The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most respected and popular franchises in NFL history while the highly-regarded organization has once again returned to the top of the league. Today we're going to talk about the 49ers best trades in franchise history, but more on that in a minute.
Now slated to enter the upcoming 2020-21 campaign as the defending NFC Champions following an appearance in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs and a NFC West title over the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals, it appears as though the 49ers are officially back to the team's winning ways of old.
49ers Best Trades In Franchise History
Because the 49ers have been successful in a variety of different decades leading up to yet another 10-year span that will begin in 2020-21, it is not hard to believe that San Francisco has had quite a bit of success drafting players, signing players in free agency and even acquiring players via trade. While the first two options are obviously a bit more common in the NFL nowadays, that hasn't stopped the 49ers from making some pretty memorable trades throughout the organization's illustrious history.
1. WR Jerry Rice – Future NFL Draft Picks (Patriots)
Longtime San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice is no doubt one of the best players in NFL history, let alone one of the best pass catchers. Even though some other teams were ready to pass on the former Mississippi Valley State University standout as a result of the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft, the 49ers knew exactly what Rice was capable of.
With both the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys showing major interest in Rice ahead of the 1985 NFL Draft, San Francisco was forced to trade with the New England Patriots in order to move up to No. 16 overall to select Rice. With the 49ers shipping its first two picks in the 1985 NFL Draft back to the Patriots in exchange for the No. 16 overall pick, such a decision ultimately became a franchise defining move as the aforementioned Cowboys were slated to pick at No. 17 overall.
Rice went on to win three Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP Award to coincide with his 13 Pro Bowl selections and 10 first-team All-Pro nods, all of which is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his laundry list of accolades as a NFL wide receiver.
2. QB Steve Young – Future NFL Draft Picks (Buccaneers)
The eventual successor to the legendary Joe Montana, it is hard to believe that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young was once deemed a bust by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the Buccaneers selected former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Vinny Testaverde with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 Draft, the NFC franchise was dissatisfied with the play of Young. In turn, Tampa Bay promptly shipped the future Pro Football Hall of Fame signal caller across the country to the 49ers.
With Young initially serving as the backup to Montana, who was later traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers were still forced to send future second and fourth round NFL Draft picks back to the Buccaneers in the trade. Before all was said and done, Young became a three-time Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL MVP, six-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
3. QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Future NFL Draft Pick (Patriots)
Although it remains to be seen as to how well this trade will ultimately work out for the Ssan Francisco 49ers, this deal is already paying dividends for the defending NFC Champions. After injuring himself as a result of his first go-round in the Bay Area, current 49ers and former New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo turned things around in a hurry in 2019-20 en route to leading the team to a NFC West crown and an appearance in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Previously the Patriots backup and potential quarterback of the future behind future Pro Football Hall of Fame signal caller Tom Brady, Garoppolo was then traded to the 49ers in exchange for a future second round NFL Draft pick. Because the 49ers really didn't have to give up too much in order to acquire the team's franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future, this trade is already pretty high on such a list despite Garoppolo's brief tenure in San Francisco as it stands today.
4. QB Joe Montana – Future NFL Draft Picks (Chiefs)
Although Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles, the team made the right decision upon shipping him to the Kansas City Chiefs back in 1993. With Montana officially out of the picture, fellow quarterback Steve Young was able to finally step out of his shadow en route to becoming the bonafide starter in San Francisco.
Young also went on to win multiple Super Bowl titles as a member of the 49ers while also paving his way all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This situation quite literally couldn't have been handled by the 49ers in a better fashion in terms of timing as the switch between the two legendary signal callers allowed the team to remain atop the NFL for much longer than in most instances.
5. DE Dee Ford – Future NFL Draft Picks (Chiefs)
With much of the focus on the San Francisco 49ers offense this past season, the team's defense was just as dominant — especially along the defensive front. Bolstering such a unit even further last offseason, the 49ers managed to acquire Pro Bowl pass rusher Dee Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs while the presence of the veteran defender made an immediate impact for the eventual NFC Champions.
In his first season with the 49ers, Ford drew numerous double teams en route to producing 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles across 11 regular season appearances. Banged up for the majority of the year, Ford will surely continue to improve in San Francisco as the 49ers already have him locked up on a five-year deal worth just shy of $90 million. Ford was acquired by the 49ers in exchange for a second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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