What would Scooter do? Draft 2022 edition

By Scooter_McG

The NFL draft is now less than a week away and while the 49ers aren't currently scheduled to select a player until day 2 there is plenty of drama leading up to this one with uncertainty around the status of Deebo Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo. 

I'm not really big on doing mock drafts, generally preferring to simply outline the players I like for the 49ers. But for a bit of fun I thought I would go through what I would do over the next week or so if I was in charge of the 49ers. 

First and foremost, I would look to resolve the questions around Deebo and JG. With Deebo, nobody other than Deebo's side and the 49ers know where things stand or what the issues are that Deebo currently has. However, if rumours are to be believed, it sounds like he has made it clear he wants out - to the point he has told the team not to bother making an offer. Now that could be because the team and Deebo's agent have discussed potential remuneration and Deebo's side knows the offer that might be tabled is nowhere near what they are wanting, but even so, taking the step to request a trade is never a good sign. 

Normally I would say the 49ers don't need to get this sorted until before training camp. And while they don't need to have anything completed until then, the team has to feel confident a deal can be reached before the draft - they don't want to be forced into trading Deebo at a point where they won't be receiving anything in return until 2023. As someone on the outside looking in I don't feel confident such a point can be reached in the next week, so I would be looking to get what I can for Deebo in a trade. And the recent trades for Hill and Adams should be used as a benchmark of the value they may reasonably expect back.

As a recap, the Dolphins gave up 29, 50 and 2023 4th and 6th round picks for Hill. The Raiders traded picks 22 and 53 for Adams. Rumours are the Jets offered 35, 38 and 69 for Hill, which the Chiefs also agreed to but Hill chose the Dolphins. I'd be willing to take pretty much the same deal from the Jets for Deebo - in fact I'd probably get that 69th pick swapped for a 2023 2nd rounder, with a 2022 day 3 pick added (say pick 117) which may require one of the 49ers day 3 picks sent back in return (say a 6th rounder - maybe pick 221). 

That takes us to Jimmy G. I would definitely be looking to put closure on this saga by the end of the draft. To the point where I would not be holding out looking to maximise value. The Panthers appear to be the most likely destination, and they don't have many draft picks (and no day 2 picks). I would be suggesting a trade that swaps the Panthers pick 137 for the 49ers pick 172, plus a conditional 4th rounder from the Panthers in 2023 that can rise to as much as a 2nd based on playing time and performance. 

There is a complicating factor in this though - the Panthers can't take on his salary as it currently stands and still be under the cap. However, I see a fairly simple solution to this issue, so long as Jimmy G is willing to work with the 49ers and Panthers to facilitate a trade (and to be honest he should be - the Panthers are one of the last options for him to go to and start). The 49ers can convert the bulk of his salary to an option bonus, tack on some voidable years, and set the trigger for the option bonus at some point after the draft and before training camp (giving the Panthers some time to negotiate a longer term deal with him). This way Jimmy G doesn't lose any of the money he is currently owed, his immediate cap hit is reduced by pushing cap hit to later years (due to voidable years), and the 49ers don't need to pay any of it as the bonus isn't due until after he is traded. 

I would then be looking to send one or two day 3 picks to the Giants for Kadarius Toney. Let's say pick 134. I wouldn't give up more than a day 3 pick given the risk of taking a former first round pick a team is giving up on after one year, as well as needing to take on his guaranteed salary for 3 years. However, his salary is quite low, so the salary risk isn't that big, and his skillset would be a nice match for Shanahan's scheme. He isn't Deebo, but he brings a high level run after catch ability in his own right. The team would still need to draft a WR high as they can't rely on Toney, but Toney would bring potential first round talent to the WR room. And if the Giants aren't willing to trade at that price, no biggy, there are plenty of WR options in the draft. 

After that, the 49ers would have the following picks in 2022 - 35, 38, 61, 93, 105, 117, 137, 187, 220 and 262 - as well as adding the Jets 2nd rounder in 2023 and a conditional 2023 4th from the Panthers that could rise. 

With those ten picks, five of which are on day 2, the 49ers have a tonne of flexibility to move up and down the draft board picking up guys they want. Being so close to round one, they can also move up into the back end of round one should they wish to get someone with a fifth year option on their contract. Which, beings as this is about what I would do, is exactly what I would be looking to do, likely using pick 117 (which based on trade value charts should be enough to get to somewhere around pick 29/ 30, which KC owns both of).

I won't go through specific players I think the team should draft, but with a small trade up to the back end of round 1 and pick 38 the 49ers should be in a position to select some very good players at positions of future need, if not necessarily immediate need. There are a number of good safety, edge and WR prospects that are expected to be available around that area, and if one of the top interior OL happened to be available they would certainly be of interest. With so many picks the team could even go a position that appears to be less of a need if the value is too good - for example, if Breece Hall was there at 38 he could be a great pick that brings high end playmaking ability at RB. 

With picks 61, 93 and 105 (if they don't need to trade any of those picks to move up from 35 or 38) the team can then add whatever they miss out on at 35 and 38, as well as likely an interior OL and CB (Marcus Jones to play slot CB could be a real option late round 2/ round 3). Day 3 picks can be used to move around the board as needed and fill in depth. 

Losing Deebo would obviously be a big blow for the team. But it also presents an opportunity for the team to fill out the roster around the team's other high priced stars, as well as Lance, with a lot of good, young talent.