 35 by the time they become contenders again. He’s worth more to San Francisco in a trade.

Some team might give the Niners as much as a second-round pick for Staley. The Niners need a second-round pick much more than they need a 31-year-old non-quarterback. Alex Boone can steadily replace Staley at left tackle after the Niners trade him.

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