Bay Area Sports Guy – Raiders and 49ers should at least consider a trade (with each other)

This is an idea that makes the most sense when discussed at a bar with a couple pints of Pliny the SomethingOrOther, but since this is a holiday weekend and half of you are probably reading this with a mimosa and/or bloody mary buzz I’m not going to let practicalities derail me.

The Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers haven’t worked together all that often or well, as is common with Bay Area teams residing in the same league. That’s why, even though it makes a ludicrous amount of sense to share a new stadium, it’s a discussion that also doubles as a complete waste of time. It’s like arguing that Justin Bieber fans should start listening to nothing but Slayer. It’s Never going to happen.

But football-wise, the two teams can and maybe should work together. The Raiders suffered through a brutal 4-12 campaign in the first full season A.A.D. (After Al Davis), mostly because they don’t have a lot of talent. They could use reinforcements at every position besides kicker and punter, and they have the No. 3 overall pick.

The 49ers look to have 14 picks in the draft, so if they’re going to move up at any point in the next few years this is probably the time to do it. They also have Alex Smith, who’s set to make a little more than half what Carson Palmer is slated to earn in 2013.

If the Raiders can either trade Palmer (good luck) or release him (better luck), they’ll need a quarterback to help buy some time while they figure out whether Terrelle Pryor can follow the path recently led by guys like Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III. However, unless West Virginia’s Geno Smith falls past the Chiefs AND the Jaguars, the Raiders won’t be taking a quarterback with the third pick unless they really reach.

The Raiders should really move down in this draft. They aren’t one or two players away from being a playoff team, and there isn’t a clear franchise-type talent worth standing pat for.

The 49ers, like all teams, could use some depth as well. However, they’re already a Super Bowl contender as currently assembled. Now is not the time to fill out a roster, now is the time to make changes/additions that will help win specific games 10-11 months from now against other talented teams.

Moving up to No. 3 would give the 49ers a strong chance of acquiring the guy who seems like a logical fit: Star Lotulelei. Every amateur 49ers GM in the world knows San Francisco needs to find a replacement for Justin Smith, and it’s almost guaranteed the 49ers will let Isaac Sopoaga leave via free agency, something we’ll focus on later.

Lotulelei, a 6-4, 325 lb nose tackle from Utah, was a first-team AP and Walter Camp All-American in 2012. His game doesn’t mimic Smith’s, but Lotulelei is similar in the face that he’s a strong man who consistently takes up two or three blockers and rarely leaves the field.

There’s a chance Lotulelei isn’t available at choice No. 3, but I’m the furthest thing from an expert on the NFL Draft. Then again, even the experts get this stuff wrong; it’s difficult to remember many draft pundits who had Aldon Smith going to the 49ers at No. 7 a couple years ago.

One potential issue for the 49ers arises if the Raiders overvalue the third overall pick. The Rams got the Redskins’ first rounder in 2012 (No. 6 overall), as well as Washington’s first rounders in 2013 and 2014. The 49ers are at No. 31, and it’s hard to see them handing over their first round selections in 2014 and 2015 for the chance to take Lotulelei or one of the DE/OLBs available at that slot. Teams only trade multiple first round picks for quarterbacks like Griffin.

The Raiders also might want to think about the marketing angle. Even though a growing number of fans appreciate the idea of trading down and building a team with the help of several clever mid-round selections, the Raiders don’t have many stars to promote. The fans are tiring quickly of Palmer’s 300-yard, 1 TD, 2 INT losses, and Darren McFadden can’t stay on the field. Richard Seymour is the closest thing Oakland has to a defensive star, and he’s probably headed elsewhere.

Huh. This isn’t going as well as I thought when I started. Maybe in lieu of draft picks, the 49ers could allow the Raiders to play in their Santa Clara stadium for the first year or two after it opens for business, rent free. Sorry, my practical side is starting to come out again, and I almost finished this post without that happening. While a trade like this could certainly help both teams, we should probably file this idea in the bin with “The Giants should play one last game at Candlestick” or “The Warriors are totally going to get that arena built by 2017.”

12 comments

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TommyJ

Raiders need more picks and the 49ers have a lot of them and all is forgiven for the Dokie Williams fleecing(the last trade executed I believe). Hope it happens, but like A's/Giants dealings I'll beleive it when I see it. PS-you're right about Pliny; beer geekdom has gone over-the-top. It's beer people; quit acting like its nectar from sent from above (I'm in the beer biz; but not the Belgium/St Louis kind thankfully).

