Niner Noise
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2019 NFL trade deadline: 3 moves 49ers can make for added depth

By Nathan Bannerman

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 15: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers watches action prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 15: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers watches action prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 08: Alex Barnes #39 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball against Alex Singleton #49 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Titans defeated the Eagles 27-10. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 08: Alex Barnes #39 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball against Alex Singleton #49 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Titans defeated the Eagles 27-10. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Trade for Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton

The 49ers pass rush is already second to none. With Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and DeForest Buckner, just to name a few, the pass defense is ranked first in the league in many categories.

However, their run defense can use just a bit of help down the stretch.

Insert newly promoted Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton into the fold. Singleton made his debut on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys.

Ask any fan in Calgary, Alberta, Canada or any Canadian Football League (CFL) supporter, they’ll give glowing reviews of the 25 year old. The Thousand Oaks, California native was a super star in the CFL. With his Canadian roots, he was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in 2016 out of Montana State.

In three years, he became a two-time CFL All Star, won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award in only his second season and helped bring a Grey Cup to Calgary.

Singleton is a hard-nosed, north-south, extremely intelligent player. He’s always one of the first tacklers to stuff the hole on the run. He’s not going to rush the quarterback on every play (he only had four sacks in the CFL) or get interceptions (only one career pick), but he will change the opponent’s game play. He racked up 328 tackles in three seasons.

Understandably, the NFL and CFL are quite different. Many have said Singleton won’t be the star he was north of the border. But this isn’t just your average football player. This kid is something special and will certainly look to prove he belongs in the league. If the 49ers need help due to injuries or lack of production from the linebacking core, general manager John Lynch should look East to bring home a California native.