Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers have never been afraid to make a major splash in the trade market under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, be it for a star or in the draft. Some have worked out, while others have set the team back, leading to where we are in 2026.
With the offseason in full swing, let’s look back at the biggest trades for the franchise since 2020 and see how they fared for the 49ers.
2020: 49ers trade DeForest Buckner for a first-round pick
One of the more scrutinized trades for the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan was trading star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Buckner had developed into a star and had a Pro Bowl and All-Pro seasons before being traded, but the 49ers elected to keep Arik Armstead at a cheaper cost and move the defensive tackle ahead of his age-26 season. They selected his replacement, Javon Kinlaw, with the No. 13 pick, and that never panned out for the 49ers.
Kinlaw had an injury history heading into the NFL, and that proved to be an issue for the 49ers, while the defensive tackle just never developed in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, Buckner put together a first-team All-Pro season in 2020 and two more Pro Bowl seasons in the three years after that.
2020: 49ers trade for Trent Williams
One of the best trades in recent history for the 49ers was sending third and fifth-round picks to the Washington Commanders during the 2020 NFL Draft for star left tackle Trent Williams.
Williams had been at odds with the Commanders over the handling of his scary health situation, and the 49ers made the trade to acquire the star, who replaced franchise icon Joe Staley.
Williams ended up being one of the best 49ers (if not the best) of the decade, being a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time 1st Team All Pro selection. For that price, especially given the going rate for tackles, this was a huge trade for the 49ers.
2021: 49ers trade up for Trey Lance
The biggest blunder of the Shanahan era ended up being the trade up to No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft, where the 49ers sent the No. 12 pick, a 2022 first-rounder, a 2023 first-rounder, and a 2022 third-round compensatory pick.
The trade was made a month away from the draft, which was interesting on its own, and the 49ers were clearly looking to pick a quarterback, despite having Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster on his five-year, $137.5 million deal.
They ultimately took Trey Lance in a move that didn’t pan out for the 49ers. Lance dealt with a number of injuries, wasn’t consistent enough on the field in a very limited sample, and lost his job to Brock Purdy after missing a full year due to his broken ankle.
San Francisco ultimately moved on from him ahead of his third NFL season, trading him to the Dallas Cowboys....
