With this year’s NFL Draft in the books, the 49ers are finally able to close the book on the Alex Smith trade.
And at the end of the weekend, they had parlayed an expensive former starter they didn’t need into five things, several of which they will need this year.
As explained by Peter King of The MMQB.com, the two second-rounders the 49ers got from the Chiefs were moved around in a total of five deals and resulted in the 49ers obtaining defensive lineman Tank Carradine, outside linebacker Corey Lemonier, inside linebacker Chris Borland, running back Carlos Hyde and wide receiver Stevie Johnson.
Johnson’s the guy who will make the immediate impact, filling in a receiving corps that needed some speed.
“Mixed emotions,’’ 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke said of the Smith trade. “I have so much respect for Alex Smith and his family, and great regard for him as a player. He’s the epitome of a good man and teammate and a good player. I know the Kansas City Chiefs staff, and they are thrilled to have him. We’ll see how it works out for us. It’s still early.”
It would be bad form to gloat, and they’ll have to pay for a quarterback soon enough. But they turned their last one into a slew of parts, which should help them stay solvent for years to come.