San Francisco has already checked off two major items on its offseason wish list, but the defense still looks like the area where the 49ers could make one more aggressive swing.
The team went into the offseason wanting help at wide receiver, along the offensive line and off the edge. It handled the first two in a big way. At receiver, San Francisco brought in Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, then used the draft on De'Zhaun Stribling, a yards-after-catch specialist who can turn small gains into explosive plays.
Up front, the 49ers also added multiple offensive linemen, and keeping Trent Williams was the biggest move of all. That work has the offensive line looking about as complete as it can reasonably be. The same can’t be said for the defense.
There are still questions around the pass rush beyond Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. If both are healthy, San Francisco can still roll out a dangerous front. But that also means a lot is riding on Bosa and Williams being available for a full season.
That’s where a cornerback move comes into the picture. One way to help the pass rush is to strengthen the secondary and give the rush more time to finish. Cleveland Browns analyst Dylan Feltovich of Browns Wire floated the 49ers as a trade fit for Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward.
"Another team in a similar position to the Lions is the San Francisco 49ers, who have invested in multiple veterans leading up to the 2026 season.
Despite signing two proven cornerbacks this offseason in Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, the 49ers' defensive back room does not feature a true, established top cornerback. Luckily for the Browns, San Francisco has multiple young playmakers on the roster who could be included in a trade, which fits general manager Andrew Berry’s mindset of acquiring unproven players to fill the void left by Ward, such as 2024 second-round pick Renardo Green and 2025 third-round pick Upton Stout."
If Cleveland were to move Ward, the asking price would almost certainly center on young talent or draft picks. That’s the kind of deal that would cost San Francisco down the road, but if the 49ers are as all-in as their early offseason moves suggest, it’s the sort of gamble that could make sense.
For now, the question is whether San Francisco keeps looking for help at cornerback or edge rusher as it tries to round out the defense for the upcoming season.
In Other News...
49ers Look Loaded Everywhere Except The One Unit Fans Still Fear
Sharp Football Analysis sees plenty to like about the 49ers heading into 2026, with the roster landing in the top 10 at four of five positional groups. The offense still looks stacked at receiver and tight end, the offensive line and quarterback spots are well regarded, and the defensive front seven also draws strong marks, which is a reminder of how much talent remains in place around a team trying to stay in the contender conversation.
The one area that still stands out as a concern is the secondary, which Sharp slots 26th and which remains the lone below-average unit on the roster. San Francisco is bringing back all of its starters there, including Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Upton Stout, while also adding veterans Nate Hobbs and Jack Jones, so the group has both continuity and new faces. Even with Raheem Morris now coordinating the defense and Osa Odighizuwa joining the mix up front, the back end is still the part of this team that feels most likely to decide how far it can go. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Just Sent 49ers Fans A Loud Message About His Future
Brandon Aiyuk has once again put his future in the spotlight, this time with a social media video that has only added to the chatter around where he might be playing next. The 49ers wide receiver is still under contract after signing his extension in 2024, but the noise around his situation has not gone away, and the latest post has given fans another reason to wonder how long he will remain in San Francisco.
Aiyuk has made it clear he is looking for a fresh start, and that has kept this story alive even without any official movement. For the 49ers, it is a reminder that one of their most talented pass catchers is still at the center of uncertainty, with speculation building while the team waits for the next real development. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan May Already Be Bracing For Another Staff Loss
Klay Kubiak has spent the past few seasons climbing quickly inside the 49ers building, and the latest chatter around him suggests that ascent may not stop in San Francisco. Since joining the staff in 2021, he has moved into the offensive coordinator role and held it through 2026, a sign of how much trust Kyle Shanahan has placed in him as the offense has continued to function at a high level.
The bigger question now is how long the 49ers can keep him in the fold. Bleacher Report has already pointed to Kubiak as a possible head-coaching candidate for 2027, and his name carries obvious weight in coaching circles given his family background and the success of his brother, Klint, with the Raiders. For Shanahan, the challenge is familiar: develop assistants, lean on them heavily, and then try to keep them from becoming the next attractive hire elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]