The 49ers entered the trade deadline conversation with a familiar shopping list: a wide receiver, an edge rusher, or an interior defensive lineman. After a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, though, the list may be getting longer.
One of the new concerns is up front. San Francisco has managed for a few weeks with Connor Colby, but that runway may be ending.
He appeared to make progress in his second season, yet tougher matchups have brought the problem into focus. Against Seattle, Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams gave him trouble.
On Monday Night Football, Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw got the best of him. Against Atlanta, the Falcons’ interior was not especially strong, but Gervon Dexter still beat Colby consistently.
There is a possible internal answer in Carver Willis, but that comes with its own risk. He is a rookie, and he has been sidelined for most of the regular season. Even with the bye week to settle in, putting him into the lineup would be a gamble.
That is why a trade could be on the table sooner than expected. Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles and Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts could surprisingly be available.
The secondary is another spot that is starting to crack. It looked deeper before the season, but injuries have taken a toll and the issues are becoming harder to hide. Upton Stout and Marques Sigle are expected back soon, which should help, but the group has already forced San Francisco into dime looks, and that has not been a clean fix.
Jack Jones has been brutal in dime packages. With Stout out, Jones started on the outside while Deommodore Lenoir slid into the slot, and it did not go well. The other option has been moving safety Ashtyn Davis into the slot, and that has not worked either.
The safety room has also become part of the problem. Malik Mustapha was benched to start the season, Sigle was benched last year, and Ji’Ayir Brown has struggled badly enough that he will likely be benched once Sigle returns. That leaves Davis in the mix now, but not necessarily as a long-term answer.
Whether the 49ers target a depth cornerback or a safety, the loss to Atlanta made it clear that another move could be coming.
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49ers Suddenly Face A Christian McCaffrey Concern They Can't Ignore
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Before he exited, McCaffrey was already doing his usual damage, helping the offense both on the ground and through the air. San Francisco had to adjust in the meantime, and Kaelon Black helped steady things with a 30-yard touchdown run while McCaffrey was out, but the bigger concern for the 49ers is whether their most versatile weapon can stay available long enough to keep the offense on schedule. [Read more 🡒]