As the halfway point of the NFL season approaches, certain teams must take a hard look at exactly where they are. Anyone with just one win is starting to do some hard evaluating of their current roster to determine whether it is time for a fire sale of players or just poor production from an underachieving unit. The San Francisco 49ers are a team that were aiming for a bounce-back season and instead sit a 1-6 on the year. With a high draft pick in their future, where does that leave some of the current players?
The NFL trade deadline is approaching and several big names are circling the rumor mill. Could Anquan Boldin be one of them? According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the 49ers would be wise to eye a deal for Boldin as he is their best asset. There is no indication that the 49ers are looking to make this move, but it certainly would be worth considering as the losses pile up.
Boldin is under contract for three more seasons. He is currently 35 and trading him now would hit the team with $2.7 million in cap charges, but that is not the biggest issue with the salary cap increasing by $10 million per year now. Considering Boldin is still a talent on the field, the 49ers could get a solid couple of draft picks in return for him and would be smart to at least see if there is interest.
Several teams need wide receiver help. The Green Bay Packers have several players out. The Carolina Panthers need another player for Cam Newton to work with. The Arizona Cardinals could look at the market. Boldin would be a good addition to a contending team considering right now he is sitting on the 49ers roster that is nowhere near being playoff contenders.
Vernon Davis is also circling the rumor mill, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes that a deal is not likely for the tight end. Davis told the media that while he understands trades are part of the business, he would be upset if the 49ers were to deal him away. However, like Boldin, any team in need of another veteran receiver could look at the tight end as an option.
"I've been a Niner for 10 years," Davis told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. "This is all I know. It's really not about me being upset. I understand the nature of the business. It's a business, it is. If anyone was somewhere for 10 years, they'd be highly upset, highly disappointed. But you have to understand, after all of this, it's a business. I have no intention of going anywhere. But sometimes things happen and you just have to be prepared for it. I think anyone would be upset."
One player going nowhere is Colin Kaepernick. Despite all of the struggles of the quarterback, CSN Bay Area is reporting that Kaepernick will not be on the move from San Francisco and the 49ers will continue to keep him as the starter. After the reported locker room fight was denied, Kaepernick made it clear that he has a great relationship with his teammates and coaches.
"I have a great relationship with my teammates," Kaepernick said, via the San Jose Mercury News. "That's a situation I don't understand the agenda who's saying that or what the source is."