Washington acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from San…
Washington acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from San Francisco for a 2006 third-round pick and a 2007 fourth-round pick, a two-choice price that was larger than the old record showed. The 49ers' return was not a home run, yet Washington paid meaningful capital for very little production, making San Francisco the clear winner on cost and outcome.
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 2006 3rd round pick (84th overall, Brandon Williams )
- pick 2007 4th round pick (104th overall, Jay Moore)
Washington Commanders Received
- player Brandon Lloyd
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Washington acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from San Francisco for a 2006 third-round pick and a 2007 fourth-round pick, a two-choice price that was larger than the old record showed. At the time, each club had a practical roster reason for acting, and the price was small enough or targeted enough to make the exchange understandable before the later results were known.
What the Returns Produced
Lloyd caught only 23 passes for 365 yards and no touchdowns in his first Washington season and produced almost nothing in 2007 before his time with the club ended. San Francisco used the two selections on Brandon Williams and Jay Moore. Neither became a major NFL contributor, but the 49ers still escaped a poor fit while collecting two chances in the draft. Looking only at the names exchanged on the transaction date misses part of the story, because actual playing time, role, longevity and any later use of draft capital determine how much football value each side ultimately created.
How the Value Developed
The 49ers' return was not a home run, yet Washington paid meaningful capital for very little production, making San Francisco the clear winner on cost and outcome. The longer view matters most here: a short burst of production can still justify a modest acquisition cost, while a draft choice can become more valuable when it is converted into a durable starter or additional selections.
Why This Trade Still Matters
This deal is a useful reminder that trade value should follow the complete return rather than stop at the first transaction line. Later pick movement, roster tenure and meaningful postseason or starting contributions all belong in the comparison. That approach gives both teams credit for what their assets actually became instead of grading only the original labels.
Final Verdict
San Francisco 49ers Win is the best fit. San Francisco 49ers earns a B, while Washington earns a D. Those marks account for the cost paid, the direct production received, the length of each contribution and any important downstream draft value. The gap is intentionally narrow when both sides found useful returns and wider when one club received little lasting football value.