49ers use Brandon Aiyuk trade to set themselves up for the present and future in A to Z Sports Mock Draft

Thomas has shown some intriguing nuance as a route-runner and is adept at winning by varying his route speeds. However, the 49ers would still be in essence dealing an All-Pro and one of the game's premier route-runners for a rookie with one year of top-tier college production, albeit a player with tremendous physical traits.

That bet on traits is one Adams has the 49ers making throughout his three-round mock.

A second trade

The 49ers, in this scenario, would still have their original first (31st overall). However, Adams has the Niners dealing it in a move that enables the Las Vegas Raiders to land their quarterback in Michael Penix Jr.

Las Vegas sends the 44th overall pick in the second round, a fifth-rounder (148th overall) and a 2025 second-round pick in exchange for pick 31.

With the 44th pick, the 49ers make a less surprising move than in the first round, taking Washington OT Roger Rosengarten.

Rosengarten was twice mocked to the 49ers in the first round by Mel Kiper Jr. and San Francisco has only served to increase talk they could take him early by attending a private workout in Seattle last weekend.

Not widely viewed as a first-round pick, Rosengarten has connections to the 49ers having been coached by Christian McCaffrey's father Ed in high school and worked with former San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley during the pre-draft process.

Rosengarten has the foot speed the 49ers look for in pass protection and is an excellent athlete in space. He aced the Combine, earning an A to Z Sports athletic composite score of 93.9 percent, ninth among offensive linemen.

A lack of arm length will be a concern at the next level but Rosengarten, who compares well to Staley athletically, did not allow a sack in 625 pass block snaps. If the 49ers are ready to bet on Rosengarten as their future right tackle, it's a well-educated gamble.

Secondary depth

The 49ers didn't have to trade their original second-rounder (63rd overall) to move up to grab Thomas, and Adams has them using it on a very intriguing athlete at a position of need.

San Francisco is well set up for this season at cornerback with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir backed up by Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin. However, all four of those players are free agents next offseason.

There's a chance the 49ers may struggle to pay both Ward and Lenoir in 2025, so adding a successor to one of them in the draft would be smart.

The successor in this case is Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa. 

Tampa has excellent size and arm length for the outside corner role, with his alluring traits allowing him to rack up 16 pass breakups over his final two seasons with the Cyclones.

Doubts over his speed and ability to hold up against more elusive route-runners may give some teams pause, but Tampa's physicality in coverage and run support would certainly appeal to San Francisco.

The likely and desired outcome of the Aiyuk saga is that he signs a long-term deal with the 49ers. But, in this draft, the 49ers were able to replace him, find their starting right tackle and a potential future starter at corner while also acquiring future capital by trading pick 31.

It's a mock that builds a compelling case for executing a draft-day trade. Whether the 49ers' resolve will be tested next Thursday is one of the most intriguing subplots of the entire draft.