The Los Angeles Rams beat the 49ers to the punch when they acquired Matthew Stafford last year, a quarterback San Francisco was also interested in. Kyle Shanahan returned the favor this week by trading for a star running back the Rams liked: Christian McCaffrey.
The 49ers are sending a package of picks to the Panthers for McCaffrey, bolstering an already-impressive roster. It was assumed and reported that the Rams were interested in McCaffrey, especially given the situation with Cam Akers, and it turns out they did attempt to trade for the Panthers RB.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Rams “made a push” to acquire McCaffrey, but the 49ers beat them out. Ian Rapoport also said the Panthers were “deep in talks” with the Rams for multiple Day 2 picks.
The 49ers didn’t give up a first-rounder, so that’s not what prevented the Rams from getting a deal done, but they did trade picks in the second through fourth rounds in next year’s draft; the Rams don’t have a fourth-rounder in 2023.
Once it became apparent Christian McCaffrey was going to be traded before the Nov. 1 deadline, there was urgency on all sides to get a deal done before the #Panthers' next game. The #Rams also made a push, but it's the #49ers who get it done for a package of picks.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 21, 2022
The Rams will now face McCaffrey in consecutive games after beating the Panthers in Week 6 and having the 49ers next up in Week 8 after the bye. McVay probably would’ve preferred if McCaffrey didn’t land in the division, which is almost like salt in the wound after missing out on him.
