New England Patriots–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

San Francisco traded tight end Bob Windsor to New England on July 31, 1972 for the Patriots' 1974 first-round selection. Windsor had a limited Patriots tenure, while the 49ers ultimately used the ninth overall pick on running back Wilbur Jackson. Securing a top-ten first-rounder for a non-core veteran created a major long-term asset advantage for San Francisco.

San Francisco acquired Jim Plunkett in a blockbuster attempt to solve quarterback, but his two 49ers seasons produced a losing record and no playoff berth. The cost was enormous: Tom Owen, two 1976 first-rounders and premium 1977 choices. New England converted that package into Pete Brock, Tim Fox, Raymond Clayborn and Horace Ivory, creating multiple long-term contributors from one outgoing quarterback.

San Francisco acquired tight end Russ Francis and the No. 29 pick from New England in 1982, then used the selection on tackle Bubba Paris. Both became important contributors on championship teams. New England received picks Nos. 27, 41, 55 and 111, producing Lester Williams, Andre Tippett, Darryl Haley and Brian Ingram, with Tippett becoming the defining asset.

San Francisco acquired Matt Cavanaugh from New England in 1983 for three future selections: 1984 seventh-round No. 192 Derwin Williams, 1985 eighth-round No. 224 Milford Hodge and 1986 seventh-round No. 187 Ray McDonald. Cavanaugh provided useful quarterback depth on strong 49ers teams, while the Patriots' picks produced less durable value, giving San Francisco the edge.

San Francisco moved from No. 28 to No. 16 in the 1985 draft by sending New England its first-, second- and third-round selections, while also receiving a Patriots third-rounder. The 49ers used No. 16 on Jerry Rice, who became the most productive receiver in NFL history and a franchise cornerstone. No plausible value from New England's return approaches that outcome.

New England received San Francisco's 2001 sixth-round pick, preserving future draft value from a late-round swap. The Patriots later moved that selection in another transaction, so the later player outcome is not credited directly here. Compared with Tim Rattay's multi-season 49ers service and 16 starts, New England's direct return was less substantial.

San Francisco traded a 2007 fourth-rounder and its 2008 first-round pick to New England for No. 28, selecting left tackle Joe Staley. Staley became a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the defining 49ers of his era. New England turned the incoming picks into extraordinary downstream value, including the Randy Moss acquisition and draft capital that led to Jerod Mayo. Both teams won at an elite level.

New England Patriots New England received the 2018 second-round pick at No. 43. The Patriots multiplied that asset through later draft-day movement, preserving meaningful value even though the original selection was not used directly on one player. The supported hindsight grade is B-. That mark weighs only value tied directly to this transaction and keeps the result proportional to the deal's cost. Against San Francisco 49ers, the final verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win.

San Francisco sent tackle Trent Brown and 2018 fifth-round No. 143 to New England for 2018 third-round No. 95. The 49ers used No. 95 on Tarvarius Moore, while New England gained a starting left tackle for its Super Bowl LIII run and selected Ja'Whaun Bentley at No. 143. The Patriots received the stronger combined return.

New England converted the acquired No. 198 pick into rookie quarterback Behren Morton at No. 234 plus a 2027 sixth-rounder, leaving that branch too early for a final grade. San Francisco got nine 2025 games, two starts and 1.5 sacks from Keion White, then another Week 1 start and fumble recovery in 2026. The conditional seventh reverted to New England. San Francisco keeps a narrow B- to C+ win.