Niners trade A.J. Jenkins to Chiefs for Jonathan Baldwin

The 49ers have traded 2012 first-round pick A.J. Jenkins to the Chiefs for 2011 first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin. Jenkins had zero catches in three games for the Niners last season and through two preseason games, he's had five targets - four of which fell incomplete (two intercepted) with one catch for 11 yards before he fumbled it away to the defense. There had previously been rumors that Jenkins would be cut prior to the season but it looks like the Niners at least get something out of this botched pick.

Jonathan Baldwin was highly touted coming out of Pitt in 2011 but failed to really catch on in Kansas City. He caught 20 passes for 325 yards, one touchdown, and 16.3 YPC in 2012, but per Football Outsiders metrics, he had a DVOA of -22.9 and a -24 DYAR and he only caught 43% of passes that went his way, so it's not like the Niners are getting a top-flight receiving option in return. Baldwin does have potential as a big-bodied, fast deep threat, but so far he's been a bust in the NFL. Rumor had it that Andy Reid had planned to cut him as well if he wasn't able to find a trade partner, and the word is that he's had issues catching/holding on to the football in camp.

Sometimes a change of scenery helps. We'll see. As Thomas pointed out to me this morning, the Seahawks do tend to match up better against the bigger receiver types (not named Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall) and struggle against speedy, shifty guys, purely in the way they play press trailing defense with bigger, slightly slower corners. Of course, the Hawks have added Antoine Winfield and Walter Thurmond looks to be emerging as a possible 'starter' at the nickel spot, but in general, I'd say Seattle has more issues with the A.J. Jenkins type rather than the Jon Baldwin type. It'll be interesting to see if that holds up.