The 49ers’ defense has come under increased scrutiny over the past week following their second straight loss, and with the NFL trade deadline just days away, the team is reportedly looking for help in both the offense and secondary .
San Francisco is “trying to add a few elements like edge rusher and cornerback,” Diana Russini of The Athletic reported Saturday, citing sources. According to Russini, 49ers general manager John Lynch is “on the phone.”
This should come as no surprise to the 49ers Faithful, as they have become accustomed to Lynch’s aggressive deadline approach over the years. Since he became the team’s GM in 2017, the 49ers have traded during the season for Jimmy Garoppolo (2017), Emmanuel Sanders (2019), Jordan Willis (2020), Charles Omenihu (2021), Christian McCaffrey (2022) and Randy Gregory (2023 ).
Earlier this month, Lynch told KNBR that the 49ers are not afraid to make a splash if needed by the Oct. 31 deadline. But that was after San Francisco lost its first game of the season to the Cleveland Browns — and before the alarming “Monday Night Football” loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Now the need may be more obvious.
The 49ers have underperformed on the defensive line so far this season, and a lack of depth and the need to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks was evident as Kirk Cousins rushed his way to 378 passing yards against San Francisco.
After investing so much money upfront, including a lucrative offseason contract for Javon Hargrave and a historic extension for Nick Bosa, it’s certainly not what the 49ers envisioned in seven weeks finishing 21st among all NFL teams in sacks per game. The 49ers would be remiss if they didn’t see if there is an adequate edge rusher at the right price.
There have been so many gaps in coverage in the defensive backfield this season that San Francisco wondered if adding another cornerback could help find the right personnel combination. And while defensive coordinator Steve Wilks also faced questions this week, the 49ers have made it clear they trust him with the unit.
With the 49ers at 5-2, there’s no reason to hit the panic button. But as history shows, San Francisco is willing to make a trade if it will help the team achieve its ultimate goal: winning a Super Bowl. And despite the last two weeks, it wouldn’t be shocking at all if Lynch decided his team needed a little push to get over that hump.
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