Is it all because of 1986?

If so, then I'm not sure that's the correct model for the 2010 49ers to follow. The 1986 49ers were two years removed from a Super Bowl and had big-name All-Pros (Montana, Rice, Lott) but lacked depth. So the logical thing to do was trade down and acquire lots of mid-range players (Roberts, Wallace, Rathman, Fagan, Taylor, Haley, McKyer, Griffin). Solid players, no doubt, and even a potential Hall-of-Famer in Haley. But they weren't the backbone of the 80s Niners; they were secondary players who complemented the existing stars.

The 2010 49ers, on the other hand, need the big-name stars. They have tons of depth and lots of secondary players. But they need the All-Pros, the Ronnie Lotts and the Jerry Rices. Trading down isn't the best way to get those types of players. In fact, Jerry Rice was a result of trading UP, not trading down; and Ronnie Lott was the 8th overall pick.

So I'm always a bit skeptical when sportswriters and media suggest that a mediocre team like the 49ers, one filled with solid players but desperately lacking in All-Pros, should trade DOWN to acquire even MORE of the same players.

If anything, the 49ers need to trade UP and get a couple of sure-fire stars.

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