The NFL trade deadline won't pass until 1:00 p.m. PT tomorrow. Hopefully, it passes without the 49ers making any moves.
Plenty of fans and evaluators have been clamoring for a new receiver or edge rusher.
An interior defensive lineman was a desire, and 49ers general manager John Lynch satisfied that craving by trading for former Niners defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. That trade made sense because the cost was only a 4th-round pick, and Buckner is an All-Pro who is still playing at a high level.
But in-season trades involve numerous factors. The obvious combination of draft pick(s) and players matters. But there is also the balance between how many games a team gets out of a player and how much the salary will count against the cap—and whether the player will soon be a free agent.
In general, I am against part-season rentals. A player needs to have a real impact to be worth that kind of draft capital. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was a prime example. in 2019, Lynch traded 3rd- and 4th-round picks for Sanders and a 5th. But Sanders was key to getting the Niners to the Super Bowl and was therefore worth the outlay.
Another important factor, however, and one that doesn't get discussed enough, is what it does to the players already on the team. Sure, if an incoming player has character or emotional issues, analysts would debate the wisdom of the move.
But those already on the team can be impacted in other ways.
Let's look at San Francisco's current situation.
Wide Receiver
People are suggesting the Niners sign someone new because the top wideouts are out with injuries.
That said, Mike Evans is considered week-to-week, and Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan both believe he will play more this season.
Deebo Samuel is also due to come back in a few weeks (and might play this week). Any player acquired would likely be no more than a number three receiver at that point.
Or not even that.
Demarcus Robinson played very well before he got hurt—averaging 13.3 yards per reception—and he is back.
Add to that the emergence of Jordan Watkins, who has come on strong. When the receiving corps was fully stocked, Watkins got little attention, with just three targets in four games. But one quick note: he caught all three for 82 yards (27.3 per reception). Watkins ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine a few years ago, and those numbers point to deep speed.
But when people went down, Watkins understandably got more exposure, and what did he do? He was targeted ten times in the past two games—and caught seven for 142 yards and a touchdown. His yards per reception "fell" to 20.28. (For reference, that would be second in the league.)
What would happen if the Niners traded for another receiver? Right now, Watkins is either the number one or number two wide receiver, depending on how the team ranks Robinson. So when Evans and Deebo come back, Watkins would be either the number three or number four wideout.
If a new receiver enters the picture, what happens to Watkins' opportunities then? What happens to his practice reps?
In other words, what happens to his development?
Watkins clearly has a lot of talent. How much better would the new receiver be? If no better or is not as good, it's a draft pick wasted. And that doesn't account for Watkins' slowing progress.
Not to be forgotten, but seemingly forgotten by many writers, is De'Zhaun Stribling. The 2nd-round draft pick looked fantastic in the preseason. He won't return from his injury until most likely December, but once he is up to speed, he could be the number three receiver.
My verdict: don't make a trade. Develop the potential stars.
Edge rusher
A lot of pundits have screamed the Niners need another edge rusher. Right now, the Niners have just 15 sacks. That is toward the bottom of the league but way ahead of last year.
But just as I said in an earlier article, numbers don't tell the whole story. Those 15 came with Nick Bosa on the sidelines for most of those games. They came before Lynch traded for DeForest Buckner, who had four before the trade. Edge defender Mykel Williams returned from injury in Week 4 and is just getting up to speed. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is new to the team and beginning to gel with his teammates.
In addition, now that Buckner and Bosa are both on the line, how much better will defensive end Keion White, who is on pace for a very healthy seven sacks this year, perform when attention has to be paid to those two?
In 2025, Lynch drafted Williams to add pop to the pass rush. His rookie season was cut short by injury. He needs every rep he can get to develop.
In 2026, Lynch drafted edge defender Romello Height. Height is learning the ropes and looks more comfortable in his role every week. As with Watkins, that development might well be reduced with an addition to the outside of the defensive line.
Is a couple of more sacks—if that—more important than developing players who A) might get that many sacks anyway, and/or B) who might, with more experience, get far more next year?
My verdict: unless Lynch is going to trade for a star along the lines of Buckner, don't make the trade. Develop the players we have now.
Money and future impact are obvious factors in deciding whether to make a trade, but the present is about more than next week's game. San Francisco has some budding stars, and they need to be at the forefront of the conversation, too.
More info on: Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Mike Evans, Romello Height, Osa Odighizuwa, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins, Keion White, Mykel Williams
Comments