Could 49ers trade Christian McCaffrey to Cowboys for multiple draft picks?

After an injury hit 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers are advised to trade away star running back Christian McCaffrey to the Cowboys for draft picks.

Could 49ers trade Christian McCaffrey to Cowboys for multiple draft picks?

Christian McCaffrey (Image via IMAGO)

Just 13 months ago, Christian McCaffrey stood on a podium to receive the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year Award. Now McCaffrey stands on the edge of leaving the San Francisco 49ers in a blockbuster trade to their bitter rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys struggled last year to run the ball. Despite boasting a running back room comprised of veteran Pro Bowlers Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook—neither made much impact when called upon. Instead, undrafted free agent RB Rico Dowdle took over the rushing duty and added 1000+ yards, but the Cowboys were still only the 17th best team in the league on the ground.

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Jerry Jones did the most Jerry Jones thing of all. First, he cut Elliott after missing out on playoffs, and then in the off-season, he let Dowdle walk despite the numbers. The South Carolina graduate signed for the Carolina Panthers while the Cowboys took Miles Sanders off their hands for one year, along with signing Javonte Williams from the Denver Broncos.

Yet it appears Jones and the Cowboys want more. Sports Illustrated recently proposed a trade scenario that might sound enticing for the Cowboys owner/general manager.

  • Dallas Cowboys receive: running back Christian McCaffrey
  • San Francisco 49ers receive: No. 76 overall pick and 2026 third-round pick

SI’s 49ers beat writer Grant Cohn wrote that the 49ers are in a rebuild state and not a contender following the off-season fire sale. Even though McCaffrey isn’t available for a trade, the Niners may come on board with the idea if the 28-year-old rusher requests it.

[Even if Christian] McCaffrey plays well next season, the 49ers could struggle. Their defense currently is decimated and could start four or five rookies depending on how their draft shakes out.

Grant Cohn wrote

The Niners are already feeling the effects of paying top dollar to a few, and next in line is Brock Purdy. At this juncture, trading Christian McCaffrey isn’t a bad option.

Should the 49ers trade Christian McCaffrey to the Cowboys?

The average age of the 49ers squad last year was 27+, and general manager John Lynch took it upon himself to decrease it with the help of the free agency market and the draft. A couple of older guys left, and players such as Dre Greenlaw refused a contract extension to sign for the Denver Broncos.

Could 49ers trade Christian McCaffrey to Cowboys for multiple draft picks?
Christian McCaffrey (Image via IMAGO)

We [the 49ers] need to get younger. I think we’re [2024-25 season] the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year. And I think it’s good to constantly get younger. Our draft class last year was a great move towards that.

John Lynch said during the NFL Combine

Now the issue right now is, while trying to cut down on the average age, the Niners also traded players such as Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings. Mason stepped up in 2024 when McCaffrey was in rehab. The UDFA out of Georgia Tech played 12 games, recording career-best numbers: 153 carries for 789 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.

Mason wasn’t the only one to leave the Bay Area. Elijah Mitchell, who added 281 yards from 75 carries and 2 touchdowns, signed for the Kansas City Chiefs. Now the 49ers only have one more running back besides Christian McCaffrey, and that’s Isaac Guerendo.

Trading away McCaffery at this point will only leave them with one rusher. The only solution to this conundrum is drafting an RB, or maybe even two. But it cuts down on the experience level of the players as well.

The only reason the 49ers might trade Christian McCaffrey is because of his contract. He signed a $38 million extension in June 2024. So far he has bagged a $14.2M signing bonus and $8.5M of his 2025 option bonus fully through the new deal.

If the 49ers trade McCaffrey right now, he will leave $22 million in dead money. They can afford to tank it if necessary.

Related: Dak Prescott, who is the highest-paid player in NFL history, is the only NFC East QB without a conference championship appearance