The 49ers have cap space and capital. Should they be aggressive before the draft?

We know that the San Francisco 49ers were interested in trading for Odell Beckham Jr. last week. We also heard rumors about the team dealing with the Philadelphia Eagles in a supposed trade. There’s smoke coming out of every window in the 49ers building. Knowing that the team is actively shopping, I was thinking who the two best case scenario trades on both sides of the ball that would impact the 49ers immediately and in the future.

I’m not advocating for these deals to happen. It’s not a must. By no means am I saying I wouldn’t do it, either. I’m simply saying these are two phone calls John Lynch should make. See the asking price. Here’s what I came up with.

Offense

WR A.J. Green

Green is supposedly willing to return to Cincinnati and isn’t available for trade and every other rumor you usually hear before a guy is getting traded. I’d love to see the lie detector test when you ask Green if he’s happy with Andy Dalton. Green would elevate this offense to a level it wouldn’t be capable of reaching no matter which receiver they draft in the upcoming draft. There isn’t a receiver as talented as Green.

Not only would Green flourish with a better quarterback in a timing-based offense, he would take the pressure off of everyone else. Dante Pettis was excellent his rookie year. The pressure on him to immediately turn into the teams number one receiver goes away like that. An offense that marches out Jimmy G-Green-Pettis-Kittle plus the speed at RB with Kyle Shanahan calling plays? Hello, points. Green opens the field up for everyone.

I’d inquire to see if Green can be had for a day two pick this year and maybe next year. Obviously, I would start low with the capital. If Green could be had for a price that wouldn’t sacrifice too much of my future, and I know I could extend him, this would be a pretty easy deal for me to make if I’m Lynch. Green will be 31-years old when the season starts. The only thing that’s slowing him down is a quarterback.

Defense

CB Xavien Howard

This situation could go in a number of ways. Howard has been rumored to be a trade candidate for some time now. Howard is headed into the last year of his rookie contract. The corner for the Dolphins is on record saying he wants to be the highest paid corner in the league. Miami just had that fiasco with Jarvis Landry leaving. The team also basically just admitted to punting 2018 for a 2019 QB by signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. That’s a rebuilding team. Howard should be for sale. The question is, for how much?

The downside

This could work against you in a couple of ways. You trade for Howard, he proves to be a one-year wonder and now you are stuck with the contract extension you gave him. Probably somewhere around $14-$15 million a year. You also are all but giving up on Ahkello Witherspoon or Tarvarius Moore. Witherspoon showed promise the last five games he played. While it’d be great to have a bunch of young, promising corners, Howard is a guy that only lines up outside. So he’s only competing with those two above.

The upside

Howard is owed $2 million in 2019. Howard has seen him coverage skills grow each year. Last year those skills spiked. Watching him play, and seeing his confidence, Howard is knocking on the door of stardom. The 26-year old to be had a success rate of 60% last year, which was seventh in the NFL last year. Howard had the second lowest passer rating on throws his way. Howard protects you from any injury or roller coaster season opposite of Richard Sherman. He also gives a position at a premium position for the next handful of years. I’d make the call and find out what Howard would cost me.

Sell the farm?

The reason that these are simply calls and I’m not going to mortgage my future and go all in, is because that always seems to backfire when teams do that. If I can have Howard for say, a second round pick and maybe a third next year? I’d do it. No sweat. He’s that good.

Miami’s original asking price was something crazy like two first round picks. That didn’t last long. If the team looks at their history, with Landry, and Ndamukong Suh the year prior, they would be wise to fetch a couple picks. If they’re invested in the 2020 draft, Lynch should take advantage. If it only takes a day two pick this year or next year, even better.

If you could make either of these happen,

which trade would you pull the trigger on?