The San Francisco 49ers stood pat on the final day of the NFL trade deadline and didn’t make a blockbuster move that some were hoping they would make to help compensate for the key losses on defense.
San Francisco had already been active in the trade market before the November 4 deadline. On October 28, the 49ers added defensive end Keion White, with ESPN reporting, citing sources, that the New England Patriots received a 2026 sixth-round pick in return for White, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t for the lack of trying that the 49ers had their eyes on a pass rush that could help fill the void with the season-ending injury of Nick Bosa. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports, citing sources, that the Chicago Bears and 49ers were among the teams that tried to trade for New York Jets pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II.
Although the Bears and 49ers showed interest, Schultz’s report notes that New York was seeking a second-round pick. As a result, Chicago shifted focus to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, while San Francisco decided not to make a move. Joining the 49ers would have reunited Johnson with Robert Saleh.
49ers Weren’t Willing to Pay a Steep Price for a Pass Rusher
Another name the 49ers were connected to ahead of the trade deadline was Cincinnati Bengals‘ Trey Hendrickson. With the Bengals slowly falling out of the playoff picture in the AFC, teams had the veteran pass rusher in their sights.
Still, any team looking to acquire Hendrickson, including San Francisco, would have had to pay a significant price. Initially, the Bengals had no intention of trading Hendrickson before the NFL’s 1 p.m. PT trade deadline on November 4.
However, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on November 3, citing league sources, that Cincinnati had recently softened its position and was seeking a first-round draft pick in any deal involving Hendrickson. Despite the change in stance, no team would pay that asking price.
The Niners have survived the injuries to their defense, and while they know that their window to win a Super Bowl is now, they aren’t willing to sacrifice the future by giving up any draft capital. Nonetheless, time will tell if that was the right move by general manager John Lynch.
Trent Williams Hoped the 49ers Would Make a Move
Before the trade deadline passed, the 49ers had defeated the New York Giants 34-24 on November 2, improving to 6-3 and putting themselves in a strong position to make a move. Veteran offensive lineman Trent Williams was hopeful that the 49ers would be active at the deadline, but that wouldn’t be the case.
“I’m always hopeful that the front office continues to do what they’ve always done,” Williams said postgame (h/t 95.7 The Game). “It’s about to put us in the best position to be a championship football team. I know [general manager John Lynch] and them will work magic. If not, we got what we have in the locker room. I think that’s another one. Obviously, the front office will continue to do their job.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Jets Scared Off Bears, 49ers With Steep Trade Price: Report appeared first on Heavy Sports.