The Facts: The Steelers traded a fourth-round draft pick to the 49ers for McDonald and a fifth-round choice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Diehards Line:
It upgrades the position for the Steelers. ... McDonald made 64 catches for 866 yards and seven touchdowns in his four seasons with the 49ers, who made him a second-round pick in 2013. McDonald, who signed a three-year, $19.7 million contract extension with the 49ers in December, had been subject of trade rumors during the offseason. The Steelers list Jesse James, David Johnson and Xavier Grimble as their top-three tight ends on their depth chart. James has 47 receptions for 394 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons; Johnson has 31 catches for 304 yards and a touchdown in seven seasons; and Grimble had 11 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns last season. Grimble made three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts, his only catches of the exhibition season.