With the NFL trade deadline still more than a month away, John Lynch made it clear the 49ers are not the type to sit around and wait for the market to come to them.
Asked about the deadline on KNBR, the San Francisco general manager kept the door wide open for another move, saying, “I think you’re always in active mode.”
That fits the way this franchise has operated when it has gone shopping in-season. The 49ers have used trades to push for big finishes before, landing Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, Christian McCaffrey in 2022, and Chase Young in 2023. Those swings helped fuel two Super Bowl trips and an NFC Championship appearance.
Looking back, Young is the one that stands out. The 27-year-old edge rusher had 10 sacks last season and already has 3.5 this year. But Lynch’s point was less about second-guessing old decisions and more about keeping San Francisco positioned to act again if the right player shakes loose.
“I always say, I think our history speaks to the fact that we will not hesitate to improve this team if we can, and we’ve done that on a number of occasions. So we’re doing our jobs, and real proud of the way our team’s playing,” Lynch said.
The obvious place for outside help is at edge rusher, especially with pass-rush names sure to come up over the next month. Josh Sweat is in the division, and so are players such as Khalil Mack, Will McDonald, Danielle Hunter, Josh Uche, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and just about any other pass rusher with a pulse.
San Francisco’s own injury situation will shape how aggressive it needs to be. The team is expected to get Mykel Williams back this week, and Romello Height has already returned.
The 49ers also have two more weeks before the bye, which makes a case for giving Nick Bosa an extra week. At the same time, the club would have placed him on injured reserve if it believed he would be out beyond the bye, which suggests a return sooner rather than later.
Edge rusher isn’t the only area worth watching. The 49ers are still thin at defensive tackle, even if the most obvious name there is probably unrealistic. Vita Vea grew up in the Bay Area, but his 2027 cap number is over $30 million.
Another interior option, Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, has been more productive this season and would likely cost less because his contract voids after this year.
For Lynch, the bigger theme is health. The 49ers have been dealing with a steady stream of injuries, and he framed the eventual return of those players as a form of acquisition in itself.
“We’ve had a number of injuries. Hopefully, we start getting some of these guys back and stop losing people, because sometimes you can see those as acquisitions - when you start getting these players back.
We’re already playing this well. Man, when these guys come back, we’re going to be hard to deal with.
So looking forward ot that, and we’ll always try to improve our team in any way possible,” Lynch said.
In Other News...
49ers May Soon Regret Passing On A Raiders Ballhawk
The 49ers secondary continues to be a watch point, especially when a nearby rival is getting immediate returns from a rookie defensive back. Las Vegas cornerback Hezekiah Masses has opened his first season looking like the kind of ballhawk that can change field position in a hurry, while San Franciscos own cornerback addition, Ephesians Prysock, has yet to get into a game. It is the sort of comparison that gets sharper when a young defender is producing early and another is still waiting for his chance.
San Francisco will get a firsthand look at Masses in Week 9, when the 49ers meet the Raiders. For a team that has already invested in the cornerback room, this is one of those matchups that can linger beyond a single afternoon, because every early interception and every pass breakup from a rookie on the other sideline only adds to the question of what might have been. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Division Test Seattle Has Been Waiting For
The Seahawks have had this one circled, and not just because the undefeated 49ers are rolling into Seattle for a Week 5 division test that could say plenty about the early shape of the NFC West. Rivalry games tend to come with extra layers, and this one is no different, with familiar faces and coaching connections giving both sides plenty of reasons to know each other well before kickoff.
There is also a clear sense that Seattle sees an opening to measure itself against the league's most confident opponent so far, especially with so many ties between the staffs and rosters over the past few seasons. The buildup has naturally invited plenty of speculation about how certain players might factor into the game and whether the Seahawks can turn familiarity into an edge, but the bigger question remains how much of a challenge San Francisco's unbeaten start can withstand on the road. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Draft Class Already Has One Worry Fans Can't Ignore
The 49ers 2025 draft class has already become a study in contrasts, with the early buzz giving way to a much rougher reality. Several of the teams key additions have been slowed by injuries, forcing San Francisco to lean harder on the rest of the rookie group than it likely expected when the class was assembled.
A few later selections have at least given the front office something to point to, with Upton Stout, Marques Sigle and Connor Colby all showing enough progress to work their way into starting roles. The bigger concern is at the top of the class, where the most highly regarded picks still do not offer the kind of steady contribution the 49ers were counting on, leaving this draft haul feeling far less settled than the team would have hoped. [Read more 🡒]