The San Francisco 49ers are still being tied to the trade market, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz says their shopping list may not be finished.
Speaking on The Pivot podcast, Schultz said he expects the 49ers to stay active ahead of the NFL trade deadline. He pointed to San Francisco and Chicago as teams he believed would be aggressive, noting that both already made moves.
“Last week, I talked about San Francisco and Chicago. Those were two teams that I thought would be really active.
Now, the Bears landed [Jeffery] Simmons in a blockbuster. San Francisco got [DeForest] Buckner.
So we were in on that.
But Ryan, I don’t think either team is done. I think the 49ers are still looking for a receiver and a pass rusher.
I wouldn’t rule out another move for either team. There’s a lot of Khalil Mack buzz for both clubs.
The Jets have made it clear they’re not looking to trade their stars, including Garrett Wilson. But there has been some curiousity around Breece Hall, so we’ll see what happens there.”
Schultz also ran through a group of wide receivers he said are worth watching: Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars, Jauan Jennings of the Vikings, Calvin Ridley of the Titans, Jerry Jeudy of the Browns, Kayshon Boutte of the Texans, and Hollywood Brown of the Eagles.
He then shifted to the biggest name drawing attention around the league, saying, “But the biggest name around the league that people are really starting to get curious about is George Pickens in Dallas. He’s playing on the franchise tag.
He has not been utilized the same way as last year. ”
On the pass-rusher side, Schultz suggested the market may be thinner than the receiver market. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made clear where he stands on Khalil Mack, saying, “I want Khalil Mack here.
Khalil Mack wants to be here. He’s one of the pillars of our team.”
The Jets, meanwhile, have Will McDonald IV, who had a sack in Week 8 but can also go long stretches without making an impact.
In Other News...
DeForest Buckners Return Gives 49ers A Pass-Rush Jolt
DeForest Buckner is back where his NFL career began, and the timing could not be much better for a 49ers defense looking for a lift after the bye. San Francisco brought him back in a trade, adding a familiar face to a pass rush that can always use another proven interior presence. Buckner has four sacks this season, and his return gives the 49ers another disruptive option as they head into the second half.
For Buckner, the move was about more than just a reunion. He said he wanted to come back to San Francisco because of his familiarity with the organization and his focus on getting better week to week, a mindset that should fit right back into the 49ers' locker room. Now the question is how quickly he can settle in and make an impact again, with the team hoping his presence helps sharpen a defense that already knows exactly what he brings. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Already Have A Bigger WR Problem Than Expected
The 49ers have spent real draft capital on wide receivers in recent years, but the position is already looking like a longer-term issue than they probably hoped. CBS Sports Ryan Wilson has San Francisco eyeing Indiana junior Nick Marsh in his 2027 NFL mock draft, a nod to how much the team continues to value size and physicality on the outside, especially from a player who can win contested catches.
Marshs profile fits the kind of receiver room the 49ers have tried to build, but the need is being sharpened by the present-day reality of the roster. Ricky Pearsall is out for the year with a knee injury, and DeZhaun Stribling is expected back only in December after ankle surgery, leaving the team to navigate a position that may need help now and down the road. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Hold A Trade Chip Baltimore Might Desperately Need
The quarterback picture in Baltimore has gone from shaky to urgent, and it has suddenly put a familiar name on the radar in San Francisco. With Lamar Jackson dealing with a thumb injury that requires surgery and likely sends him to injured reserve, and Tyler Huntley also banged up, the Ravens are staring at a thin depth chart at the worst possible time as they try to keep their season from veering off course.
That is why the 49ers have become part of the conversation, with Mac Jones emerging as a possible answer if Baltimore decides it needs a veteran bridge option. Jones has handled himself well in a starting role, which only adds to his appeal, but San Francisco has been reluctant to move him and would not be expected to make it easy for a desperate team to pry him loose. [Read more 🡒]
