Update: According to the NFL transaction wire, both draft picks are conditional.
It may not be the blockbuster move some hoped for, but it's a low-cost acquisition that adds much-needed depth to an injury-ravaged roster.
The Patriots selected White out of Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire NFL career in New England, tallying six career sacks, 88 tackles (10 for loss), 21 quarterback hits, and eight passes defensed over three seasons.
White's best statistical year came in 2024, when he recorded five sacks, a career-high 56 tackles (seven for loss), 16 quarterback hits, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles across 17 games and 13 starts.
Interestingly, ESPN's Ben Solak previously projected this exact trade scenario, suggesting the 49ers could acquire White for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
"White has completely fallen out of favor in New England," Solak wrote. "He started last season real hot. In the first half of the year, he was 11th among all defensive linemen in pressure rate and 16th in pass rush win rate. He was especially nasty on the interior, ranking 11th in pass rush win rate when lined up as a defensive tackle. He cooled as the season went on, though -- 34th in pressure rate and 25th in pass rush win rate in the back half of the season."
Since then, White has slipped down the Patriots' depth chart. His Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade dropped from 76.7 in 2024 to 46.7 in 2025.
The 49ers hope White can help stabilize a defensive front that's struggled to generate consistent pressure this season. The loss of Nick Bosa to a torn ACL has been a major setback, while Bryce Huff continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Yetur Gross-Matos has missed the last three games due to knee and hamstring issues, and Sam Okuayinonu is day-to-day with an ankle injury.
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