San Francisco traded down six spots in the 2013 second round,…
San Francisco traded down six spots in the 2013 second round, sending No. 34 to Tennessee for No. 40, No. 216, and a 2014 third-round pick. Tennessee selected Justin Hunter, while the 49ers took Tank Carradine and later Chris Borland with the future third. Hunter had useful stretches, but San Francisco's extra assets and Borland's outstanding rookie season created slightly more value.
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2013 2nd round pick (40th overall, Tank Carradine )
- pick 2013 7th round pick (216th overall, subsequently traded; Charles Johnson selected)
- pick 2014 3rd round pick (77th overall, Chris Borland )
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 2013 2nd round pick (34th overall, Justin Hunter )
Trade Analysis
The Deal
Tennessee targeted Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter early in the second round of the 2013 draft. The Titans moved from No. 40 to No. 34 by sending San Francisco pick No. 216 and a 2014 third-round selection in addition to No. 40. The official Titans record and 49ers trade history agree on the package.
Tennessee's Bet
Hunter was an explosive athlete with first-round traits, and the Titans paid to secure him. He produced useful receiving stretches but never became a consistent featured target. His Tennessee tenure lasted four seasons, which keeps the move from being a complete miss, but the production did not reach the level usually hoped for when a team spends extra capital to move up.
San Francisco's Return
The 49ers selected defensive lineman Tank Carradine at No. 40. Carradine became a rotational contributor rather than a star. Pick No. 216 was moved again, so its value flowed into another transaction. The most interesting asset was the 2014 third-rounder, No. 77, used on linebacker Chris Borland. Borland was excellent as a rookie before unexpectedly retiring after one season.
Value Over Time
Neither club received a long-term cornerstone, which caps the grades. Tennessee got the player it wanted and several seasons of production. San Francisco spread the return across three assets and received one high-level season from Borland plus multiple years of depth from Carradine.
Final Verdict
San Francisco wins narrowly, C+ to C. The extra third-round choice generated enough value to offset Hunter's longer tenure, but Borland's early retirement prevents the return from becoming a decisive victory.
Tennessee received several years of useful receiving production from Justin Hunter, so the move up was not empty. San Francisco nevertheless created more optionality by moving down and adding a future third, and Chris Borland's standout rookie season ultimately supplied the strongest single return from the package.