An interesting new name has entered the fray as a pass rushing option for the San Francisco 49ers: New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson.
With star pass rusher Nick Bosa down for the year with a torn ACL, there has been near-constant chatter about the team’s need to replace him. The team traded for Bryce Huff in June, and rookie Mykel Williams has been thrust into a major role, with Yetur Gross-Matos and Sam Okuayinonu rounding out the rotation while Bosa sits. They won’t be able to find a gut who can replicate what Bosa does, but they could still use another difference-maker.
John Sigler of Saints Wire put together a trade proposal that would send Granderson to San Francisco, a move that would change the entire makeup of San Francisco’s D-line.
They’re holding on with a 3-1 record, but the San Francisco 49ers could use some help after Nick Bosa’s season-ending injury,” Sigler wrote. The 49ers are tied for the fourth-fewest sacks through four games (with five of them). Just one team, the Carolina Panthers, has a worse pressure rate than San Francisco. Granderson would be a big upgrade for them. And with several compensatory picks coming their way in 2026, the 49ers can afford to overpay a little.
49ers Trade Proposal Lands DE Carl Granderson for 2 Future Picks
GettyPotential San Francisco 49ers trade target Carl Granderson.
Here’s a look at the complete trade proposal Sigler put together:
- New Orleans gets: 2026 third- (projected No. 93 overall) and fourth-round picks (projected No. 130)
- San Francisco gets: DE Carl Granderson
The 6-foot-5, 261-pound Saints defensive end had a breakout in 2023 with 71 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He followed that up with 5.5 sacks and 13 QB hits across 17 games in 2024.
This season, he’s going off. Through four weeks, he’s already at 4.5 sacks with 20 tackles (six for loss), five QB hits and two passes defended. Granderson wins with length and power, sets a sturdy edge against the run and has shown he can play in multiple fronts. Those are qualities defensive coordinator Robert Saleh likes.
He might be the player other teams covet most on the Saints defense,” Sigler added. “Granderson restructured his contract this offseason, so any team trading for him would be on the hook for just the minimum salary the rest of the season. He’s also under contract for 2026 and 2027 with manageable base salaries of $10.75 million in each year. That’s well worth the cost of a starting defensive end with 33 career sacks. He’ll turn 30 next year.”
More on the Feasibility of This Trade Idea
Granderson is under team control because of the four-year, $52 million extension he signed in September of 2023. The Saints guaranteed much of the early money, which means an acquiring team would assume the remaining base salary and future non-bonus cash while New Orleans eats the prorated signing bonus.
If the Saints continue to spiral and do decide to become sellers, the Niners should absolutely be interested. He’d be a great addition this year, and the thought of him and Bosa working together in 2026 and beyond would have to intrigue Saleh.
Granderson isn’t Bosa—no one is—but he’s a durable, ascending edge who could really give the Niners defensive line a boost right now.
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