As the trade deadline approaches, some believe a top team is hiding as to the biggest name potentially remaining available.
Chris Simms mentioned Thursday Live PFT that some in league circles are wondering if the 49ers could make a play for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. (People around the league ask Simms these questions, because 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is one of his best friends — and because they assume Simms knows what’s going on with the 49ers, even though he rarely, if ever, does.)
A trade between Taylor and the 49ers would be shocking. That would be unexpected. As shocking and unexpected as the news appeared on a Thursday evening in October 2022, when news of the 49ers’ trade to the Panthers for running back Christian McCaffrey first broke.
A trade for Taylor would create obvious questions regarding McCaffrey. Taylor is left with $3.87 million in base salary (after Week 9, it drops to $3.49 million). McCaffrey has a cap hit of $10.861 million for 2026. While that’s low enough for the duo to stay together for the rest of the season, things could change in 2027.
McCaffrey has a cap hit of $26.4 million, with no guaranteed money in what will be the final year of his current contract. Taylor would be worth over $16 million in 2027, based on his current contract.
Most likely, the 49ers would move on from McCaffrey after this season, if they trade for Taylor.
And, yes, it would be stunning if the 49ers traded for Taylor. Exactly the same kind of stunner as when the 49ers traded for McCaffrey in 2022.
But that’s what teams do when they’re serious about going all-in. The Bears are. The Seahawks are. The 49ers might be.
Every competitor needs to ask themselves this question as the trade deadline approaches. Are you happy wishing in one hand and shitting in the other and seeing which one gets filled first? Or will you turn a wish list into concrete actions aimed at potentially putting a Super Bowl ring on everyone’s finger?
Gn sports
