The San Francisco 49ers are hanging on to their season by a thread. While they've managed to start the year off with a 5-2 record, multiple of the top players on this team are currently injured. On defense alone, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are out for the season.
Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have a decision to make with the NFL's trade deadline quickly approaching. They can either chalk another season up to bad injury luck or they can aggressively push for replacements.
If they're hoping to fix their linebacker problem, Cincinnati Bengals veteran Logan Wilson could be the perfect answer.
49ers could trade for Bengals LB Logan Wilson
With Warner out, San Francisco is relying heavily on Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune to head the linebacker room. Rookie Nick Martin doesn't look ready for a full-time role quite yet, and the depth is lacking otherwise. They could certainly use some help at the position, whether that comes from free agency or a trade.
Wilson might be the best option available. The current Bengals linebacker has recently been benched in favor of younger players, making him an obvious trade candidate. He's still a team captain for the Bengals, indicating that he has the leadership qualities necessary to lift up a defense in desperate need of reinforcements.
In a recent article, ESPN analysts Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler listed the top players in the NFL who could be traded before the deadline. Fowler said, "Teams I've talked to believe Cincinnati is open to dealing Wilson, whose base salary is $5.4 million this season. Next year, Wilson has a base of $6 million."
Bowen added, "Wilson is a three-down defender with the coverage instincts and range to impact the pass defense."
The pair gave Wilson a 60-percent chance to be moved, making him one of their most likely trade candidates. They listed the Niners as a potential landing spot, along with the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Indianapolis Colts.
The veteran linebacker may be able to step in and start immediately for San Francisco. He's versatile enough to affect both the run game and the pass game, and has experience in multiple defensive schemes. At 29 years old, he should still have a few impactful seasons ahead of him.
This move looks like a no-brainer for a San Francisco team that seems to have been hit harder than any other by injuries this year.