On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers won a slugfest against the Las Vegas Raiders. While the team dropped 38 points on their former Bay Area rival, they lost defensive tackle Gracen Halton for the season.
The loss makes their prior trade for DeForest Buckner all the more important, but it leaves a gaping hole at the back end of the interior line rotation. With a suddenly shallow front seven, the 49ers must use the dwindling hours of the trade deadline wisely.
The 49ers have until 1:00 P.M. PDT on Tuesday to get a deal done. Here are three realistic deals they could pull off before the clock hits zero.
1. Zach Sieler
Sieler isn't necessarily a needle mover at tackle, but he would serve as a change-of-pace backup to the aforementioned Buckner. There is no question that the Dolphins, now 1-7, would be inclined to sell, as they clearly have their sights set on 2027 and beyond.
Sieler is clearly past his prime, but he recorded double-digit sacks just two years ago. His addition would give Kyle Shanahan another savvy veteran on the front seven.
2. Daron Payne
Payne is on an expiring contract on a team that has now fallen to 2-5. It simply isn't in the cards for the Commanders this year.
That being said, the 49ers could easily swing a deal for the nine-year pro. He has 38 sacks in his career, and he's been graded kindly by PFF's standards this season. His 17 pressures of opposing quarterbacks rank 22nd among interior linemen.
3. Vita Vea
Yes, we're bringing up his name again.
Perhaps the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have changed their tune since the offseason given their 3-6 start. They've already endured a myriad of injuries, and their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, looked like the walking dead in Week 9 on Sunday Night Football.
Vea requested a trade over the offseason but eventually landed on a one-year extension worth $30 million. That new figure doesn't kick in until 2027, though, and the 49ers of all franchises have the cap space to make it work.
Both Sieler and Payne are solid depth options, but Vea is a move that a team with Super Bowl aspirations would make
Put simply, if the 49ers truly wish to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, they will spare no expense in bolstering their roster accordingly. Other NFC threats, namely the Seahawks and Bears, have already shown their willingness to spend, and now it's San Francisco's turn. When hit with the injury bug in the middle of title contention, the only logical option is to take a few homerun swings.
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