Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 3 trades to explore making this 2018 offseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by defensive lineman Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers for a loss of 8 yards during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by defensive lineman Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers for a loss of 8 yards during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

The 49ers are going to have high hopes for 2017 first-round draftee, defensive end Solomon Thomas, and fellow defensive lineman DeForest Buckner has developed into one of the best interior defenders in the NFL.

With a true edge-rushing presence needed, 2015 first-round draft pick, Arik Armstead, becomes something of an excess commodity. And after spending the majority of 2017 on injured reserve with a hand injury, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners look for help elsewhere.

One team in desperate need of outside pass-rushers is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They finished dead last in the NFL with just 22 sacks, and defensive ends Ryan Russell and William Gholston finished with Pro Football Focus overall grades of 42.6 and 47.5, respectively.

Most of Armstead’s success came as a 3-4 defensive end, but the PFF pass-rush productivity prior to 2017 can’t be ignored:

Armed with all of their picks between Rounds 1 through 6, a third rounder wouldn’t be too difficult to ask for. And that would give San Francisco three picks in the first 10 selections within the round.