49ers Trading Christian McCaffrey Becomes NFL's Hottest Rumor

The San Francisco 49ers are, to us, throwing the baby out with the bath water as they are seemingly blowing up their roster for the sake of one player's contract extension.

After watching several key veterans depart via free agency and releasing other veterans for salary-cap purposes, the 49ers might be forced to trade away the biggest asset they have outside of quarterback Brock Purdy.

San Francisco traded its best, albeit most expensive wide receiver, Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders last month. 

The team also watched Aaron Banks, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward and several other players leave via free agency this week. 

Rumors are now circulating out of the city by The Bay where Christian McCaffrey could be on the trading block. 

It appears as though the 49ers are blowing up their roster so they can clear enough salary-cap room to sign Purdy to an extension which would make him the highest paid player in the NFL.

ESPN analyst Ryan Clark said even though a trade is not imminent, San Francisco should entertain trade offers for McCaffrey, their biggest asset outset aside of Purdy.

"I would absolutely trade Christian McCaffrey and I would try to get as much as I could possibly get for him," Clark said. "When you look at what Kyle Shanahan has been able to do, it's run the football. I know we thought last year they missed some of the versatility of Christian McCaffrey, but when you cut Kyle Juszczyk, you let some of that versatility go."

Fans are taking Clark's stance well. They reacted favorably on social media.

"Sadly, he's not wrong," a 49ers fan said in response.

"Makes good sense. He is injury prone and for those of us who are fanboys, let’s rebuild," another 49ers fan said. "This team will not win a Super Bowl soon, I stand on that."

McCaffrey is under contract with the 49ers through the 2027 season. His cap hit for this year is $9.4 million but he is slated to earn $16.205 million in 2025.

Who wants to trade for a gifted but expensive back with injury issues who turns 29 this spring? The Niners seem to want to find out.