San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch Breaks Down McCaffrey Trade

Oct 21, 2022, 1:35 PM | Updated: 2:08 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 07: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers scores a touchdown against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Almost 24 hours removed from the 49ers’ blockbuster trade Thursday night, the organization is still giddy Friday and why shouldn’t they be? They landed former All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey after all.

Trading a second, third and fourth-round pick in 2023, plus a fifth-round in 2024 to the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers have made a statement to the league: They are all in four the next few years.

“You’ve gotta strike when the opportunity’s there,” general manager John Lynch said to the media Friday. “It did take a lot to get him, but I think he’s worthy of that. He’s that kind of player. You only do this when you have belief in your team as it’s currently constructed.”

Lynch and the Panthers have been in talks for the running backs’ services for a while now, wanting to make a deal while spending last week in West Virginia. In fact, the trade mogul wanted to make the move before Week 5’s matchup against CMC’s former team, an idea they were reluctant to do though as other suitors were all in the mix

#49ers GM John Lynch said Christian McCaffrey trade talks began after win over Panthers and while Niners bunkered in West Virginia pic.twitter.com/24tKJKajI7

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 21, 2022

“I was trying to because I know [the Los Angeles Rams] propensity to come in late and go big. I was trying to get it done before, but that wasn’t going to happen,” Lynch said.

Trade talks intensified in the last 48 hours between the Panthers and 49ers, resulting in the former Stanford running back coming back to the Bay Area.

San Francisco has been in win-now mode ever since the Lynch-Shanahan era took over in 2017, coming close in 2019 with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Now gearing up for another run this season, this trade could be the final piece to Shanahan’s position-less offense.

“He and [WR] Deebo [Samuel], to me, are similar players. I’m excited to see what we draw up,” Lynch said. “I really believe it gave the locker room a jolt when he walked in there today.”

Being in town is one thing but playing is another. Lynch noted Friday that it would be a “tall order” for Christian McCaffrey to play this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, but added CMC is already out on the practice field though.

“I just got his cleats, helmet. He got off plane. It’s a tall order & we’ll do what’s right for Christian & our team. It’s a tall order. We’ll see how much we can accelerate this. He’s asking to [play],” the GM said.