Report: 49ers one of the two most aggressive trade-down candidates

The rumors are out in full force today. The Dolphins are trying to land the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 Draft from the Lions without giving up their 5th overall pick because they’re trying to trade both the 3rd and 5th overall picks to the Bengals for the 1st overall pick and Draft Joe Burrow, per Pro Football Talk. I’m sure it’s a coincidence that today is the first day we’ve heard that rumor. That’s one of many.

Some rumors are fairly obvious. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweeted, “I believe the two most aggressive trade-down candidates are the Lions at No. 3 (they may not have any takers) and the 49ers at No. 13 & No. 31 (they may have action at both spots.) The Lions are going to shock some people by taking Auburn’s DT Derrick Brown, who is rumored to be No. 1 on the team’s draft board. As for the Niners? Who. Knows. The likelihood that San Francisco’s six “foundational players” will be gone by the time the team picks is high. Add in the lack of draft picks between rounds 2-4 makes even more sense.

Late Wednesday, NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco tweeted he spoke to a high ranking AFC executive: “They should trade 13 and keep 31. There’s not much of a drop-off from 13 to the mid-20s.” It’s tough to disagree with that statement unless you are convinced the 49ers must draft a receiver early on. Trading down from 13 provides more value as well. The Niners can get better quality by moving down and still stay in the first round and draft two players.

An ideal outcome for tonight: Move down from 13, add a second-round pick, and stay at 31. That would give the 49ers three potential starters. With one of the best rosters in the NFL, that would set up San Francisco for the “now” as well as the future. I have a feeling Alabama’s Henry Ruggs will fall, so if the Niners can land Ruggs, a tackle like Josh Jones, and a wildcard player, maybe, Antoine Winfield Jr? That’d be tough to be mad at. Kendrick Bourne thinks Ruggs will be his teammate this today:

Spotrac tweeted this out:

That’s the second time we’ve seen Ford pop up this week.