The San Francisco 49ers appear to be in full rebuild mode as they’ve stripped their roster down to the studs over the last several days, parting ways with a dozen players.
So far, San Francisco has bid farewell to:
- Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (traded to Washington Commanders)
- Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (cut)
- Defensive end Leonard Floyd (cut)
- Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (cut)
- Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (cut)
- Linebacker Dre Greenlaw (signed three-year, $35 million deal with Denver Broncos)
- Cornerback Charvarius Ward (signed three-year, $54 million deal with Indianapolis Colts)
- Safety Talanoa Hufanga (signed three-year, $45 million deal with Broncos)
- Guard Aaron Banks (signed four-year, $77 million deal with Green Bay Packers)
- Offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (signed two-year, $30 million deal with Kansas City Chiefs)
- Running back Elijah Mitchell (signed one-year, $3.5 million deal with Chiefs)
- Quarterback Josh Dobbs (signed two-year, $8 million deal with New England Patriots)
It’s been a stunning fall from grace for the 49ers since their Super Bowl appearance during the 2023 season. Last season’s 6-11 crash-landing saw them tumble to the NFC West cellar during a campaign where injuries ravaged their star-studded roster.
Now, one NFL analyst believes if the 49ers are truly embracing the rebuild, they should go all-in and move on from perhaps their most valuable chess piece.
NFL analyst: San Francisco 49ers need to trade three-time Pro Bowler
During Wednesday’s episode of “Get Up,” ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark didn’t mince words about what San Francisco should do with two-time All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
“I would absolutely trade Christian McCaffrey and I would try to get as much as I could possibly get for him,” Clark stated. “When you look at what [head coach] Kyle Shanahan has been able to do, it’s run the football. And I know we thought last year they missed some of the things with the versatility of Christian McCaffrey. But when you trade Juszczyk, you let some of that versatility go, you let some of the things you can do formationally go.”
After Achilles and calf injuries delayed McCaffrey’s season debut until Week 10 against Tampa Bay, his comeback lasted just four games before a PCL injury against Buffalo in Week 14 shut him down for good.
Following a transcendent 2023 season where he claimed Offensive Player of the Year honors while leading the league in rushing yards (1,459), scrimmage yards (2,023), touches (339), and total touchdowns (21), McCaffrey managed just 202 yards and zero trips to the end zone in his abbreviated 2024 campaign.
Clark sees opportunity in McCaffrey’s market value still outweighing his recent availability concerns.
“So why not change your entire philosophy from thinking about Christian McCaffrey as this Swiss Army knife? Getting pieces for him and allowing guys like Ricky Pearsall to touch the football more, with running the football, and doing different things on quick screens,” Clark suggested. “Adding other players based on the assets that you can get for him. Also understanding you’re looking for more available players than Christian McCaffrey was last year.
“You had a good stretch with him, you took your run at the Super Bowl, you didn’t get it. If you’re going to rebuild, rebuild completely.”
The financial implications make sense too. McCaffrey is owed $8.5 million this season but carries no guaranteed money in 2026 and 2027. His current cap number sits at $9.4 million. According to OverTheCap.com, a post-June 1 trade would be optimal for San Francisco, leaving just $5 million in dead money for 2025.
The 49ers originally acquired McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers at the 2022 trade deadline, a move that helped fuel their Super Bowl run a year later. Now, they might find themselves on the selling end of a similar transaction as they potentially press the reset button on the Shanahan era.
