Pro Football Focus contributor Thomas Valentine recently explored one trade each NFL team should consider ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. For the San Francisco 49ers, he proposed not just one, but two potential trade scenarios worth considering.
The first involves a modest move up the draft board. Valentine suggests the 49ers trade up three spots from No. 11 to No. 8, sending their first-round pick and the first of their two third-rounders—No. 75 overall—to the Carolina Panthers.
"We could arrive at the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft without an offensive tackle selection," Valentine explained. "The 49ers would be licking their lips at the prospect of that happening. But even if there's still just one tackle on the board by the time the eighth pick rolls around, San Francisco could be a potential trade-up candidate. It makes more sense if the remaining tackle is Will Campbell, as opposed to Armand Membou, but the 49ers might like either enough to trade up three spots."
Campbell is frequently projected to be off the board before San Francisco picks at No. 11. Membou, however, occasionally slips in mock drafts, making him a more realistic target. Either way, Valentine believes the 49ers shouldn't risk missing out on a potential long-term successor to Trent Williams.
"Ideally, it's Campbell," Valentine added. "His agility, footwork and athleticism make it easy to project him at either tackle or guard in San Francisco's outside zone-heavy scheme. The trade package for their desire would be the Pick Nos. 11 and 75 — a small price to pay for a potential seamless fit and one of the best players in the draft."
The second trade Valentine outlines is actually part of a hypothetical move by the New England Patriots at No. 4 overall. He proposes that the Patriots trade down, allowing the 49ers to jump up to the fourth pick. In this scenario, San Francisco would acquire the No. 4 selection and a seventh-rounder (he lists pick No. 217 but I assume he means No. 227 as the former is owned by the Dallas Cowboys) in exchange for picks Nos. 11, 100, 160, and a 2026 third-rounder.
Unfortunately, Valentine doesn't specify which player the 49ers would be targeting in that scenario, as his analysis focuses more on what New England should do with their pick. Still, in his opinion, the 49ers could target a top-tier talent earlier in the draft if an opportunity to move up presents itself.