The 49ers are still hunting for help off the edge, and the path to it may run through Tennessee.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, San Francisco remains in the market for defensive line help, with an edge rusher the clear priority. That tracks after the team bolstered the interior of the line by bringing in DeForest Buckner, but the pass rush still needs another jolt.
A blockbuster swing for Khalil Mack is the kind of move some fans would love to see, but that route may be crowded out by other teams willing to outbid San Francisco. That leaves the 49ers needing to keep their options open instead of banking everything on one big name.
One name that fits is Jermaine Johnson.
Johnson checks a lot of boxes for the Niners: he’s 27, he’s in the final year of his contract, and he has three sacks in eight games for Tennessee. He was a first-round pick by the New York Jets in 2022, back when Robert Saleh was coaching there, and he has put together a steady career since then. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and has 16 career sacks in five seasons.
Tennessee also looks like a team that should be thinking ahead to the trade deadline. The Titans are not headed to the playoffs, and they’ve already shown a willingness to move pieces by trading Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears for a hefty return. Johnson could be next if they decide to keep dealing.
The price tag should be far more manageable than what the Bears paid for Simmons. While Chicago gave up two first-round picks, San Francisco could probably land Johnson for a third-round pick.
Mack brings the bigger name, but his production this season sits at three sacks. That makes Johnson, especially given his age, a reasonable case to be the better fit right now.
Saleh’s connection to Johnson matters here, too. He clearly values the edge rusher, which is why Tennessee brought him in shortly after Saleh took over as head coach there. That relationship could make the Titans reluctant to move him, but it also gives San Francisco a possible opening.
Johnson is set to become a free agent after the season, so Saleh could always hope to bring him back later. For now, though, the 49ers need help, and this is the kind of deal John Lynch should be pushing to get done.
In Other News...
Ravens Just Changed The Pressure Around A Possible Mac Jones Trade
The market around Mac Jones has been a talking point for the 49ers, but any move would have to bring back a meaningful return for San Francisco to even consider it. With the quarterback picture still unsettled, the idea of a deal has lingered more as a possibility than a plan, and the 49ers are operating with a short window to sort out what comes next.
Baltimores latest direction only adds another layer to the conversation, because the Ravens are now looking elsewhere to address their quarterback need. That takes one potential landing spot off the board and makes a Jones trade look even less likely unless the situation changes in a major way, leaving San Francisco to weigh its options with the clock ticking. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Costly Trade Temptation They May Need To Resist
After Week 8, the 49ers are being linked to the kind of trade ideas that always sound better in October than they do in March. The names floating around are Brian Thomas Jr. and Khalil Mack, two players who would bring immediate attention and a clear talent boost, but also two players whose price tags would force San Francisco to think hard about how much it wants to spend for help that is not guaranteed to solve everything.
The appeal is obvious for a team trying to stay aggressive, yet the risk is just as clear. Thomas would require a much bigger investment than a late-round flier, while Macks market no longer looks like the sort of deal that should cost premium draft capital. For a front office that has to balance urgency with long-term roster health, this is the kind of temptation that can drain value fast if the 49ers decide the wrong player is worth the wrong pick. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Catch Raiders Secondary At A Very Good Time
The 49ers may be lining up against a Raiders secondary that is already dealing with a key question heading into the week. Cornerback Darien Porter was absent from the start of Wednesdays practice after suffering a groin injury in the previous game against the Jets, leaving his status murky for the matchup with San Francisco.
Las Vegas did get some better news elsewhere on the injury front, with defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway back on the field after his own injury. Wide receiver Cody White did not practice, but the bigger issue for the Raiders is still at corner, where Porters availability could shape how much pressure the 49ers are able to put on the back end. [Read more 🡒]