Prime-Time First TD Bets — Monday Night Football, Week 16
Alex Christenson
The biggest trade of the NFL offseason went down Friday, with the Miami Dolphins trading the No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for San Francisco’s first-rounder (No. 12 overall), their third-rounder and their first-rounders in 2022 and 2023, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Filed to ESPN: Dolphins trading No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 12 pick, a 2021 third-round pick (SF’s comp pick for Robert Saleh hiring) and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, per sources.
Blockbuster deal with massive ramifications for years to come.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2021
The trade presumably puts the 49ers in place to add one of the biggest names in this year’s quarterback class with the No. 3 pick, while the Dolphins get extra ammunition to help support second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Dolphins send No. 3 pick to 49ers
Fantasy slant: Let the games begin. Kyle Shanahan and company make a power move up the board and are all but certain to select a quarterback with this pick. With Trevor Lawrence a near lock to go first overall, San Francisco will have either Justin Fields or Zach Wilson available with the outside shot of both signal callers on the board if the Jets decide to pass on the position with pick No. 2. We also can’t completely rule out Trey Lance in this spot, though he is a bit of a longshot. Whoever is picked will slide into a potent 49ers offense that features a hearty run game, two ultra-athletic receivers in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and an all-world pass-catching tight end in George Kittle. It’s hard not to like this landing spot for either Wilson, Fields, or Lance.
As for Jimmy Garoppolo, his future is now very much up in the air. What we can say for certain is that he’s no longer in the 49ers’ plans for the future, but initial reports suggest San Francisco plans to keep him on the roster. Get ready for one of our annual “quarterback competitions” where the rookie is starting before we get out of September and perhaps even in Week 1.
Of course, there are other implications from this trade. Carolina has been rumored to want to make a move up for a quarterback. That could still happen if the Jets are willing to part with the No. 2 pick. The fourth overall pick could also be a target if Atlanta decides to move out of that spot. New England is another team to watch on this front, as the Patriots have been rumored to be enamored with Ohio State’s Justin Fields. There’s a good chance this isn’t the only trade we’ll see in the top four picks. — Jeff Ratcliffe
