The 49ers already made one splash move prior to the NFL trade deadline in grabbing Christian McCaffrey, but John Lynch may want to make some more.
In all likelihood, the San Francisco 49ers are done with shopping just ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline, which strikes at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
After that, no trades can take place. The Niners will have to wait until the start of the 2023 league new year before engaging in trade talks with other teams again.
However, general manager John Lynch has already made his blockbuster NFL trade deadline deal by grabbing All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. And while it was an expensive move from San Francisco’s vantage point, the fact McCaffrey almost single-handedly beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 points to the trade being worthwhile.
The 49ers are now without picks in Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, thanks to the McCaffrey trade and the 2021 move-up that landed quarterback Trey Lance.
Yet Lynch and Co. could spend the last few hours before the trade deadline either trying to acquire cheaper assets via day-three picks, or they may consider offloading excess talent in an effort to recoup some draft capital.
Either way, here are four potential deals Lynch and the Niners may look to engineer before the NFL trade deadline goes final.
Editor’s Note: All player availability as of Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. ET.
NFL trade deadline move No. 1: 49ers trade for Commanders CB William Jackson III
OK, so this potential deal requires a hat tip over to the folks at Pro Football Focus, who suggested San Francisco engineer a trade with the Washington Commanders for veteran cornerback William Jackson III.
PFF’s suggested compensation was two seventh-round draft picks, which the 49ers have. And while Washington is likely to accept something, anything to get rid of the disgruntled Jackson at this point, there are likely going to be at least a couple of other bidders on the market who’d be willing to pay a shade more than two final-round draft picks.
Simply put, the Niners would have to up their offer, but a fifth-rounder in exchange isn’t terrible.
San Francisco needs a starting-caliber corner to pair with Charvarius Ward in the wake of losing Emmanuel Moseley to a season-ending ACL tear. And while the 49ers are hoping veteran cornerback Jason Verrett can return healthy enough from his own ACL tear suffered early in 2021, the reality is Verrett is awfully injury-prone, too, meaning a healthier body is needed.
Jackson would fit that void, and the Commanders want to get rid of him while getting at least something in return.
NFL trade deadline move No. 2: 49ers trade away TE Ross Dwelley to Broncos
The Denver Broncos have almost no worthy NFL Draft capital after acquiring quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks the last offseason.
And, by how he’s looked over the first half of the year, Denver is going to be in a massive amount of trouble for a long, long time considering both the draft capital and financial investments in the veteran signal-caller.
So, should Denver elect to engage with its old trading partner, John Lynch and the 49ers, it wouldn’t have much to offer but something in the range of a seventh-round pick this year and a day-three pick swap in 2024 for the services of tight end Ross Dwelley.
From the Niners’ vantage point, Dwelley has become something of an expendable commodity. A year ago, he lost the snap-count battle to fellow backup tight end Charlie Woerner, and that trend is continuing into 2022, too. And with San Francisco slowly infusing veteran tight end Tyler Kroft alongside the All-Pro, George Kittle, there’s little point in keeping Dwelley around.
Especially with him becoming a free agent in 2023.
Granted, a team trading assets away for Dwelley in a contract year doesn’t make a lot of sense. But the Broncos offense is a mess and needs weaponry right now, especially considering the tight end duo of Greg Dulcich and Eric Saubert isn’t exactly cutting it.
All Lynch needs to do is convince the Broncos to try.
NFL trade deadline move No. 3: 49ers trade for Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi
It’s no small coincidence the Niners defense, particularly against the run, started to leak a lot of oil when it lost both of its starting interior defensive tackles, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, to lengthy injuries.
Kinlaw is now on injured reserve, while Armstead has missed four weeks in a row with a foot ailment.
There’s a chance neither returns this season.
San Francisco has spent plenty of assets shoring up the defensive line, including adding defenders like Hassan Ridgeway and Charles Omenihu between the NFL trade deadline last year and now. But a quality run-stuffing defensive tackle who also offers up an interior pass rush would be desirable.
Read More: 3 more players 49ers can look to move at NFL trade deadline
Considering the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t going anywhere this season, their offseason pickup of defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi won’t be intended as a long-term fix, and moving him for some building blocks would be the wiser move.
The 49ers can afford the prorated amount of Ogunjobi’s one-year, $8 million deal, and they won’t have to commit anything to him in 2023 either. And there’d be the possibility of him netting a compensatory pick, should he sign for a qualifying amount elsewhere this offseason.
More importantly, though, the Niners would plug that gap in the middle of the D-line that has been vacated by Armstead and Kinlaw.
NFL trade deadline move No. 4: 49ers trade away RB Jeff Wilson to Bills
Rewinding back to the Christian McCaffrey deal, it wasn’t just the Niners and Rams who were in on the All-Pro running back. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Buffalo Bills were also interested in making a move for McCaffrey but weren’t willing to put together the blockbuster-type of packages both San Francisco and Los Angeles were willing to send to Carolina.
This suggests, however, the Bills would like another running back to pair with Devin Singletary, and the 49ers now have one who could potentially be on the move, fill-in starter Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson, who has essentially been the RB1 in the wake of the Niners losing Elijah Mitchell to an MCL injury in Week 1, now finds himself in tandem with McCaffrey. However, with Mitchell poised to return soon, perhaps San Francisco wants to send Wilson away while his stock value is relatively high.
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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are willing to listen to offers for Wilson, and they’ve apparently received some calls, too.
Whether or not Buffalo is among those teams asking about Wilson is anyone’s guess, but a would-be move likely wouldn’t involve compensation beyond a pick on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, the Niners might as well try to get something out of the soon-to-be free agent this offseason.
The 2023 NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. ET.