Cincinnati Bengals–San Francisco 49ers Trade History
TradeVerdicts records 6 trades between
Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers across 1975–2019. Historical
franchise identities are normalized to the current franchises here,
while each underlying trade keeps its own sourced date, assets,
grades, and verdict.
This page includes every public TradeVerdicts record in which both
current franchises participate. Multi-team trades remain in the
chronology when both clubs are part of the transaction.
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Complete Matchup Chronology
6 Recorded Trades
Oldest to newest
Trade 1
June 11, 1975
Cincinnati Bengals Win
Cincinnati BengalsB+
San Francisco 49ersC-
Cincinnati Bengals received
1976 fifth round pick (#138-Willie Shelby)
San Francisco 49ers received
Al Chandler
Cincinnati received the 1976 fifth-round choice that became Willie Shelby. Shelby developed into the durable piece in the exchange and gave the Bengals multiple seasons of backfield contribution, making the pick far more valuable than its modest draft slot suggests. That outcome supports a B+ grade within the Cincinnati Bengals Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
San Francisco acquired defensive back Melvin Morgan from Cincinnati for a 1980 seventh-round pick, and the Bengals used No. 167 on linebacker Ron Simpkins. Morgan gave the 49ers 14 games and 12 starts across 1979-80. Simpkins became the more durable return, playing 84 games for Cincinnati with 22 starts through 1986. Both sides received real value, but the late-round pick developed into the longer Bengals asset.
San Francisco acquired running back Lenvil Elliott from Cincinnati in late August 1979 for the first right to players the 49ers placed on waivers. Elliott then appeared in 35 regular-season games for San Francisco from 1979 through 1981, producing 505 rushing yards, 563 receiving yards and six offensive touchdowns. The transaction gave the 49ers three seasons of useful backfield depth.
Cincinnati Bengals received 1981 ninth round pick (#230-Samoa Samoa), while San Francisco 49ers received Scott Perry. San Francisco and Cincinnati team histories agree that the 49ers acquired defensive back Scott Perry on March 19, 1980 for a future ninth-round choice, later No. 230, used on Samoa Samoa. That return earns a D+ grade for Cincinnati Bengals, and the overall verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win.
Cincinnati Bengals received Taylor Mays in the 2011-08-23 exchange involving San Francisco 49ers. Mays remained with Cincinnati from 2011 through 2014, appearing in 50 regular-season games with four starts while contributing as defensive depth and on special teams. That realized return supports a C+ grade for Cincinnati Bengals. The overall verdict is Cincinnati Bengals Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.
Cincinnati Bengals received 2019 4th round pick (104th overall, Ryan Finley) in the 2019-04-27 exchange with San Francisco 49ers. Ryan Finley had only a brief run as a Bengals quarterback and did not create sustained value from the move up. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Cincinnati Bengals surrendered, the result supports San Francisco 49ers Win and a D+ grade for Cincinnati Bengals.
