Apparently Michael Lombardi said on the “GM Street” podcast that Navorro Bowman would be available in a trade. Not only that, but he could be actively shopped:
“‘They are definitely doing that,’ Lombardi said. ‘They’ve made it know that if you want him, he’s healthy, that they’ll be willing to move (him).
‘Whenever there is a new coaching staff – and this is an Al Davisism — whenever there is a new coaching staff, you have to always know that the teams that hire new coaches are going to get rid of players because they want different players.’”
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Not only did he say this initially, but a few hours ago he doubled down on this statement with a tweet:
I stand by my report on Bowman--they can deny all they want..
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) May 11, 2017
I don’t know exactly how connected he or his sources are here, but he isn’t just saying something to say something. Lombardi is clearly hearing someone who is absolutely certain that Bowman could be had.
My first response was, that’s great on paper but has it ever happened before. The closest thing in recent memory that I could find is the Kiko Alonso trade.
People forget, but at one point Alonso looked like he was the next Bowman-type LB that could do it all. That was until and injury and a new coaching staff came in and decided to move him for LeShaun McCoy.
FanSided
Well, that does hold up then. New coaches envision a different defense than what they previously ran and they try to maximize the player before his value goes down.
Navorrow Bowman is one of the best linebackers in the NFL when healthy. He can do it all, and really is one of the few middle linebackers that will never have to leave the field. If he was 100% healthy and had no issues he would be easily worth a first round pick.
However, we all know that the reason why the San Francisco 49ers drafted Reuben Foster is because Bowman isn’t a lock to play 16 games in a season.
Bowman missed a full season in 2014, and he only played in 4 games in 2016. The first was due to knee injuries, the newest issue was due to an Achilles injury.
He will be 29 by the time the season start and those injury concerns are an issue, but the biggest hurdle is his contact.
Currently if a team (let’s say the Tennessee Titans) were to take over his contract, they would essentially be adding a 6 year, $60 million contract to the roster. While they could take the brunt of that, they would probably look to restructure a contract as soon as he signed.
Right now, I am not sure that he is worth more than a mid round pick to an NFL team based on the fact that he likely won’t earn the 49ers anything high in terms of comp. picks. That plus his risk factors and the devaluation of the position could make easier to trade for.
Ultimately what I am saying is, if the 49ers want to clear the books of their most expensive player then this is a great way that would yield a pick (something they won’t have a chance at again).
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The Tennessee Titans get a rangy starting ILB that would instantly make their defense better, and it would fill a need at a top-2 or top-3 need heading into the 2017 season.
If they could get him to play to his full potential alongside Avery Williamson on 1st and 2nd down and Wesley Woodyard on 3rd down, this defense would be at a whole different level.
Is this worth a risk like the Tennessee Titans took on DeMarco Murray? Throw a 4th round pick to the 49ers to get a player that could take your defense to the next level? I think it is, but I don’t have to risk my name on a player with his medical concerns.