The 49ers haven’t divulged very much about their plans in the 2019 draft. One thing they have made clear over the past couple days at the NFL owners meetings is that the No. 2 pick is very much available for the right price.
In consecutive days, CEO Jed York and head coach Kyle Shanahan have directly mentioned the possibility of trading out of the No. 2 spot.
“We don’t have to draft for need, we can truly draft for best available,” York said Monday according to Matt Barrows of the Athletic. “And when you’re drafting in the top five, top 10, if we move back, you want to make sure that you’re drafting impact players and not just drafting for need.”
Shanahan mentioned a trade while speaking with media Tuesday.
Talk of moving out of the second draft slot isn’t new. The first sign the pick was for sale came when San Francisco was willing to part ways with that selection in a trade for Odell Beckham Jr. A trade never came together because the 49ers needed to get the No. 6 pick back in the deal.
It’s not as if the 49ers are actively trying to get rid of the pick. The second selection in the draft will allow them net a top prospect who should make an impact right away – especially if the Cardinals draft quarterback Kyler Murray and the entire class of edge rushers is available for San Francisco.
On the other hand, they’ll happily take all calls about the pick if it means moving down and scooping additional picks, but staying in range to grab a player they’re comfortable will be a difference-maker.
This shows the 49ers have some confidence in the depth of this year’s draft class, and that they’re not necessarily focused on one position. They’d likely want to stick with the second pick if they were set on drafting by position. Moving back means widening the scope of prospects they’re looking at.
The 49ers know they’re not one player away from contending. Getting a top-tier talent would be ideal, but finding a trade down that amasses more assets to add multiple top-end players would be another favorable outcome for a team that’s won only 10 games the last two seasons.
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have time to build the team correctly, and that just might mean trading out of the No. 2 overall pick.
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