© Joe Camporeale | 2018 Oct 28
Rumored to be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline, the 49ers ended up doing neither.
In the days leading up, both wide receiver Pierre Garcon and defensive back Jimmie Ward were rumored to be on the trading block, while many also expected the 49ers to look to acquire a player or two that could help them in the coming years.
On Wednesday morning 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined Murph & Mac, and did his best to explain why the 1-7 team elected to stand pat heading into the second half of the season.
“All we’re trying to do is improve ourselves,” Shanahan said. “The fact that we didn’t do anything means there wasn’t an option to improve ourselves. There could have been something where we traded away a couple of draft picks where you get a better player for these last eight games, but then you go into next year where you’ve lost both of those draft picks.”
It’s a far cry from this time last season, when the 49ers pulled off one of the most shocking trades in recent memory, acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for a second-round pick.
“When we say we’re trying to do this the right way, we’re trying to make decisions that give us the best chance to win now, but also not at the expense of costing us in the future,” Shanahan continued. “We’re not in a great spot right now with our record. We’d love to add a bunch of people to come in here and help us get through this year and help some of the guys who are injured. But just to win a few more games in his situation to hurt us for next year, that’s not something we’re willing to do.
“We tried hard to add some guys to where we also thought it could benefit us in the future and no options came up.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Shanahan on the trade deadline start from 14:09.