The San Francisco 49ers sent shockwaves across the NFL with the news that they had traded for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. It wasn't cheap. The Niners, already without a first-round pick, figure to not do much work in next year's draft after trading their second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in 2023, plus a fifth-rounder in 2024 for the running back.
The 49ers shared the following post from the team's official Twitter account.
RB Christian McCaffrey has been traded to the San Francisco 49ers pending physical.
Welcome back to The Bay @CMC_22 ! #FTTB pic.twitter.com/fRfMqsRx5M
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 21, 2022
Several 49ers players, including quarterback Trey Lance, reacted to the news on social media.
😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨 https://t.co/NXj7f0sOnB
— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) October 21, 2022
Let's gooooooo @CMC_22 https://t.co/bkReZuwZdv
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) October 21, 2022
Holy moly https://t.co/6I3uagcdZy
— Taybor Pepper (@TayborSnapping) October 21, 2022
🤝@CMC_22 https://t.co/bzdH4wdXav
— Trey Lance (@treylance09) October 21, 2022
Some former 49ers players were also shocked by the news.
WOW!!! Carolina must have eaten some of that cash and lowered that asking price. This is BIG https://t.co/rquomjcwUm
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) October 21, 2022
Amazing. Fired up. CMC is going to be DYNAMIC in this offense!! Let's GO!!!!
— Joe Staley (@jstaley74) October 21, 2022
This should make head coach Kyle Shanahan's Friday press conference very interesting. He is scheduled to speak with reporters after the afternoon practice.
A few 49ers beat writers have already weighed in on the story.
It's a lot to give up, but if he can stay healthy, Christian McCaffrey is a literal game-changer for the #49ers.
— Tracy Sandler (@49ersfangirl) October 21, 2022
This is not a rent-a-player situation, either.
Christian McCaffrey is under contract -- now with the 49ers -- through the 2025 season.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) October 21, 2022
McCaffrey trade thread:
49ers gave up a lot, especially for a guy who missed 23 games in the previous 2 years
They have a compensatory 3rd from McDaniel, a 5th, and pair of 7ths next year (OTC projects 5th, 6th, 7th compensatories)
... no one will care if they win a Super Bowl
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) October 21, 2022
Again, McCaffrey is a great player... when healthy. And those picks matter for a team with many big contracts on the books (and another on the way). Adding cost-controlled talent means more when your cap gets top heavy.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 21, 2022
I absolutely get why they made this move. But there's risk. https://t.co/A9tyg9PMXj
To be sure, this #49ers trade for Christian McCaffrey is an all in move. Is it a high price to pay for an RB who has missed 23 games in previous two seasons? Yes.
If it gets the Niners their sixth Lombardi, though, there's no price that's too high. It's really that simple.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 21, 2022
Even McCaffrey's alma mater had something to say.
Welcome home, @CMC_22 🌲😏 https://t.co/SSkYR9PDcv
— Stanford Cardinal (@GoStanford) October 21, 2022
