I think I'd be very happy again at #10.
I think just for agruments sake, that IF Kansas City Wanted Cassel, I would not want #3 due to the cost of signing that pick.
IF Kanas city wanted it they would have to give more than a straight up #10 pick from San Fran. I would then try like hell to trade down from #3.
How does this sound? I have already mentioned this blockbuster IMO. Trade Cassel to K.C. along with Maroney and Dave Thomas, for an exchange of picks in round one (our #23 for K.C.'s first round #3 pick), their second round pick at #34 and we get LJ who wants out and is only 29 and Gonzales (96 catches and a decent CAP with three years remaining).
The #34 pick is like a first rounder only way less dollars. Use that to select at #34 either Clay Matthews who can play ILB and is a top ST player (maybe the best of all this years draft S.Cal LBs in the pros it has been stated). He is 6'3" 247 and is faster than Cushing. Or Nic Harris from Oklahoma as a SS at 6'3" and 233 who runs a 4.5 and is an exceptional cover man. He can play in the box like Harrison. He has a 4.6 body fat measurement which is lowest on the Sooners. He is also an excellent citizen. Or perhaps Sean Smith of Utah who is 6'1" and 215 and can play CB and S. Or ....as an impact player, Percy Harvin who could be a game breaker if we do not want off of Gator WRs.
Now what to do with the #3 pick? Swap it to Carolina for Peppers. They do not have a first round pick. They have to use the Tag for top OT Jordon Gross.
Peppers wants out to go to a 3-4 team. Carolina can stay at #3 or milk a few added picks.
K.C. gets their QB. They move Gonzales who they wanted a third rounder for last fall and LJ wants out of town. Worse case is we trade LJ for picks. They get a young core that Pioli knows and drafted (Maroney is from that area).
I would still make one FA move and go for CB Dunta Robinson who is now back healthy and only 27. He also protects us in 2010 if Hobbs leaves.
Summary:
O gets TE Gonzales and RB LJ (perhaps Harvin at #34)
D gets OLB Peppers, CB Robinson, ILB Matthews or SS Harris
What we get in the next few picks are gravy. I like G Duke Robinson from OU, DE/OLB Paul Kruger from Utah (could be a Jared Allen type and the same size) and James Casey TE from Rice as in a Dallas Clark type HB/TE who had 104 catches last season. He has also played S and DE. He is smart, mature and a Pats type player. These should all be available in round two for our other two second rounders. I would put Barwin in there but he should be gone.
I would be a happy man with these pick ups.
So at the end of the day, yes I would take that #3 first rounder.
DW Toys