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2014 NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers Trade-Up Options

It’s becoming increasingly likely that the San Francisco 49ers are going make a significant move up the draft boards when the first round of the annual event kicks off a week from this Thursday. Where they plan to move up to and who they are targeting are the primary questions surfacing around the National Football League right now. 

Let’s check in on a few different trade-up options for the 49ers with nine days remaining until the 2014 NFL draft.

Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M

We covered this option somewhat in-depth last week, but there are a few different things worthy of pointing out. If San Francisco makes a move up for Evans, it’s an indication that its going to look to move on from Anquan Boldin at some point in the not-so-distant future. That shouldn’t be terribly surprising considering that Boldin, who will turn 34 early next season, signed a two-year, $12 million contract that guarantees him $9 million.

Adding Evans to the mix would enable the 49ers to have one of the better wide receiver trios in the NFL. He would line up outside opposite Crabtree with Boldin playing the slot. This move would also be made under the belief that San Francisco will be able to retain Crabtree, who is set to become a free agent after the 2014 season, on a long-term feal. The reason why I indicate this is due to the fact that Evans would be an eventual replacement for Boldin, not Crabtree. If the 49ers were looking to replace Crabtree down the road…

Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson

He’d likely come in to be an eventual replacement for Crabtree. If the 49ers attempt a move up to get him, they would ultimately be showing their hand as it relates to the Crabtree situation. Another issue with making this move is that San Francisco would have to get into the top three or four in order to select the Clemson product.

While I am adverse to listening to rumors swirling around the NFL in the days leading up to the draft, there are some people who have taken to the idea that Watkins won’t be the first receiver off the board.

When you hear terms like “not elite” thrown around in relation to a wide receiver, especially when it comes from respected guys, you seriously have to wonder if he’s worth a top-five pick. Adding even more intrique to this situation, San Francsico wouldn’t just be yielding a high-round pick to take a shot on Watkins, it would be giving up a likely first rounder next year as well as multiple picks next week.

The question here at wide receiver is whether Trent Baalke and Co. are willing to trade up for the sure-fire starter in Evans or wants the higher-ceiling player in Watkins. I guess that’s why general managers get all the good things in life.

Khalil Mack, Linebacker, Buffalo

Trading up for Mack wouldn’t necessarily be an indictment on Aldon Smith, who seems to have skirted felony charges after the whole airport incident. Rather, targeting Mack might be, and it’s all conjecture on my part, for him to team up with Smith. Just imagine that outside linebacker tandem behind the likes of Justin Smith, Ray McDonald and Tank Carradine upfront.

Mack could go as high as No. 2 overall to the St. Louis Rams and as low as sixth overall to the Atlanta Falcons. In order for the 49ers to seriously consider trading up for a player at a position of strength, all the cards would have to fall into place. Atlanta, among other teams, would have to pass up on Mack. Second, whoever engages in trade talks with the 49ers couldn’t ask for a huge bounty in return. Either way, this is an unlikely scenario.

Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Carolina

There has been a lot of talk that Clowney isn’t guaranteed to be the first player off the board. Issues with consistency on the field and a perceived lack of a drive on a play-by-play basis might be driving Clowney’s stock down. That could very well be “silly season” talk, but the 49ers have to do their due dilligence here. If the talk of them looking to trade up to No. 5 overall with the Oakland Raiders are true, Clowney has to be a consideration there. He’s a once-in-a-generation type of player out there.

Clowney could eventually team up with 2013 second-round pick Tank Carradine to form a tremendous defensive front ahead of one of the best linebacker groups in the league. Again, highly unlikely.

Odell Beckham Jr, Wide Receiver, Louisiana State

A fast riser among draftniks, Beckham Jr. could be a cheaper alternative to the two top receivers in the class. Likely pegged to go somwhere between 12th to the New York Giants and 18th to the New York Jets, San Francisco could likely come away with giving up very little in order to move up for a standout play-making wide receiver.

The question here becomes whether Beckham Jr. is that much better than the players San Francisco could target at 30. I am not too entirely sure he is. Acquring a Brandin Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin or Davante Adams at 30 while keeping a second or third rounder might make more sense.

Photo: Kim Klement, USA Today

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