MileHiNinerFan

Assuming Star Lotulelei is still on the board at #3 you are absolutely right - the Niners should trade with the Raiders. Take the Raider's selection at #3 and draft Star Lotulelei. In return, the Niners trade Alex (he gets to stay in the Bay Area, the Raiders also get the Niners picks in the 1st, 3rd, and 7th round. The Raiders get a big upgrade at QB plus two draft choices. That still leaves the Niners with eleven picks. With those eleven picks, look to address our CB and WR positions.

Otis Byrd III

I doubt the 49ers and the Raiders make a trade. Alex Smith could be a good fit for the Raiders. Carson Palmer is ok, and at times can throw for 300+ yds., but at the same time, he might be past his prime, and perhaps the Raiders should move on, and give Terrelle Pryor a chance as the starting QB. Towny and Bucher (Townsend and Ric Bucher) brought the idea of Alex Smith going to the Raiders I think 2 or 3 weeks ago, but what would the 49ers be getting in return for Alex Smith? The 49ers already have 14 draft picks, even though I guess you can't have enough picks, if the Raiders gave the 49ers draft picks in the trade. I'm not sure if I really want Seymour on the 49ers. Honestly, there's really no one on the Raiders, that I would want on the 49ers right now. DHB I guess, but he's a possession WR. That would be funny to see him and Crabtree on the same team though. They both will probably be compared to each other the rest of their careers because a lot of people thought the Raiders should've drafted Crabtree where DHB was drafted. Of course, it would be nice to have McFadden on the 49ers, but I'd rather have Gore. He works harder, and is less injury prone, even though the 49ers have to make sure Gore doesn't break down later on in the season. But yeah, I don't know if the 49ers would trade Alex Smith to the Raiders.

Tom Skerritt

A wise sports mind and beer connoisseur like yourself should never "something or other" the Pliny! It deserves all the respect in the world.

BASG

I'm sure Pliny the Elder and Younger are delicious, but it seems like that's all I've heard about over the past month. "Pliny is getting poured here, get it before it sells out!" I can't escape it. It's on Twitter, my FB feed, everywhere. Maybe it's just jealousy -- I've never had a chance to try it and it's relatively hard to come by. Meanwhile, Lagunitas selections can be found in every store in my neighborhood. That'll do just fine for now.

Tru

I believe Al and the Raiders got the Debartolo family to buy the 49ers. There really hasn't been animosity between the organizations, just the fans.

Also, no way on Alex Smith. A retread QB is what the Raiders should stop getting, even if he is just a stop gap. I realize that's what Carson is, but at least he has a the ability to make incredible throws (and really bad picks, admittedly.) The Raiders need a homegrown qb. How long has it been since we've had that?

BearAKA

The running backs the Raiders have and the defense they lack makes Alex a great fit for the team. Keep the turnovers down (which will make the defense look waaaaay better) and let the running backs set the tone. They even have Janikowski to bail him out. Unfortunately thats the exact kind of move that will keep you in the middle of the road instead of just rebuilding from the ground up. I say cut Carson, spend money on the o-line, and let Pryor show you what he's got.

Didn't the Raiders cut Seymour? I don't know if I do this if I am the Raiders. Yes, they have a ton of holes to fill, but they also need someone who can come in and contribute right away. They might be able to find someone at #31 but it gets less and less likely the further down you go. And yes, I am aware that there are plenty of top 5 picks who never worked out...I'm just sayian. Anyway, I can't see them trading for Alex given the cap problems they have. It would probably be better to just save the money and start Pryor. For the Niners, I am drooling more than a Homer Simpson/Bull Dog crossbreed at the prospect of landing the Raiders pick. There are so many options there if Lotulelei is gone. There is Dee Milliner, Jarvis Jones, Damontre Moore, Dion Jordan. I personally like Milliner best (would be more than able to take over CB #1 for Rogers in 2014) even though everyone is screaming for more pass rush. Probably never going to happen though. I don't think it would cost as much as the Redskins had to pay, since that was perhaps the best 1-2 punch the NFL draft has seen in the last 30 or so years.

Eric

Its a new era in the Biggety-O. Al would never have traded, but his son seems far more interested in making the organization more...conventional.

Spartan Sports Guy

With Al no longer calling the shots, it's not entirely far-fetched that the two teams could work out a trade. I think Alex to the Raiders makes a lot of sense for both parties.