The San Francisco 49ers shocked the NFL world by trading for star running back Christian McCaffrey, sending a 2023 second-rounder, third-rounder, fourth-rounder, and a 2024 fifth-rounder to the Carolina Panthers.
It was a quick turnaround for McCaffrey as the halfback flew out to the bay on Friday morning and was even seen on the practice field later that afternoon before speaking with reporters.
In the first exchange with the media following the trade, general manager John Lynch expressed his excitement for acquiring McCaffrey, although he understood that the team's current focus is the task at hand: the Kansas City Chiefs.
"Obviously, we're in our preparation for the Chiefs, so that's really where our focus is right now because they deserve that. They're an excellent football team and as formidable of an opponent as it gets. That's where all of our focus is, but you have to strike when the opportunity is there and I can't tell you how excited we are to have landed [RB] Christian McCaffrey as part of our team. We've been working on it for some time and it all came to fruition last night."
While Lynch acknowledged that the team paid a hefty price for the running back, the general manager shared his belief in the team, which was why the 49ers made the move.
"It did take a lot to get him, but I think he's worthy of that. He's that kind of player. Before I open it up to questions, I'll just add that you only do this when you have belief in your team as it's constructed. The previous time we made a big splash like this was [former San Francisco 49ers WR] Emmanuel Sanders back in '19 because we felt like we had the team capable of competing for the whole deal."
"We're 3-3 now, I think we were 6-0 when we did that, but we're 3-3 now so we understand we have a lot of work to do, this isn't a magic pill. It's not going to fix all of our ills as a team, one player. We've all got to get better, but we still very much believe in this team and that's why we took a swing at an excellent football player."
But, McCaffrey's team-friendly contract was an added bonus, as the running back is scheduled to make only $690,000 in 2022 from the 49ers, while earning $36.2 million over the next three seasons, with only one million guaranteed.
"I think there were some dynamics to that. First of all because he had done a conversion earlier this year, he was incredibly cheap, so his compensation was going to be higher because of that," Lynch said. "It's not every day you get a guy like Christian at the minimum."
While the 49ers could potentially move on from McCaffrey with the lack of guaranteed money tied to his contract, Lynch assured that the move was not a one-year rental, as Emmanuel Sanders was in 2019.
"That's essentially where we got him, but he still has years on his contract after that, so I think we're taking it step by step, but obviously, that helps to know he's got some years after this year and it's not just an 11-game, for lack of a better word, rental."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan re-iterated the statement, assuring that the 49ers wouldn't have mortgaged as much of their future, had it been a one-year rental.
"I don't think this is something we would look into if we just thought it was just this year. I think Christian, with his contract and stuff, is going to be around here for a little bit and it's not just a one-year rental."
McCaffrey's status is currently unknown for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, although he's pushing to suit up for his debut.