The San Francisco 49ers have spent plenty of time lately juggling injuries, but the latest twist is that the defensive line may no longer be the front office’s biggest concern.
After opening the season 5-0 and moving two games ahead in the NFC West with an impressive Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco looked like a team that could explore help on the defensive line at the trade deadline. That was the obvious spot to watch given how banged up the group has been.
Instead, the focus appears to have shifted. According to the latest report, wide receiver is now the more pressing need.
“Wild development considering the 49ers are down their entire starting D-line: It’s probably not even a top trade priority anymore. That’s how much the young guys are surging,” David Lombardi wrote.
“WR emerging as the top trade priority. But this is a narrative-shattering surge from the D-line.”
That surge from the younger players up front has changed the conversation in a hurry. The 49ers are getting meaningful production from that group, which is a strong sign both for right now and for what the team may be building moving forward.
The wide receiver angle is tied to Mike Evans, who is putting together the kind of season that has made the rest of the league take notice. Entering the year, there were questions about whether he was still the same player he had been for much of his career. In San Francisco, he has looked every bit as good as ever.
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For San Francisco, this is more than a short-term patch at WILL linebacker. It is a real chance to see whether Dugger can handle a heavier weekly burden and settle into the kind of role the defense has been searching for, especially with Greenlaw sidelined. If the rookie responds well, it could give the 49ers a new layer of flexibility at a position that may become one of the more interesting decisions on the roster down the road. [Read more 🡒]