Detroit Lions–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

Detroit acquired Hall of Fame fullback John Henry Johnson and a 1958 seventh-round pick from San Francisco for defensive back Bill Stits. Johnson immediately led the 1957 Lions with 621 rushing yards and helped them win the NFL championship, then remained productive for three Detroit seasons. Stits gave the 49ers defensive-back service, but the centerpiece value went overwhelmingly to Detroit.

Detroit Lions received 1958 15th round pick (#179-John Scheldrup) in the exchange with San Francisco 49ers. The historical record shows how the player service and draft value developed after the deal, with the comparison favoring San Francisco 49ers. That result supports a D for Detroit Lions. The grade reflects the less valuable realized return and keeps the judgment proportional to the documented value produced by this transaction.

Detroit received one useful season from Dave Kopay: 14 games, five starts and 337 scrimmage yards in 1968. San Francisco's two picks produced opposite results. Lance Olssen played only nine games without a start, but Jim Sniadecki stayed five seasons and appeared in 58 games for the 49ers. That durability gives San Francisco the better realized return, B- to C+, rather than the previous even verdict.

Detroit acquired quarterback Joe Reed from San Francisco on October 22, 1974. Reed became a useful Lions starter and reserve, appearing in 29 games from 1975 through 1979 and starting eight games in 1975 alone.

Detroit acquired Dave Washington from San Francisco for a 1979 fifth-round selection. Washington appeared in all 16 games for the Lions in 1978 and seven more in 1979, giving Detroit useful veteran defensive service. San Francisco used No. 119 on Jerry Aldridge, whose NFL career produced only one regular-season appearance. The fifth-round asset was legitimate, but the player outcome did not approach Washington’s two-season Detroit contribution, creating a clear Lions win.

Detroit acquired defensive lineman Cleveland Elam from San Francisco and received eight games with four starts in 1979. Elam supplied some immediate help, but his short Lions tenure limited the return. San Francisco converted Detroit’s 1980 second-round pick into two selections, including the choice used on long-term linebacker Keena Turner, giving the 49ers the stronger outcome.

Detroit traded picks No. 39 and No. 71 to San Francisco for No. 29 in the 1986 draft and selected running back Garry James, who became a Lions starter and produced a 140-yard game as a rookie. San Francisco drafted Larry Roberts at No. 39 and flipped No. 71 to the Rams in a deal that produced Charles Haley and Steve Wallace draft capital, creating far greater long-term value.

Detroit Lions received 1995 5th round pick (163rd overall, Ronald Cherry). Detroit received fifth-round pick No. 163 and used it on Ronald Cherry, who did not become a meaningful NFL contributor. That result supports a C- for Detroit Lions. The overall comparison favors San Francisco 49ers, leaving Detroit Lions on the weaker side of the exchange. The grade reflects the realized player service and draft value tied directly to this transaction, without assigning extra credit for outcomes that cannot be traced confidently to the exchanged assets.

Detroit received Shaun Hill; San Francisco received a 2011 seventh-round pick that became No. 231 Frank Kearse. Hill became a valuable emergency starter immediately, making 10 starts and throwing for 2,686 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2010. San Francisco later moved the seventh-rounder as part of a draft-day trade-up. The hindsight grades are B for Detroit Lions and C+ for San Francisco 49ers, producing a Detroit Lions Win verdict.

San Francisco moved up eight spots in the 2012 fourth round, sending picks No. 125 and No. 196 to Detroit for No. 117. The 49ers selected Joe Looney, while Detroit used its picks on Ronnell Lewis and Jonte Green. Looney's substantially longer NFL career gave San Francisco the most valuable realized asset and a clear hindsight win.

Detroit Lions received Brandon Thomas in the 2016-08-29 exchange with San Francisco 49ers. Brandon Thomas did not deliver comparable regular-season value for Detroit after the straight player swap. The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade, with later movement of an acquired selection treated separately. That supports San Francisco 49ers Win.

San Francisco acquired guard Laken Tomlinson from Detroit for a 2019 fifth-round pick and received five seasons of durable starting line play. Tomlinson started 80 regular-season games for the 49ers, helped the club reach Super Bowl LIV and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. Detroit later used the acquired fifth-round asset in the trade for Damon Harrison, so the Lions generated real value, but Tomlinson's sustained tenure was stronger.

Detroit acquired linebacker Eli Harold before the 2018 season for a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick. Harold gave the Lions immediate veteran depth and a season of defensive snaps, so the move was not empty. The pick eventually became No. 217, however, and San Francisco used it on Jauan Jennings, whose long-term receiving and postseason value created a much larger return.