The 49ers may have the cleaner story here, even if the Bears made the flashier move.
San Francisco got DeForest Buckner for a fourth-round pick. Chicago, by comparison, sent two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to Tennessee for Jeffery Simmons and a fifth-round pick, according to reports. That kind of price tag says plenty on its own.
None of that is meant to knock Simmons. He’s a three-time All-Pro and a serious player.
But he’s 29, his prime may not stretch much farther, and he has a habit of missing games every season. The Bears are clearly pushing chips in, and that deserves credit.
Still, the cost was steep enough to make Buckner’s old deal with the 49ers look even sharper in hindsight.
There’s a reason Chicago had interest in Buckner before San Francisco pulled the trigger. He would have been cheaper than Simmons and still brings plenty to the table.
He isn’t quite at Simmons’ level, and he’s three years older, but he remains a difference-maker. He can still win his matchups one-on-one and still commands double teams at a high clip.
What made Buckner possible for the 49ers was simple: they drafted him, and they’d presumably be more willing to extend him than the Bears would have been. In Chicago, he likely would have been a one-year rental. Instead, there’s a real chance he finishes his career where it began.
And San Francisco may not be finished yet.
The 49ers still hold their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, which means they still have room to chase another major swing if they choose. Chicago, on the other hand, is out of picks and out of big maneuvering room. This is their roster now, for better or worse, and it looks imposing on paper.
But the 49ers have about two weeks left to make a splash of their own, and the Jets look like the most interesting possible partner. New York is out of playoff contention this year and could be motivated to sell off certain players in exchange for extra picks in 2027.
If Garrett Wilson somehow becomes available, the 49ers could make a serious run at him, potentially sending their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. He’s that good.
If the Jets decide to keep their young franchise receiver, Will McDonald IV could be the name to watch instead. McDonald is 27, under contract through 2027, and would give San Francisco a clear upgrade over Romello Height and Mykel Williams as a pass rusher. He would also provide insurance if Nick Bosa doesn’t make a full recover this season.
So while Chicago may be done making the kinds of moves that reshape a roster, the 49ers still have time to try for one more. Stay tuned.
In Other News...
49ers Bye Week Draft Look Puts Future Roster Questions Front And Center
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The evaluations covered a handful of intriguing names, including Brown, Omosigho, Moore and Richard, with each player bringing a different mix of strengths and concerns to the table. For the 49ers, that kind of early look is less about making firm predictions and more about mapping out possible paths, especially when the draft is still far off and the board can change quickly. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Sent A Brutal Message About Their Secondary
The 49ers made a notable quick cut in the wake of their DeForest Buckner reunion, parting ways with veteran cornerback Jack Jones to clear the roster spot needed after the trade was finalized. It was a clean roster move on paper, but it also says plenty about how San Francisco is treating the back end of its defense as it pushes through a season built around championship expectations.
Jones had only seen limited defensive snaps across seven games, and his departure leaves even less margin for error in a secondary that has been under the microscope. San Francisco can sell the move as necessary roster management, but it also underscores how aggressively the team is willing to keep adjusting pieces on the fly as it tries to stay in the hunt. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy's Rough Day Reopened A 49ers Debate Fans Hate
Brock Purdys latest outing against the Falcons did what one rough game often does in San Francisco: it pulled an old quarterback conversation right back into the spotlight. The two interceptions in a loss were the sort of mistakes that linger, even with a stat line that still showed him finishing 27 of 40 for 288 yards and a touchdown and completing 67.5 percent of his throws.
The larger picture is still more favorable than one bad afternoon, which is why the reaction around Purdy has been so familiar. He has put together a strong season overall, but the latest review of his play showed how quickly perception can shift when the turnovers show up, especially in a market that already tends to debate every throw. [Read more 🡒]