Santa Clara, CA – The San Francisco 49ers announced today they have traded WR Rashaun Woods to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for three-year NFL veteran CB Sammy Davis.
Davis, (6-0, 195), originally joined San Diego as a first-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2003. Davis has started in 30 of 44
NFL games and has accumulated 122 total tackles, three interceptions, one sack and 20 passes defensed during his three-year career in San Diego. San Diego utilized Davis as a right corner as well as a nickel corner.
Said head coach Mike Nolan on the trade, “This was an opportunity for us to strengthen ourselves at a position of need with a proven NFL starter. After strengthening the wide receiver position with the addition of free agents Antonio Bryant and Bryan Gilmore, we felt it was important to focus on other areas to improve our team. Davis will be able to step in from day one and challenge for a starting role.”
Woods originally joined the 49ers as a first-round draft pick in 2004 out of Oklahoma State. He spent the majority of last season on injured reserve with a thumb injury that occurred during practice.
Sources have confirmed that the 49ers have spoken with members of the Ohio State coaching staff regarding three highly-regarded defensive prospects that San Francisco would like to fit into its 3-4 defensive system. There’s a good chance the Niners could end up with at least one of them in the NFL draft later this month – and maybe even more than one.
The Niners have had discussions with OSU staff members regarding linebacker prospects A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter and defensive end Mike Kudla, whom the Niners would likely move to linebacker in their 3-4 scheme.
According to Scout.com sources, there are plenty of other teams taking concentrated interest in those three Ohio State stars by seeking out and talking to coaches on the Ohio State staff.
There’s at least a 50-50 chance – and, likely, higher – that the 49ers would select Hawk if he still is available with their No. 6 pick in the first round.
Carpenter is a prospect the team would highly consider with their second-round pick – the No. 37 overall – while Kudla is a prospect the 49ers would hope to be able to grab in the middle rounds.
Source: [SF Illustrated]
Todd McShay of ESPN is reporting despite much speculation, do not expect the Broncos to package their two first-round selections in an attempt to move into the top five. Coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Ted Sundquist agree the team’s window to make a Super Bowl run is closing rapidly and the wiser move is to find two players who can contribute immediately rather than packaging the picks for one elite, but high-priced prospect.
As of right now, the game plan is to use the 15th overall selection on the best available wide receiver, running back or tight end prospect, then address one of the other two remaining needs with the best available prospect still on the board at pick No. 22. If Denver selects a running back or wide receiver with its initial first-round pick, it will strongly consider offers to trade out of the 22nd spot. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos move out of the first round completely with that second pick, knowing they can get an impact player from a deep class of tight ends. Two tight ends they are targeting in that scenario are Notre Dame’s Anthony Fasano and Colorado’s Joe Klopfenstein.
