49ers news: Biggest winners, losers from 2021 NFL trade deadline

49ers Loser: EDGE Arden Key

Charles Omenihu’s presence on San Francisco’s depth chart likely ends up taking the roster spot previously held by Javon Kinlaw, although there’s a ripple effect that’ll impact some of the 49ers’ other pass-rushers.

In a sense, one could make the argument two edge rushers wind up emerging as losers because of the transaction, Samson Ebukam and Arden Key. And while Ebukam has been a notable disappointment despite registering his first sack of the year in Week 8, the nature of his two-year, $12 million contract likely keeps him safely on the roster. And, at the very least, in a position where he can hope to make a second-half impact in 2021.

The same can’t be said for Key, though, who impressed during training camp and the preseason but has since become something of a forgotten commodity, which didn’t get better after the Niners got depth EDGE Jordan Willis back from the reserve/suspended list.

And especially after the acquisition of Omenihu.

Key, whose collegiate talents at LSU once prompted the possibility of him being a first-round NFL Draft choice, saw his hopes flame out with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining San Francisco during the offseason.

Now, it’s looking as if those hopes for a bounce-back will have to take place somewhere else.