The 49ers are not actively shopping offensive linemen Justin Smiley (right) and Kwame Harris (below) in trade talks, but teams around the league know that both players are available for the right price.Smiley and Harris are in the final years of their contracts, and it appears neither is likely to sign a contract extension. Still, coach Mike Nolan said he wants both players on the team this season, even if their long-term futures are unsettled.
"It's my intention that they are both here," Nolan said. "They're going to make us better. They're good football players. Somebody's got to beat them out. If somebody wants it, they're going to have to take it, but I'm not going to hand them a job."
With the emergence last year of youngsters Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge, the first round selection of Central Michigan stand-out tackle Joe Staley, and veteran leadership in potential hall-of-famer Larry Allen, both Harris, a disappointing first rounder in 2003 and Smiley, an average 2nd round choice in 2004 have become more likely expendible than dependable and may prove to have more value as open market commodities, than offensive line anchors.
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