Graziano: ‘Don’t sleep’ on the 49ers ahead of trade deadline

The San Francisco 49ers have already made one trade, exchanging a 2024 sixth-round draft pick for former Denver Broncos pass rusher Randy Gregory and a seventh-round draft pick. They may not be done with their roster maneuvering, though.

San Francisco is one of two unbeaten teams, alongside the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers are rolling, coming off a 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys. With their sights set on a Super Bowl run, team decision-makers might be willing to explore further opportunities before the trade deadline.

"Don't rule out the possibility of the 49ers, as tremendous as they already look, adding a player if they think it can make a difference," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote on Wednesday. "The Niners have the biggest of goals for this season, and they were aggressive last year when running back Christian McCaffrey became available."

This pivotal trade reshaped the trajectory for the 49ers in 2022 and beyond. San Francisco hasn't lost a game since McCaffrey's integration into the starting lineup, winning 15 in a row, tying the franchise record.

The 49ers created significant salary-cap space ahead of the season, now owning a league-leading $40.17 million of surplus money. A substantial portion is earmarked to roll over into next season.

"Really, we always look at the cap for three years out," general manager John Lynch said last month. "Obviously, we have all that room this year. But really, it's to create room for future years because we roll everything over. It helps us in future years because it creates some room we're going to need."

However, Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan may still be open to bolstering their roster with another impactful player.

Could another deal with the Broncos be made? Might someone like cornerback Patrick Surtain be in the cards? Although Denver has affirmed Surtain's status as an All-Pro cornerstone, a compelling offer might prompt a change of heart.

"Remember the Rams adding Von Miller at the deadline a couple of years ago?" Graziano continued. "If an opportunity for an impact guy like that comes along -- at the right cost -- don't sleep on the idea of the rich getting richer in San Francisco."