The San Francisco 49ers had back-to-back third round picks in the 2017 NFL draft, but after drafting Colorado cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon at No. 66, they turned around traded away No. 67 to the New Orleans Saints. They are likely still looking at options to trade into the back end of the third round if anybody of note falls, but otherwise, their evening is done.
The 49ers traded pick No. 67 without getting the Saints third round pick. Instead, the 49ers receive a seventh round pick in this year’s draft (No. 229) and get the Saints second round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. A current year pick dealt for a future year pick usually results in a one-round addition.
The 49ers could have used pick No. 67 on one of a handful of quarterbacks, including Davis Webb, Nathan Peterman, and Brad Kaaya. The decision to deal out likely means they were not sufficiently sold on any of the remaining quarterbacks at this point. It is also possible the Saints came to them and they felt a 2018 second was too good to pass up.
The 49ers still have a pair of picks in each of the four remaining rounds. I remain convinced they walk away with at least one quarterback, but the longer it takes, the more it becomes a lottery ticket and not much else. Of course, if Peterman, Webb, or any others continue to slip, maybe the 49ers make a move up.
If the 49ers are simply not all that interested in the quarterbacks, then they could be looking at one of two things. They could plan on the Kirk Cousins push, either in free agency or a trade (although Dan Snyder reportedly wants nothing to do with a trade of Cousins to a Kyle Shanahan team). The 49ers also could want to make a big move for one of next year’s QB class. The 2018 QBs are highly touted at the moment, and an extra second round pick is big in a potential move up next year.
Here are the 49ers picks in 2017 and 2018.
2017 picks
1. First round: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford
2. First round: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
3. Third round: Ahkello WItherspoon, CB, Colorado
4. Fourth round: Own - No. 2 (109 overall)
5. Fourth round: Comp pick - No. 37 (143 overall)
6. Fifth round: Own - No. 2 (146 overall)
7. Fifth round: Washington (Derek Carrier trade) - No. 17 (161 overall)
8. Sixth round: Baltimore Ravens (Jeremy Zuttah trade) - No. 14 (198 overall)
9. Sixth round: Denver Broncos (Vernon Davis trade) - No. 18 (202 overall)
10. Seventh round: Cleveland Browns (Andy Lee trade) - No. 1 (219 overall)
11. Seventh round: New Orleans Saints - No. 11 (229 overall)
2018 picks
1. First round pick: Own
2. Second round pick: Own
3. Second round pick: New Orleans Saints
4. Third round pick: Own
5. Third round pick: Chicago Bears
6. Fourth round pick: Own
7. Fifth round pick: Own
8. Sixth round pick: Own
9. Seventh round pick: Own
10. (Maybe) Seventh round pick: Kansas City Chiefs (Kenneth Acker trade)