Until the San Francisco 49ers actually show a real answer for the Seattle Seahawks, the idea that they’ll catch them in 2026 feels more like a hope than a plan.
Seattle enters the conversation as the team everyone else has to chase. The Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, and most of the core that got them there is back. That makes them the clear standard in the NFC West and, for now, the league as a whole.
The Los Angeles Rams have at least made a loud push to keep pace. Their trade for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett put them squarely in the mix as the biggest threat to Seattle.
San Francisco, though, has not made the kind of move that changes the picture. Instead, the 49ers appear to be waiting around for Maxx Crosby to become available, and even that path looks shaky.
For much of the offseason, the 49ers have been tied to mock trades for Crosby. But they didn’t land him when he was nearly dealt to the Baltimore Ravens, and there’s little reason to assume the outcome would flip now.
The first problem is whether the Las Vegas Raiders would even decide to move him again. That is far from certain.
And even if they did, the price may not be what teams once expected. Two first-round picks might be too rich for some clubs, especially with knee concerns hanging over Crosby’s value.
The Raiders may not have much incentive to sell him for less than that.
And if Crosby does hit the market, San Francisco still wouldn’t be the favorite. The Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys should all be in the mix, and the Seahawks could even jump in too. At that point, anything connecting Crosby to the 49ers is just speculation.
Seattle’s defense already handled Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers last season. Mike Macdonald’s group held San Francisco without a touchdown in their final two meetings, and neither game was close.
The Seahawks did have some trouble slowing San Francisco late in the season, but the 49ers still need to find a way to score when they face Seattle. And with all due respect, 32-year-old Mike Evans, 29-year-old Christian Kirk, and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling don’t exactly look like the kind of additions that change that equation.
The 49ers should absolutely pursue Maxx Crosby if he becomes available. But they can’t build their hopes around a player who isn’t on the roster and may never end up there.
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