Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers?
It may not be so far-fetched.
According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the 49ers are “leading contenders,” and “maybe the lead contenders” to acquire McCaffrey.
The fit makes sense. McCaffrey is perhaps the league’s most dynamic running back and would elevate the 49ers’ offense, especially as a pass-catcher. Shanahan and the McCaffreys have close ties going back to Denver — Kyle Shanahan allegedly babysat for him — and John Lynch certainly wouldn’t mind a fellow Stanford alum.
“I checked around a bit. I think there’s little doubt that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are intrigued by the idea of acquiring McCaffrey to electrify a 49ers offense that is not exactly lighting up the scoreboard or statistical categories to start this season; and I think McCaffrey’s camp is probably quite interested in the possibility for the former Stanford star, too.”
That’s all secondary to how dynamic of a player McCaffrey is. The main concerns, though, are that he’s been oft-injured, has a sizable contract (at face value) and according to an NFL Network report, the Panthers are asking for multiple first-round picks.
No one will do that. Multiple reports suggest no team is willing to offer multiple firsts.
Kawakami suggests that it might be possible to get a deal done without a first-round pick and that if it cost a first-rounder, the 49ers would obviously be out. He thinks a second-round pick next year would get a deal done “right now.”
He writes:
“But it might not even take that second-rounder. The Panthers just need the most picks they can get, because there’s a chance they’d have to trade McCaffrey at a deeper discount in the offseason with all the money he’s due in the future.
What if the 49ers offered a 2023 third-rounder (they have comp third-rounders due) and a fifth-rounder that could both move up a round if they get to the Super Bowl? I am not sure that the Panthers would be offered more than that and at some point they might want to do well by McCaffrey by getting him to a good spot. Would the Rams top that bid? Would the Bills? At this point, I’m not sure. And I think the 49ers would be ready to go higher if absolutely necessary.”
That money McCaffrey is owed, by the way, is not as substantial as it may seem.
All his bonus money, around $25 million, would be due to the Panthers. He’s cost less than $1 million to the 49ers this season. And while he’s due $11.8 million in each of the next two seasons and $12 million in the last year of his deal, all of that money is non-guaranteed.
That means a restructured deal is exceedingly likely, if not a certainty. The 49ers can re-work his contract favorably if he’s amenable, and/or trade him again next year.
What does Kawakami think it will take for a deal to get done? A Marshall Faulk pricetag.
“Also, as smartly noted by former agent Joel Corry in a CBSSports.com story, the realistic McCaffrey price tag might have the parameters of a deal 23 years ago, when the Colts sent Marshall Faulk to the Rams for second- and fifth-round picks.”
If the 49ers acquired McCaffrey, they’d have arguably the best running back, best tight end, best fullback, best tackle and a top-10 receiver on their offense. That sounds pretty nice.