NFL Trade Deadline: 5 Players the 49ers Should Move in 2016

The San Francisco 49ers are going nowhere fast in 2016. And with a 1-6 record, trading off players at the NFL trade deadline is one way to help put the franchise in a better position next season.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Just like a year ago, the 2016 season is now geared up for evaluating the future of the San Francisco 49ers.

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In full rebuild mode, the Niners are nowhere close to contending for a playoff berth. And while questions surround general manager Trent Baalke’s future with the team, taking some steps to help build towards the future may be the only way he saves his job. Or at least polishes up his resume trying to land somewhere else.

Baalke was able to offload former tight end Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos a year ago. That pretty much summed up San Francisco’s NFL trade deadline efforts in 2015. But what about this year?

Well, let’s take a look.

Keep in mind, the big blockbuster deals seen in other major sports rarely happen midseason in the NFL. So while it’s fun to speculate and evaluate rumors, one shouldn’t expect too many deals to go down.

Still, it’s worth evaluating who on the Niners roster should be moved.

Also worth noting — for all you delusional trade hopefuls — trades have to make sense for both sides. No team is going to give up a first- or a second-round pick for a second-string quarterback.

OK, enough. Let’s break down five players Baalke and the 49ers should try to move before the deadline hits on November 1.

Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley (74) watches the game against the Houston Texans in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Houston defeated San Francisco 24-13. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Left Tackle Joe Staley

We’ll start off this list by evaluating two players the Niners are already rumored to have on the trade block.

Veteran left tackle Joe Staley is the longest-tenured member of the 49ers. And at 32 years old, he probably will be out of the NFL by the time San Francisco is good again. So trying to move Staley is arguably the best thing to ensure his final years are actually with a contender.

It’s a move already reported, first by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

According to the report, the 49ers are asking for a first-round draft pick in return. Doubtful they get that much, but any first- or second-day draft capital would be worthwhile for this franchise.

Staley is the highest-graded offensive lineman on the Niners right now, according to Pro Football Focus. So his value makes sense for a playoff-likely team looking to shore up its O-line.

Why He’s Traded

Honestly, it’s a favor to Staley. He sniffed a Super Bowl ring between 2011 and 2013 and won’t come close again in San Francisco. And if the 49ers are in complete rebuild mode — they are — trying to get the biggest returns on the trade market makes sense.

Why He’s Not

Staley is one of the few leaders in the locker room, something a young and struggling team needs to move forward.

Contractual obligations aside, the Niners are also going to be looking at a franchise quarterback in coming years. And one of the quickest ways to destroy a rookie QB is to take away his protection. Staley is currently the best San Francisco has.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) warms prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver Torrey Smith

Another trade possibility already reported.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the 49ers were shopping wide receiver Torrey Smith, and a number of teams had expressed interest in the speedy target.

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And subsequent reports had the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles discussing a deal.

Smith isn’t exactly a fit in head coach Chip Kelly’s system, as his lowly 2016 numbers suggest. He’s on pace to have an even worse year than the career-low numbers he experienced a season ago.

It’s not as if the Niners have a quarterback situation to his benefit either.

At 27 years old, Smith is right in the prime of his career. Only he’s wallowing in an inept San Francisco offense. So if we assume a Niners rebuild takes three, four or even five years, the likelihood of Smith remaining a key impact player diminishes greatly.

Why He’s Traded

Smith is the proverbial “fish out of water” in Kelly’s offense, which is predicated on quick releases and pinpoint throws. San Francisco’s No. 1 wideout is known more for deep routes, which take longer to develop.

Giving Smith a chance to compete with a contender is also a good measure. And the same draft-capital argument still applies.

Why He’s Not

The receiver isn’t a cheap commodity. He’s the most expensive free-agent addition during Trent Baalke’s San Francisco tenure. Just take a look at his contract, courtesy of Over the Cap.

Granted, NFL contracts are never set in stone. So this could change upon arrival with a new team.

Yet another reason why he’s not traded is simply because San Francisco lacks skill players. The team has what, two of them on offense?

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) celebrates scoring a touchdown off an interception during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Safety Antoine Bethea

San Francisco does have a bit of an excess in its secondary (thank you, Trent Baalke), so moving some pieces from the defensive backfield makes sense before the deadline.

One of the commodities that should be moved is veteran safety Antoine Bethea.

At 32 years old, few teams are going to give up much, if anything, to acquire his services. But his 77.4 Pro Football Focus grade on the year suggests he still has something to offer for a team in need of defensive-back help.

It’s not as if Bethea is in San Francisco’s long-term plans either. He has only one year remaining on the four-year deal he signed back in 2014. So moving him shouldn’t be too problematic, if the need is there.

Plus, it opens up the door for second-year pro Jaquiski Tartt to take over a regular role. Or the Niners could move cornerback Jimmie Ward back to his natural position.

Why He’s Traded

Again, the whole rebuild needs apply. Bethea is one of the very few commodities with any notable value on the team right now. So even if Baalke can land a sixth- or seventh-round pick, such a move would help the Niners land, at best, an experiment player in 2017.

And it would open up the door for a player like Tartt to have a regular role.

Why He’s Not

There wouldn’t be any takers. Given Bethea’s age, any team willing to give up a draft pick, even a low one, is essentially asking for little more than a short-term fix. Nothing more. And teams may be inclined to scour the waiver wire instead of parting ways with a pick for an aging player.

Bethea’s locker room presence can’t be ignored either.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) breaks up a pass to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (10) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beat San Francisco 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Tramaine Brock

Just like safety Antoine Bethea, veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock is one of the few excess and moderately valuable pieces the 49ers have.

And one of the reasons why he should be dealt is because it would open up the door for rookie corner Rashard Robinson to continue his ascension (yes, we realize Robinson was manhandled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans in Week 7).

Robinson is the future. Brock, not so much. But the 28-year-old corner’s seven pass breakups and 78.0 Pro Football Focus rating suggest he’ll have some value.

Brock is also signed on a moderate deal through 2017, which would make moving him all the more easier.

Why He’s Traded

A number of playoff-potential teams could be seeking cornerback help by the deadline. And it doesn’t seem likely the 49ers would retain Brock after 2017 anyway, given how many cornerbacks general manager Trent Baalke has drafted in recent years.

So getting something, anything, now would be a bonus.

Why He’s Not

If there’s one area of strength the 49ers have this season, it’s their pass defense. Opponents have amassed just 1,557 yards through the air against San Francisco, which puts the Niners seventh in the league. Keep in mind, opposing teams only need to run the ball against the 49ers though.

Still, Brock is a cheap commodity capable of holding the line between now and 2018, which would take one of the major team needs (somewhat) off the table.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Running Back Carlos Hyde

This one might anger some 49ers fans a bit. At least from what was seen in a previous article about running back Carlos Hyde.

At 25 years old, Hyde is another one of those players who’s career might be hitting the decline by the time San Francisco is good again. He’s not young. And while he remains the Niners’ best offensive weapon right now, one has to seriously look at his injury history.

Consider this — Hyde has missed 11 of 24 games since taking over for fomer 49ers running back Frank Gore in 2015. That’s 45.8 percent and possibly counting. He’s currently out with a shoulder injury.

Former Niner Noise site author and now-Bleacher Report contributor Jerod Brown feels the same way:

If I was #49ers I'd consider feeling out trade market for Carlos Hyde. If you can get a 3rd-rnd pick, do it.

— Jerod Brown (@jerodbrown62) October 25, 2016

Brown also notes next year’s NFL Draft running back class is pretty well stacked, which would give San Francisco a chance to hit home on a mid-round player.