The blessed nightmare returns. If the 49ers are presented with the choice, who would they go with?
Tuesday, we went over an article by The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami concerning the San Francisco 49ers and a possible decision between selecting Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa No. 2 in the 2019 NFL Draft, or trading that pick to the New York Giants and netting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. We discussed how the 49ers were the top-top-top option, but sort of glossed over the actual decision itself.
So now, the blessed nightmare I spoke of yesterday: who do you take if you’re making the decisions?
It’s time to play armchair GM.
Yesterday, I said that the 49ers could potentially have both, but a lot of things would have to go their way. Either Bosa slips (which could happen) or they hold onto that No. 2 selection and instead send a second rounder and change to get Beckham to come to the 49ers. That is a possibility, but I doubt the Giants let that happen. The Giants would be trading Beckham and the No. 6 pick to the 49ers for the No. 2 pick and probably a later round (a third) so they can get their quarterback. They won’t stand-pat and wait for another team to leapfrog them at six to take Dwayne Haskins while dealing away one of the best wide receivers in the league.
It’s also doubtful Nick Bosa would last that long. At six a team could just as well facilitate a trade with the Oakland Raiders or someone else and go get him once he falls past two.
On one hand, the 49ers have a game-changing pass rusher. If Solomon Thomas can develop and DeForest Buckner’s dedication to his job continues, the 49ers line can be an absolute beast.
On the other, Beckham. He needs no talking up on how good he is. While in Atlanta, Kyle Shanahan’s offense was almost unfair with Julio Jones + Matt Ryan. Give him Odell Beckham Jr.+ Jimmy Garoppolo and a retooled offensive line and that could be something. After Bosa, there’s some players that drop a bit, but it’s not near as significant as the drop between Beckham and other wide receivers (though D.K. Metcalf looks intriguing).
If presented with the decision between OBJ and Bosa and knowing I’m not going to be able to get a deal done, I’ll make the trade for OBJ and go back to No. 6. Mind you, I’d be swapping picks and sending a third rounder. Maybe a late round pick in 2020 to sweeten things. OBJ would complete the 49ers offense. The wide receiver corps would no longer be an underrated group, but one of the best in the league. Plus, Kyle Shanahan is the head coach and offensive coordinator—tie goes to the boss.
There’s another reason for this. Bosa is great, but the depth of pass rushers is not to be understated. There’s far more opportunity there than for wide receivers. The drop from OBJ to Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf appears more significant than a drop from Nick Bosa to Michigan’s Rashan Gary or Mississippi State’ Montez Sweat. The possibilities for the offense just make this decision.
I doubt the blessed nightmare ever happens, it seems like the Giants are convinced they want nothing to do with any of this circus. If the decision came, however, it seems like going backwards to get OBJ would be the more logical move.
What would you do? Would you take Bosa or OBJ? If you think the 49ers can get both, explain how.
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