Three-team trades are rare in the NFL, but they remain fun to imagine because they can address needs for several franchises at once.
The San Francisco 49ers were active this offseason, but on paper, they still appear to trail the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. The Rams enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl LXI favorites, especially after adding star pass rusher Myles Garrett, while the defending champion Seahawks remain a formidable division rival.
With an eye toward the 2026 season, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox proposed five hypothetical three-team trades. Two of those scenarios involve the 49ers.
49ers acquire WR DK Metcalf
After an offseason filled with trade speculation, backup quarterback Mac Jones appears set to remain Brock Purdy's understudy in 2026. However, if Purdy stays healthy and second-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke shows promise, Jones could become an expendable luxury.
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Knox envisions a three-team deal involving the 49ers, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers that would send former NFC West rival DK Metcalf to San Francisco.
The proposed trade would also allow the 49ers to move on from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who remains troublesome despite distancing himself from the organization.
"In this hypothetical trade, the Jets enlist the Pittsburgh Steelers' help to acquire Jones," Knox wrote. "Pittsburgh sends wide receiver DK Metcalf to San Francisco while receiving draft compensation from New York and allowing the 49ers to offload Brandon Aiyuk."
Proposed trade:
- Jets receive: QB Mac Jones
- 49ers receive: WR DK Metcalf
- Steelers receive: Jets' 2027 3rd-round pick, WR Brandon Aiyuk
"The 49ers have been practically begging teams to take Aiyuk off their hands," Knox added. "While there hasn't been any real trade chatter involving Metcalf, he's been the subject of speculation ever since the Steelers acquired Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted Germie Bernard."
While this proposal would solve the 49ers' Aiyuk dilemma, it would also add another high-profile player to an already crowded wide receiver room. The team signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk during the offseason and used its top draft pick on De'Zhaun Stribling. Third-year receiver Ricky Pearsall is also expected to play a significant role in the offense.
Adding Metcalf would undoubtedly make the 49ers' receiving corps even more dangerous, but it would also keep some intriguing talent on the sideline.
49ers land edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux
The second proposal has the 49ers bolstering their defensive front by acquiring New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
According to The Athletic's Dan Duggan, the Giants previously discussed a potential Thibodeaux trade with the New Orleans Saints. However, New Orleans reportedly viewed the Giants' asking price of a second-round pick as too steep.
In Knox's scenario, the 49ers work with the Giants and Baltimore Ravens to land Thibodeaux at the cost of a 2027 second-round selection.
Proposed trade:
- 49ers receive: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
- Giants receive: CB Marlon Humphrey, Ravens' 2027 4th-round pick
- Ravens receive: 49ers' 2027 2nd-round Pick, WR Isaiah Hodgins
The Giants would address a need at cornerback, reuniting Humphrey with his former head coach, John Harbaugh, while the Ravens would add some wide receiver help.
"The 49ers, meanwhile, would help boost a pass rush that generated 20 sacks last season while providing insurance behind Nick Bosa, who is recovering from a torn ACL," Knox wrote.
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