The NFL trade deadline is closing in, and the 49ers have already made one major splash by bringing back DeForest Buckner. But the rest of the NFC hasn’t been sitting still. The Seattle Seahawks have added Quentin Nelson, and the Chicago Bears landed Jeffery Simmons, which only raises the pressure as November 10th gets closer.
That leaves San Francisco staring down a few nightmare possibilities over the next week-plus. With Halloween here, it only makes sense to look at the kinds of moves that would really rattle the 49ers.
One of the most alarming would be Maxx Crosby ending up with the Seattle Seahawks. Crosby has long been viewed as a possible trade target for San Francisco, but the Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher has remained in place despite a dramatic about-face with the Baltimore Ravens following a failed physical during the offseason.
The Raiders started well, but four straight losses could push them toward selling. If the 49ers beat Las Vegas in Week 9, that could be the final nudge.
And if Seattle is serious about chasing down its division rival, adding more firepower would fit right into that plan.
Another move that would sting: Garrett Wilson to the Los Angeles Rams. The New York Jets wideout has been talked about as a dream fit for the 49ers, especially with the injuries piling up in their pass-catching group.
But the Rams have their own reason to hunt for help after losing Davante Adams for 6-10 weeks. If Los Angeles managed to pair Wilson with Puka Nacua, that would create a dangerous tandem and make that offense extremely difficult to deal with.
Then there’s Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears, a reunion that would bring plenty of trouble for San Francisco. Chicago is making a clear push to be one of the NFC’s top teams and could even have a shot at the No. 1 seed depending on how everything plays out.
The 49ers could still use more edge-rushing help after the Buckner trade, but Mack wouldn’t come cheap, and they’d have to fight off competition to get him. If the Bears ended up facing San Francisco in a playoff game, especially at home in Chicago, that could be a brutal matchup for the Niners.
San Francisco obviously can’t land all three of those names, and that’s exactly why the next stretch matters. The 49ers can only hope the NFC West doesn’t keep loading up with more talent.
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