The 49ers are expected to shop at the trade deadline, and the move that makes the most sense is not the one with the biggest name attached to it. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson may not light up the fanbase, but he looks like the cleanest fit for what San Francisco needs right now.
That need starts on the ground. The 49ers could certainly use help at wide receiver and on the edge, but those spots come with a catch: reinforcements are expected to arrive there soon.
Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, and De’Zhaun Stribling could all be back in the lineup four weeks from now. At edge rusher, the team already has Mykel Williams back from injury, and Nick Bosa is expected to return any week.
The bigger problem is what won’t be fixed internally. Alfred Collins is not coming back this year, and the run defense remains a real concern.
San Francisco is 29th in success rate allowed on the ground. It has not been exposed often because the 49ers have been playing with leads and forcing opponents to throw, but that weakness gets a lot more dangerous in tight playoff games.
That is why Robinson stands out. Fans may prefer a headline-grabber like DeForest Buckner or Daron Payne, and those names carry obvious appeal.
But both would come with heavy cost, and both are free agents after the season. For a team that has to balance price, fit, and urgency, Robinson looks like the better use of resources.
The 49ers need a run defender who can complement their front, not necessarily one who has to be the centerpiece of it. Gracen Halton and Osa Odighizuwa are strong pass rushers, but both struggle against the run.
A player like Buckner or Payne would likely eat into Halton’s role. Robinson, by contrast, would help put Halton in better positions while still allowing him to play a high number of snaps.
The numbers back up the case. Payne has eight run stops and a 7.8% stop rate this season.
Buckner has seven run stops and a 6.7% stop rate. Robinson has seven run stops and a 9.7% stop rate.
Buckner has 19 pressures, Payne has 17, and Robinson has seven.
If San Francisco were looking for a game-changing starter or a pass-rush upgrade, Buckner or Payne would make plenty of sense. But that is not the biggest hole here.
The 49ers need depth and they need better run defense. On cost, fit, and need, Robinson is the move that checks every box.
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49ers Win Now Comes With A Discipline Debate Fans Will Hate
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The replay and the reaction around it are likely to follow the 49ers for a while, because the hit did not just get noticed, it drew immediate public criticism. With San Francisco trying to build on its best early-season run in years, the conversation around discipline and how far a defense should go while chasing a win is now part of the story, and it is not one fans will be eager to revisit. [Read more 🡒]