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As the San Francisco 49ers struggle to find a pass rush due to several injuries along the defensive line, fans have to wonder what might have been had the team opted to keep defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Of course, that would probably mean no
Arik Armstead. It would certainly mean no
Javon Kinlaw. And it might also mean no
Brandon Aiyuk. Buckner's trade to the Indianapolis Colts facilitated the signing of Armstead and the drafting of the other two.
Armstead has 1.5 sacks this season, following a 2019 campaign during which he led the 49ers with 10. San Francisco signed him to a five-year, $85 million deal this offseason.
Kinlaw, Buckner's replacement, has yet to earn his first sack. He has 19 tackles, a quarterback hit, and three passes defensed through nine games. That's not to say he won't develop into an excellent player. Kinlaw appears to have all the tools. However, Buckner has 2.5 sacks, 34 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, a safety, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble through eight games this season.
Zak Keefer of The Athletic recently wrote
a feature about Buckner, who has quickly helped transform the Colts defense. The defensive lineman remembers the 49ers, the team that drafted him No. 7 overall in 2016, telling him and his agent to explore their options after contract negotiations stalled. There were just too many teammates who needed to be paid — guys like Armstead,
George Kittle, and Jimmie Ward.
So that's what they did.
That's when they found the Colts, who were willing to sign Buckner to a four-year, $84 million extension while sending the No. 13 overall pick to the 49ers to acquire the Pro Bowl defender. Buckner felt it would be a good bargaining chip with San Francisco and clung to hope that he would remain with the team that drafted him.
"I was hoping the 49ers would at least meet me in the middle," Buckner told Keefer. "I definitely didn't expect them to trade me. I poured my heart and soul into that organization … to go from 2-14 my first year to build a culture and get to a Super Bowl?
"You just don't expect to be traded."
Then he got the call on March 15. The next day, the trade was made official, leaving many of his now-former teammates shocked.
"I didn't have any knowledge of it, so I kind of signed, and then I heard of that,"
Armstead, Buckner's close friend, said in April. "It was a shock to me. ... It's a huge loss. He's an irreplaceable player."
While Buckner's Colts sit at 5-3, a game back in the AFC South but entrenched in the conference's playoff picture, an injury-ravaged San Francisco team sits at 4-5, which is bad enough for last place in a strong NFC West.
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With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers hosted their annual local pro day at Levi's Stadium. The event showcased 44 players, including four veterans, all vying to impress coaches and team decision-makers and earn a roster spot. The 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft.
NFL local pro days provide draft prospects with ties to the local area an opportunity to showcase their talents to team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have other connections to the region where the team is based.
Terrell's Son Seeks an Opportunity
Hall of
Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers have conducted a virtual meeting with former Oregon safety Evan Williams.
#Oregon DB Evan Williams: Workhorse w/ 82 tackles, 4.5 sacks this yr. Great @SeniorBowl, jumped 40.5" vertical + 10-ft-6 broad at NFL Combine.Recent virtual meetings include #Bills,
As expected, the most significant storyline surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this offseason revolves around the contract negotiations with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. There hasn't been much official chatter on that front aside from general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan assuring reporters that every effort is being made to retain Aiyuk.
That hasn't stopped the rampant speculation from the media, with reports of interest from teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as former teammate
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
