The 49ers may already look like trade deadline winners, but that label comes with an asterisk. There are still two weeks left before November 10th, and plenty can change fast. San Francisco brought back defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, yet there are still believable ways this ends with the red and gold getting edged out.
Some of the danger comes from outside their control. Some of it comes from rivals with more ammo than you’d like to see. And in a stretch like this, one big move can tilt the whole picture.
Seattle is the first problem. The Seahawks may be tight on cap space, but they are not short on assets.
After watching a number of players leave in free agency this past offseason, including Kenneth Walker III, they were rewarded with five compensatory picks. That gives them room to keep chasing upgrades, and their move for Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson probably won’t be the last splash they make.
They could still go in a couple of directions. Another upgrade on the offensive line would make sense, and adding help for Jaxon Smith-Njigba at receiver would fit too. However they choose to do it, the expectation is that Seattle will keep trying to strengthen its playoff case.
Minnesota is another team to watch, and this one could have real ripple effects in the NFC. The Vikings are the only team in the conference, and in the league, with a better record than the 49ers. They’re 6-0, and Brian Flores’ defense has been the engine behind that start.
The problem is the other side of the ball. Minnesota ranks 23rd in points per game, and that offense has not looked like the kind you trust in a Super Bowl race.
That’s why Jonathan Taylor looms so large. If the Vikings land him, the whole NFC board shifts.
Quarterback Kyler Murray has shown he is not a game-changing signal caller, and Kevin O’Connell is still searching for a real team identity. An offense built around Jonathan Taylor would be a lot more dangerous than one built around Jordan Mason.
It might not be enough to make Minnesota a full-blown title favorite, but it could absolutely complicate San Francisco’s push for a first-round bye. The Vikings are currently favored to land Taylor if he does get dealt.
Then there is Chicago, which could end up standing between the 49ers and Khalil Mack. The Bears, along with the Vikings and 49ers, are in the conversation for the NFC’s top spot, and with Caleb Williams back, they are rolling. Both Chicago and San Francisco reportedly have interest in the same Los Angeles defender.
Mack’s situation is simple enough: the Chargers are in the middle of a catastrophic season, and if they decide to wave the white flag, he could be one of the first names moved. The 13-year veteran still matters.
He has three sacks this season and remains one of the few bright spots on that roster. But Chicago has a couple of edges here.
For one, Mack played for the Bears from 2018 to 2021, so he could follow the same path as DeForest Buckner and steer the move toward his former team. Chicago also has a more established defensive side of the ball.
The Bears may not be elite in stopping points, but they trail the 49ers in most defensive categories. And San Francisco just made its big swing on Tuesday.
In Other News...
49ers Trade Could Already Be Bad News For Jordan Watkins
The 49ers move to bring DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco bolstered one side of the ball, but it also has a ripple effect elsewhere on the roster as the trade deadline approaches. For a team already trying to keep its offense balanced, any new addition can change the math, and that is where Jordan Watkins enters the conversation. The rookie receiver has been part of the mix, but his role is hardly locked in with the 49ers still navigating their passing-game plans.
San Francisco has been connected to more help at wide receiver, and that kind of talk always creates pressure on the players fighting for snaps. Watkins has flashed enough to stay in the picture, but if the 49ers do make another move for a pass catcher, the competition for playing time could get even tighter. For now, he remains one of the names to watch as the front office weighs how aggressive it wants to be before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face An Uncomfortable Mac Jones Reality As Deadline Nears
Mac Jones has become one of the quieter names in the trade chatter around the 49ers as the NFL deadline draws closer, and that silence says plenty. Despite the speculation that always follows a backup quarterback with a recognizable track record, no real market has developed for Jones, leaving San Francisco in the familiar position of carrying a passer whose value around the league has not matched the buzz around him.
With the deadline set for Nov. 10, the most realistic outcome now looks like Jones simply staying put and seeing out his contract in San Francisco. The one thing that could change the picture is a major injury to a playoff contenders starting quarterback, which would suddenly turn a backup into a far more urgent target, but until something like that happens, there is not much reason to expect movement. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Second-Half Decision These Fill-In Standouts Earned
The Week 8 bye should bring a familiar wave of reinforcements back to the 49ers, with key names like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans expected to rejoin the lineup. But the break also handed San Francisco a reminder that some of its depth pieces have done more than merely hold the fort. Jordan Watkins has settled in at wide receiver, Kaelon Black has chipped in as a runner with a touchdown, and Gracen Halton has made his presence felt on defense when the 49ers needed answers.
For Kyle Shanahan, the tricky part now is figuring out how much of that production deserves to stick. Watkins has earned a bigger look after handling a heavy workload before the bye, while Black's burst gives the backfield another option worth keeping active. Halton, meanwhile, has turned momentum plays into real pressure, and with the starters coming back, San Francisco has a second-half rotation decision on its hands that could shape more than just the next game plan. [Read more 🡒]