Grant Cohn: Five trades the 49ers should make before season starts

The 49ers have almost $50 million in cap space and one of the worst rosters in the NFL. Time for them to get creative. Here are five trades they could make before the regular season starts.

1. G/T Anthony Davis and ILB Michael Wilhoite to the New England Patriots for ILB Dont'a Hightower.

The Patriots' starting right tackle, 32-year-old Sebastian Vollmer, has an injured hip and shoulder and most likely will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List. He could miss the entire year, which would be a big problem for the Patriots. They won't go anywhere if they can't protect their quarterback, Tom Brady, although he'll miss the first four games this season.

The Patriots need a starting right tackle. The Niners have two — Trent Brown and Anthony Davis. San Francisco could trade one of them to New England, preferably Davis. He has been playing right guard in practice because the Niners seem to prefer Brown.

The Niners could give New England Davis and backup inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite in exchange for fifth-year inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower, an excellent run-defender who will be an expensive free agent in 2017.

The Patriots haven't extended Hightower's deal, which may mean they don't plan on re-signing him. The Niners should take him off their hands. They have a huge hole at inside linebacker and plenty of cap space to pay Hightower what he wants.

2. S Jaquiski Tartt to the Cleveland Browns for WR Josh Gordon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday morning that 'multiple teams have reached out to inquire about the availability of WR Josh Gordon, per league sources. A Browns team source said they are not looking to trade Gordon.'

If that report is true, the Niners should make Cleveland an offer it can't refuse.

Gordon was suspended all of last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and will be suspended the first four games this season as well. That's why he's available.

Here's why the Niners should trade for him: He's one of the best wide receivers in the league and he's only 25. In 2013 when he was 22, he caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards in just 14 games.

The Browns probably wouldn't trade Gordon for anything less than a second-rounder — he's that talented. The Niners just happen to have a second-round pick they can give them — former 2015 second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt. He has not earned a role in the 49ers' base or nickel defense this season. He's going to sit on the bench.

But he would start for the Browns. They need a strong safety after cutting veteran Donte Whitner this offseason. Tartt would help them more than Gordon.

3. FB Bruce Miller to the Indianapolis Colts for a fifth-round draft pick.

Last week, I asked 49ers' running backs coach and the greatest 49ers' fullback of all time, Tom Rathman, about former fullback Bruce Miller.

'Bruce Miller is changing positions,' I said. 'You coached him for a long time … '

'Five years,' Rathman said.

'Right, five years. He was considered one of the best fullbacks in the league … '

'Mmhmm,' Rathman said.

'How has he transitioned to the new position, and are there ways you guys still can use him in the ways he was used in the past, ways in which he was extremely successful?'

'Ehhhh …' Rathman said, looking down, 'We really don't use a lot of two-back offense. He's playing the 'A' position, so he's displaced outside the formation … From the standpoint of playing in the backfield, I don't know if he'll do that.'

In other words, Miller has no purpose on the Niners. Chip Kelly won't use a fullback even if he's the best fullback in the world. The Niners need to trade Miller.

And they could trade him to the Colts, where Miller once again could team up with Frank Gore. In return, maybe the Niners could get a fifth-round draft pick or better.

4. DE/DT Tony Jerod-Eddie to the Denver Broncos for RB Ronnie Hillman.

Tony Jerod-Eddie is a solid veteran who has played 48 games in the NFL, but he probably won't make the 49ers' final roster. Rather than cut him, the Niners should trade him to the Denver Broncos.

Denver lost starting defensive end Malik Jackson during free agency and could use another defensive lineman. Jerod-Eddie plays Jackson's position, and went to Texas A&M with Broncos' starting outside linebacker Von Miller. Those two are close friends.

The 49ers should inquire if the Broncos would trade their running back Ronnie Hillman in exchange for Jerod-Eddie. Hillman has been playing with the Broncos' third-stringers during the preseason and may get cut. But he's only 24, and last season he averaged 4.6 yards per carry from the shotgun. He could be an excellent backup to Carlos Hyde.

5. QB Colin Kaepernick to the Washington Redskins for G Shawn Lauvao

Colin Kaepernick still has a legitimate chance to win the 49ers' quarterback competition. But if he loses, he would be the most expensive backup quarterback in the history of the NFL. Which means the Niners might consider releasing him, although they should try to trade him first.

The Redskins could be interested in Kaepernick. Their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, is signed only through next season. He'll be a free agent in 2017. Kaepernick would give Washington leverage next year when they negotiate with Cousins, and insurance in case Cousins falls on his face after playing well in 2015.

To make the trade work, Washington would have to create almost $5 million in cap space. They could include in the trade to the Niners starting guard Shawn Lauvao, who is scheduled to earn exactly $5 million next season, in exchange for Kaepernick.

Do you like these trades? Do you find them feasible? If not, please propose your own. Let's see how much we can improve the 49ers' roster.

Grant Cohn writes sports columns and the 'Inside the 49ers' blog for The Press Democrat's website. You can reach him at grantcohn@gmail.com.\