The San Francisco 49ers are expected to be in the market at the NFL trade deadline, and the need is pretty obvious: defensive tackle.
That’s the spot where they’re most likely to shop, and there are a handful of names that fit the bill if they decide to make a move.
Jonathan Allen is one possibility. The 49ers just got a close look at him, which at least gave them a fresh read on whether he’s worth pursuing.
Allen is in the final year of his contract with Washington, and the Commanders are sitting at 1-4-1. If they decide to move him, getting something back now would make sense.
The former first-round pick would immediately become the 49ers’ best run defender.
Calais Campbell could also surface as an option, though he may cost more than Allen. Campbell is two years older, but he’s under contract through the 2029 season, and that kind of control usually comes at a price in draft capital.
He only posted five sacks last season, but he had 20 over the previous two years combined. Miami is 0-5 and could be headed into a rebuild, especially since the current general manager and head coach didn’t draft him.
That could make him available while his value is still high.
Vita Vea was tied to the 49ers earlier in the offseason when his contract situation came up. Tampa Bay ended up extending him, but not in a way that makes him untouchable.
The Bucs are 1-5, and there’s even talk that their head coach could be fired soon. Vea remains one of the league’s best run defenders and he has a Super Bowl ring, so the 49ers would be getting impact and experience if they reopened those talks.
If Vea is out of reach, Tershawn Wharton would be a strong fallback. He has been as good as, if not better than, Vea against the run this season, and he brings leadership in the locker room. Wharton also has 11 years of NFL experience, and because he’s on a one-year deal, he should be easier to land in a trade.
Then there’s DeForest Buckner, a name that brings the story full circle. The Colts once traded for Buckner when they could have used that first-round pick on a quarterback, and that decision could end up sending him back to the 49ers years later.
Indianapolis has already fired the general manager who made that trade, and Buckner is unhappy with the organization. He’s a free agent after the season, which leaves the Colts with a choice: let him walk for nothing, or deal him now and get something in return.
In Other News...
Nick Bosa Return Hope Just Got Very Real For 49ers Defense
Nick Bosas absence has been one of the biggest storylines hanging over the 49ers defense, and the latest signs are encouraging enough to keep the conversation going. Since the calf injury knocked him out in late September, San Francisco has had to manage without one of its most disruptive players, and the idea of getting him back has obvious appeal for a unit that feeds off edge pressure and game-changing plays.
There is real optimism around Bosas comeback, but the 49ers still do not have an official confirmation on when he will be ready to go. The timing matters because a return in early November would give San Francisco a major boost right as the season starts to tighten, and the defense is clearly watching this one closely. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Pass Rush Looks Different Even Without Key Edge Rushers
San Franciscos pass rush has been one of the clearest changes on the roster through the first six weeks, and the production has come even while the defense has been missing key edge help at times. The 49ers have consistently found pressure in ways they simply did not a year ago, with the front looking deeper, more varied and more disruptive than it did last season.
John Lynch pointed to a broader mix of reasons for the surge, from Raheem Morris influence on the defense to Chris Kiffins work with the line and the impact of added bodies up front. Osa Odighizuwa and Keion White have been part of that shift, while rookies Gracen Halton and Romello Height have also been pulled into the rotation as the 49ers have tried to keep the rush fresh despite injuries to Nick Bosa and Mykell Williams. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have Real Freedom To Go All In
A strong start has left the 49ers in an enviable spot heading into the trade deadline, with the kind of flexibility that can change the shape of a season in a hurry. Between a healthy amount of salary-cap room and a roster built around veterans who are not getting any younger, San Francisco has every reason to treat this moment like a real window, not a passing opportunity.
What makes the situation even more interesting is how much draft capital the 49ers still have available to work with, which gives them room to chase help without stripping away the future. No move has surfaced yet, but that combination of urgency, resources and ambition is exactly why San Francisco is expected to be active if the right deal comes along. [Read more 🡒]