NFL Trade Rumors: San Francisco 49ers could trade LaMichael James for higher draft pick

Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James (23) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers usually draft very well and that will likely come in handy this summer in what is being hailed as the deepest draft in years. But while the Niners have draft picks aplenty, they still want to jockey for better positioning and that could lead to a trade.

One of the ways to make a trade without breaking the bank is to throw in some players as to not deplete your draft pick haul. A player the 49ers could throw into a trade is running back laMichael James, but ESPN.com writer Bill Williamson doesn’t believe he’ll get a big return on his own.

Per ESPN.com:

"I just don’t know what his value is. I think he’d be more of a throw-in than a major trade chip."

There are doubts about what kind of future James has with the Niners as they have Frank Gore and Marcus Lattimore plus whoever else they decide to bring in. This has led to trade rumors to surface in the past, but it all could come to a head before or during this May’s draft.