How Trades Have Changed the 49ers' Trajectory

The 49ers have won 13-straight regular season games and are closing in on the franchise record of 15 consecutive wins set in 1989-90. Both teams share a key reason for their sustained success, trades that changed the trajectory of the team.

In the mid-to-late eighties the Niners made trades in three consecutive years that acquired three Hall of Famers. A trade up in the 1985 Draft to jump ahead of Dallas and select Jerry Rice at pick 16. Multiple trades down in the 1986 Draft that landed eight starters including Charles Haley in the 4th round. Then in 1987 one of the great robberies in NFL history, a 2nd and 4th round pick to Tampa Bay for Steve Young.

The history lesson is to illustrate the weight of the latest addition to the list. A move at the 2022 trade deadline, sending 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks and a future 5th rounder to Carolina for Christian McCaffrey.

Since McCaffrey has had a week to prepare for a game, the Niners have won 13 straight in the regular season and he has scored at least a touchdown in 12 straight, to tie Rice for the franchise record.

During the win streak, the Niners have averaged 30.4 points per game.

That raises the question, why is McCaffrey a cheat code?

A key part of the answer comes from ESPN’s Mina Kimes. In the first eight weeks of the 2022 season, the Niners faced man coverage on just 36% of their dropbacks, ranking 31st in the league. In the second half of the season with McCaffrey integrated into the offense, man coverage against Niner dropbacks jumped to 48.4%, the fifth highest in the league.

McCaffrey forces defenses into man on passing downs and Kyle Shanahan has proven he can carve that up for over 30 points a game. The Niners haven’t lost in the regular season since.

It’s not just McCaffrey, Brock Purdy is the quick processor Shanahan’s system requires, Brandon Aiyuk is one of the top weapons in the league, Deebo Samuel is back in 2021 form, and George Kittle is coming off a big year.

Offensive continuity enabled a hot start. In recent seasons the Niners entered the year with questions at quarterback and the offense struggled early. This year, the offensive returned 10 of 11 starters, their identity is set, and they’ve maintained the 30-point average.

With the 2023 trade deadline a month out, the Niners now search for the defensive equivalent of the McCaffrey trade. Possibly a move at cornerback for Patrick Surtain, or at defensive end for Danielle Hunter. If options emerge the Niner history says be aggressive.

In the eighties, the Niners took three big swings and connected on all of them, setting the table for championships in 1988, 1989, and 1994. In 2022, the McCaffrey trade put the Niners' offense on a championship path. The team took the first step toward that on defense with the free agent signing of Javon Hargrave. Now an opportunity is before them at the trade deadline to repeat history and propel the team to a title.