San Francisco traded a 2007 fourth-rounder and its 2008…
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 Received
- pick 2007 4th round pick (110th overall subsequently traded, John Bowie )
- pick 2008 1st round pick (7th overall subsequently traded, Sedrick Ellis )
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2007 1st round pick (28th overall, Joe Staley)
Trade Analysis
San Francisco saw Joe Staley as a long-term left tackle and moved aggressively at the end of the 2007 first round. The 49ers sent New England pick 110 and their 2008 first-round selection for No. 28, then drafted Staley. At the time, surrendering an unprotected future first carried obvious risk because San Francisco did not know where that pick would land.
Staley made the gamble worthwhile. He became a starter immediately and ultimately spent his entire 13-year career with the 49ers. He earned six Pro Bowl selections, started 181 regular-season games and anchored the offensive line through multiple deep playoff runs. San Francisco paid a premium, but it acquired one of the best tackles in franchise history and a player who remained central across several roster eras.
New England's side became just as remarkable through subsequent moves. The Patriots traded pick 110 to Oakland for Randy Moss, who produced a record-setting 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007 as New England went 16-0. San Francisco's future first became No. 7 in 2008. New England traded down with New Orleans, landing pick 10 and selecting Jerod Mayo, who became Defensive Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler. Additional draft compensation also came from that move.
It would distort the history to declare either side a loser. San Francisco acquired a franchise left tackle whose career alone justified the price. New England turned the package into direct access to an all-time Moss season and an All-Pro linebacker, even though other assets were involved in the downstream transactions. Both teams earn A+ grades for extraordinary value creation. The verdict should be Even Trade: an unusually rare exchange in which aggressive strategies on both sides produced cornerstone results.