The San Francisco 49ers chose not to make any significant trades during the NFL trade deadline, which has raised questions about their strategy as they face injury challenges. Instead of pursuing players from the New York Jets fire sale or acquiring other notable names, the team decided to rely on the players they currently have in hopes of maintaining their playoff trajectory.
This week, the 49ers will not see any new saviors joining their practice field, except perhaps for Bryce Huff as he recovers from a hamstring injury, or fellow defensive lineman Keion White, who joined the team just before the trade deadline.
Reflecting on the trade deadline, here are ten observations:
- The 49ers previously made a trade for White last week, in addition to acquiring Brian Robinson and Skyy Moore in August, and Huff five months ago.
- None of these transactions required more than a Day 3 draft pick, but they have reduced general manager John Lynch“s draft capital.
- Importantly, the 49ers still retain their first, second, and third-round draft picks, which will be essential for their youth-focused strategy moving forward.
- As Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams recover from ACL injuries, the defensive line will feature Huff, White, Sam Okuayinonu, Robert Beal Jr., Clelin Ferrell, and William Bradley-King, the latter two being practice squad members.
- The 49ers steered clear of acquiring veterans with injury histories during free agency last March, and they maintained that approach this week. Players like Jermaine Johnson of the Jets and Bradley Chubb of the Dolphins will remain with their current teams.
- Although Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals was an attractive option, he has been battling a hip injury and would have required a hefty investment.
- The standout move involved Jaelan Phillips, who transitioned from the Dolphins to the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round pick. Phillips was involved in the play that led to Jimmy Garoppolo“s injury in 2022, setting the stage for Brock Purdy“s emergence.
- Prior to selecting Bosa second overall in 2019, the 49ers had shown considerable interest in Quinnen Williams, who was picked third by the Jets. Recently, Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for significant future draft picks and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
- The Jets also made a notable transaction by trading cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, who had previously acquired ex-49ers starter Charvarius Ward. Ward has been sidelined for several games due to a concussion.
- The acquisition of Gardner by the Colts cost them two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell, a bold move aimed at enhancing their chances for a Super Bowl run, similar to the Eagles” aggressive strategies.
As the 49ers look to maintain their competitive edge, their decisions at the trade deadline reflect a cautious yet strategic approach, prioritizing roster stability over high-risk acquisitions.
