A player like Myles Garrett would instantly address that issue. The dominant edge rusher is coming off a 23-sack season that earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second time in three years, reinforcing his status as one of the league's premier defenders.
So, should the 49ers pursue a blockbuster trade?
For Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, the answer is simple: "Hell yes."
Davenport isn't the only one connecting San Francisco to Garrett. John Breech of CBS Sports and Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated have also recently identified the 49ers as a plausible landing spot for the star pass rusher. However, the connection might be more wishful thinking than anything else.
While a deal may seem unlikely, Davenport pointed out that general manager John Lynch has never shied away from bold moves. He referenced the team's aggressive 2021 trade-up for Trey Lance as evidence of Lynch's willingness to take risks.
That move ultimately didn't pay off, but Davenport believes acquiring Garrett would be far less of a gamble. Despite navigating an injury-marred season, the 49ers still managed to win 12 games in 2025. Adding an elite edge rusher like Garrett could be the missing piece that elevates the team into legitimate Super Bowl contention.
Living in a division with the Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks means the 49ers will face tough competition on the path to the postseason.
Still, significant hurdles remain in a potential deal for Garrett.
"The 49ers are in decent shape against the salary cap, with about $28.2 million in cap room," Davenport wrote. "But there are roadblocks to a trade involving Garrett. The Niners don't really have a young player to send back to Cleveland—2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams saw his rookie season cut short by an ACL tear."
There's also the lingering impact of the Lance trade to consider. That deal cost multiple first-round picks and could have jeopardized the futures of Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan if not for the team's decision to draft Brock Purdy with the final pick the following year.
Davenport added, "And given what a debacle the Lance deal was, Lynch may be reluctant to deal multiple first-round picks once again."
As the 49ers continue to be linked to Garrett—and virtually any elite pass rusher who becomes available—the more likely outcome is the team ultimately waiting until the 2026 NFL Draft to address the edge and reinforce its defensive front.
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