The 49ers' decision to trade quarterback Shaun Hill to Detroit for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick gives them something in return for a player they would have released. San Francisco can now proceed with Alex Smith and David Carr as its top two quarterbacks.

Hill leaves the 49ers with a 10-6 (.625) record as their starter. It's an upset if Smith or Carr fares that well. I also think Hill, 3-3 as a starter last season, wasn't going to win 62.5 percent of his future starts, either. The 49ers decided Hill had maxed out in San Francisco and that two No. 1 overall picks had more upside. That isn't wholly unreasonable.