Phoenix moved from No. 20 to No. 18 in the 1993 first round,…
Phoenix moved from No. 20 to No. 18 in the 1993 first round, sending San Francisco No. 20 and No. 116. The Cardinals selected tackle Ernest Dye. San Francisco immediately flipped No. 20 to New Orleans for No. 26 and No. 81, then drafted Dana Stubblefield at No. 26 while also owning No. 116. Stubblefield's impact makes this a decisive 49ers win.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1993 1st round pick (18th overall, Ernest Dye)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1993 1st round pick (20th overall, subsequently traded to New Orleans)
- pick 1993 5th round pick (116th overall, Artie Smith)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Phoenix wanted offensive tackle Ernest Dye in the 1993 first round and moved from No. 20 to No. 18, giving San Francisco an additional fifth-round pick at No. 116. The 49ers had acquired No. 18 only days earlier in the Joe Montana trade, so they were actively reshaping draft capital. Rather than stay at No. 20, San Francisco immediately made another move, sending that pick to New Orleans for Nos. 26 and 81.
What Each Team Received
Phoenix selected Dye at No. 18. He played 50 NFL games and started 23, a modest return for the trade-up. San Francisco's chain produced defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield at No. 26. Stubblefield became the 1993 Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned multiple Pro Bowl honors and later became a first-team All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year during his 49ers tenure. San Francisco also held No. 116 from Phoenix and used it on defensive lineman Artie Smith.
How the Value Developed
The No. 81 pick requires proportional treatment because San Francisco later moved it again, so the 49ers should not automatically receive every career outcome attached to that slot. They do not need that extra credit to win. Stubblefield alone delivered elite team-specific value from the maneuver that began with Phoenix's move-up, while Dye never approached a similar impact. The additional fifth-round pick only widens an already significant gap in realized football value.
Final Verdict
San Francisco 49ers Win. San Francisco earns an A for converting a two-slot move down into extra capital and, through the immediate follow-up trade, landing a major defensive star in Stubblefield. Phoenix earns a D+ because Dye provided some NFL starts but not enough to justify moving up when compared with what San Francisco created. The 49ers' draft-day flexibility turned this into a clear historical win.