Who Are Realistic 49ers Targets at the Trade Deadline?

With more than $41 million in cap room, the 49ers are positioned to shop at the trade deadline if they see a need. John Lynch notes that the plan is to roll over the cap room to next year to extend the contracts of starters and keep the roster intact.

If the Niners go shopping, the primary needs are at right tackle and defensive back. The trade deadline is Halloween, falling on the Niners' bye in Week 9. This is an early look at what San Francisco might give up, which teams can be sellers, and which players may become available.

What the Niners can offer

After years without a No. 1 pick, that should be off-limits in trade unless it’s for an All-Pro or Pro Bowl-level player. The most likely pick offered would be a third-rounder or lower. Picks are probably it as the Niners lack the depth to send players out.

Identifying the sellers

Given the huge success of the Christian McCaffrey trade, the Niners could be aggressive in looking for another home run swing. The dynamics of that trade: an expensive veteran on a young rebuilding team that’s out of this year’s playoffs.

Projecting the worst teams this season, toss out Arizona, they won’t deal in the division, and Las Vegas as Mark Davis won’t deal with the Niners. By my projections that leaves: Carolina, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New England, the New York teams, and Tennessee.

With C.J. Stroud off to a great start, Houston may not be a seller. That’s bad news as the Texans run Kyle Shanahan’s system and have attractive targets at RT and DB. The Texans' next three games will tell the story, they play Pittsburgh, Atlanta on the road, and New Orleans. Lose all three they may sell at the deadline.

Right Tackle

To make a move, Shanahan will want a player with experience in the wide zone system who he believes will be a clear upgrade over Colton McKivitz. Combine that with teams unwilling to move tackles given the lack of talent at the position leaguewide and a Niner trade for a tackle is unlikely.

Free agent La’el Collins passed his physical last week and is talking with teams. The Niners have not been mentioned. Collins is coming off ACL and MCL surgery with reports of hip trouble. Is he healthy enough to contribute, and when? Given those questions, the Niners probably pass. With Seattle’s injuries at tackle, they make sense as a suitor.

Carolina’s Taylor Moton has been raised as a potential target, but the Panthers lack depth at tackle and need to protect No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

Houston right tackle George Fant is an attractive under-the-radar target. He’s filled in for the injured Tytus Howard and played well, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.4 with only one sack allowed. Howard is expected to return by Week 6.

Fant is 31, has the requisite system experience, makes $2.5 million, and is a free agent at the end of the year. He’s an eight-year pro at 6-5 and 322 pounds.

Reviewing the rosters of the other potential sellers there are no other fits that jump out. Fant works as an inexpensive and productive option if the Texans are out of the playoffs by Halloween.

Defensive Back

A solution may be coming in-house with rookie Darrell Luter Jr. expected to begin practicing by Week 5 or 6. However, Luter has missed so much time he will need to ramp up to game shape and catch up on the system, having missed training camp. He may not see the field until November. Since Luter would be an unproven commodity, a deadline move for a corner could happen.

Denver’s Patrick Surtain II is getting a lot of talk lately. That talk though has been from his father on social media, unhappy with how his son has been used. Whether that would escalate into the Broncos being willing to move him? They'd need Surtain to request out. Surtain is a talented cover corner and a bargain since he’s still on his rookie contract.

Still, Denver may see a need to blow it up and gather draft capital. If so, the Niners and Broncos have a productive relationship. Shanahan and Lynch could see another McCaffrey opportunity, though it would require significant draft capital including the No. 1 and a haul of additional picks.

The question is how do the Niners want to spend that draft capital? Given the clear need at right tackle, and Shanahan wanting a starter at a cheap price, a Day 1 starter from the draft is the answer. A move for Surtain would mean giving up on right tackle, at least early in the draft.

Other targets include Houston’s Steven Nelson, fifth in passer rating against this year at 40.3. He’s 30 and a free agent after this season, 5-11 and 194 pounds. The Texans face injuries to Derek Stingley Jr. and Tavierre Thomas, so their return and the team’s record will determine if Nelson is available.

The Giants’ Adoree’ Jackson is a quality corner and a free agent after this season. Last season he allowed a completion percentage of 51.7% when targeted. He’s had a down year in ranking, but that’s on a defense that has one sack and is top-five in blitz percentage. Jackson is expensive with a base salary of $11.1 million, he’s 28, 5-11, and 185 pounds.

Prediction

If Surtain comes available I’d expect the Niners to make a run at him. While Nelson or Jackson could help, I think the Niners are looking at another McCaffrey swing or they stay put. At right tackle, I doubt they make a move - and that decision could prove costly in the playoffs.

Some hope for a run at Carolina edge Brian Burns, but the Panthers want to keep him and the Niners would be too imbalanced. The investment in the defensive line would be massive, and a quick passing game could work around it. A defensive investment at cornerback is the greater need.