Darrelle Revis could put any team in the NFL over the top, especially if the team came just short of winning the Super Bowl. But teams looking into a trade for New York’s All-Pro cornerback have to be ready to give up draft picks to a Jets organization that is looking for young, cheap talent as it rebuilds with salary cap troubles.
In that regard, the San Francisco 49ers fit just fine.
The 49ers could have as many as 15 picks in April’s draft, meaning San Francisco is in perfect position to trade excess selections for a veteran playmaker, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports. Cole says the 49ers “have discussed making a run at Revis this offseason,” even if they only get him for a year.
San Francisco has 11 picks already, and it could get three more compensation selections for free agent losses. It may also get one more pick if the reported Alex Smith deal with the Chiefs goes through.
With plenty of talent returning from their Super Bowl roster, the 49ers don’t need to sign and develop tons of young players this year. Trading for Revis would shore up an already strong defense.
But San Francisco isn’t necessarily ready to give Revis a long-term deal, which could be the catch, according to Cole. Revis’ contract complications with the Jets have always been about him getting the money he says he deserves as an elite cornerback, and he is reportedly angling for a long-term deal as free agency approaches after next season (if he meets several Jets requirements for mandatory team activities). The common thinking is that the Jets may be willing to trade Revis to free up cap space and lift their obligations to him, but any team taking him would need to be interested in giving him a home for more than just a season — and for the money he wants.
The 49ers’ weakest spot on defense is cornerback, and the team has struggled to fill the position before. That could be enough to push San Francisco to do whatever needs to happen to get Revis Island into the Bay Area.
