The San Francisco 49ers proved major sellers this offseason. There is an asterisk next to that level as they did pony up contract extensions for key players including Brock Purdy, Fred Warner and George Kittle.
But the team allowed a number of starters to walk in free agency and traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel to cut costs elsewhere. General manager John Lynch made clear the goal to get younger and cheaper both of which the Niners accomplished.
Yet there remains a full intention to contend next season after a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2024. Despite these losses, the Niners still have the core pieces to build toward something in the coming months.
That could, however, require a little more firepower than what they possess at this point heading into training camp. For that reason, Bleacher Report's Mitchel Milani has urged the Niners to call up the Miami Dolphins and inquire about cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
The Super Bowl champion and three-time first-team All Pro defensive back has soured on his time in South Beach. Therefore, he and the team are shopping potential trade partners to help him find his next destination.
In this hypothetical deal the Niners would sacrifice two picks to land Ramsey from their AFC foe. But would they be willing to do it? Ramsey goes against the team's new pillars of younger and cheaper though there's also some logic that San Francisco should not be so quick to turn away a talent here.
Among the Niners' free agency losses was starting quarterback Charvarius Ward, one of several notable departures on the defense. Replacing Ward will be a younger and inexperienced corner, potentially second-year corner Renardo Green.
Ramsey would certainly be an upgrade from a developmental project here and deliver additional championship pedigree that Robert Saleh should want on his defense as he reestablished this unit's culture this season.
Conversely, the veteran has had multiple stops in his NFL career and Niners leadership may not want the headache. But in examples like Ramsey, there are other veterans still readily able to contribute that can help the Niners.
This new mindset should not completely turn them off from exploring those opportunities as they come.
