The 49ers can chase the headline names at the trade deadline, but there are cheaper paths that could still make real sense.
On the offensive line, Landon Dickerson is the bigger swing. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler, still only 28, and under contract beyond this season.
But that kind of upside is going to come with a hefty price. The Eagles already got a second-round pick for Cam Jurgens, and they likely value Dickerson even more highly.
That leaves San Francisco with a choice: pay a major draft cost for a player who comes with injury concerns, or look for a lighter deal.
That’s where Ben Bredeson fits. He’s 28 as well, has 60 career starts, and is signed through 2027. In the source’s view, he’s a strong alternative, and the kind of move the 49ers could pursue with a day-three pick or even a pick swap.
The receiver market offers a similar split. The splashier target is Quentin Johnston, but he doesn’t bring the same ceiling as some of the bigger names.
What he does have is two straight 700-yard seasons and a current pace of 1.07 yards per route run, which is a slight edge over the other option in this group. With the Chargers sitting at 0-6 and Johnston headed for free agency after this year, he could be available for a sixth-round pick.
That’s the kind of price that lets the 49ers test the fit without making a major commitment.
By contrast, Darius Slayton carries more baggage on the cost side. He has a 1,282-yard season on his résumé and is still just 24, but he’s averaging less than a yard per route this year and would cost a second-round pick.
On the edge-rush front, Khalil Mack is the name that draws the biggest buzz. But that buzz can also turn into a bidding war, and for an aging rental, the price could climb faster than anyone wants. A more measured option is Dante Fowler Jr., who is in the final year of his deal on a 1-4-1 Commanders team.
Fowler is six years younger than Mack and matched him with 5.5 sacks last season. He also has 34 sacks across nine NFL seasons and offers value against the run. With the 49ers looking for depth behind Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, Fowler gives them a way to fill that role without paying the premium that comes with the bigger name.
In Other News...
49ers Trade Could Already Be Bad News For Jordan Watkins
The 49ers move to bring DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco bolstered one side of the ball, but it also has a ripple effect elsewhere on the roster as the trade deadline approaches. For a team already trying to keep its offense balanced, any new addition can change the math, and that is where Jordan Watkins enters the conversation. The rookie receiver has been part of the mix, but his role is hardly locked in with the 49ers still navigating their passing-game plans.
San Francisco has been connected to more help at wide receiver, and that kind of talk always creates pressure on the players fighting for snaps. Watkins has flashed enough to stay in the picture, but if the 49ers do make another move for a pass catcher, the competition for playing time could get even tighter. For now, he remains one of the names to watch as the front office weighs how aggressive it wants to be before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face An Uncomfortable Mac Jones Reality As Deadline Nears
Mac Jones has become one of the quieter names in the trade chatter around the 49ers as the NFL deadline draws closer, and that silence says plenty. Despite the speculation that always follows a backup quarterback with a recognizable track record, no real market has developed for Jones, leaving San Francisco in the familiar position of carrying a passer whose value around the league has not matched the buzz around him.
With the deadline set for Nov. 10, the most realistic outcome now looks like Jones simply staying put and seeing out his contract in San Francisco. The one thing that could change the picture is a major injury to a playoff contenders starting quarterback, which would suddenly turn a backup into a far more urgent target, but until something like that happens, there is not much reason to expect movement. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Second-Half Decision These Fill-In Standouts Earned
The Week 8 bye should bring a familiar wave of reinforcements back to the 49ers, with key names like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans expected to rejoin the lineup. But the break also handed San Francisco a reminder that some of its depth pieces have done more than merely hold the fort. Jordan Watkins has settled in at wide receiver, Kaelon Black has chipped in as a runner with a touchdown, and Gracen Halton has made his presence felt on defense when the 49ers needed answers.
For Kyle Shanahan, the tricky part now is figuring out how much of that production deserves to stick. Watkins has earned a bigger look after handling a heavy workload before the bye, while Black's burst gives the backfield another option worth keeping active. Halton, meanwhile, has turned momentum plays into real pressure, and with the starters coming back, San Francisco has a second-half rotation decision on its hands that could shape more than just the next game plan. [Read more 🡒]