Prior to releasing four-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman on Friday, the San Francisco 49ers’ brass was working the phone lines to find a potential trade partner.
In the end, first-year general manager John Lynch and Co. decided it was in Bowman’s best interest to become a free agent and choose where he wanted to sign (more on that here).
With Bowman drawing widespread interest on the open market, various reports are now surfacing that San Francisco actually had a trade lined up that would have sent Bowman to the New Orleans Saints for a seventh-round pick.
“Before they surprisingly released linebacker NaVorro Bowman on Friday, the San Francisco 49ers agreed to trade the longtime veteran to the New Orleans Saints for a seventh-round draft pick,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning.
The Saints’ interest in Bowman was backed up by Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer a bit after Schefter’s initial report.
This is definitely a case of the 49ers doing right by one of their best players in recent history. There was a rift between Bowman and the coaching staff over playing time. Coming off an Achilles injury that cost him all but four games last season, Bowman has slowed down considerably and was seen as a liability in coverage.
In addition to the Saints’ interest, it is being reported that there’s mutual interest between Bowman and the Oakland Raiders with a meeting set to take place early this week.
Giving Bowman an opportunity to find a team of his choosing is the ultimate show of respect by this new 49ers front office. Good on them.