The San Francisco 49ers know all too well just how tough the NFC West is, particularly when facing elite-level defenses of their two archrivals, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.
While the Hawks rode their defense to a Super Bowl title last February, L.A.'s own defense under coordinator Chris Shula wasn't far behind and figures to be just as potent, if not more so, particularly after adding a stud cornerback in former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie.
That might not be the only transaction Los Angeles makes, if ESPN gets its way after suggesting another move.
The New York Giants may be looking to part ways with edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, particularly after even more defensive line additions earlier this offseason, and even the Niners have been suggested as a potential trade partner in light of their own pass-rush struggles from a year ago.
However, ESPN's Seth Walder proposed the G-Men sending their expendable pass-rusher to another NFC West rival instead, the Rams.
San Francisco wouldn't like that at all.
ESPN's proposed Kayvon Thibodeaux trade to Rams would be awful for 49ers
Here's what Walder proposed between New York and L.A. for Thibodeaxu:
- Giants get:Â 2028 third-round pick
- Rams get:Â Thibodeaux, 2028 sixth-round pick
Why this deal makes sense: This is a rich-get-richer scenario for the Rams, who already have Jared Verse and Byron Young at edge. Both Verse and Young were among the top-35 players in sacks last season (12 and 7.5, respectively).
Thibodeaux, who fits with the pair in the sense that he also is a strong run defender, can rotate in with that group. And if he lives up to the upside of his draft status, then Los Angeles would become even more dangerous.
It's a classic "rich get richer" outcome.
Los Angeles already boasts two of the more promising up-and-coming pass-rushers in Verse and Young, meaning a tertiary rusher like Thibodeaux would only make Shula's defensive front that deeper and more potent.
Plus, considering Rams general manager Les Snead is no stranger to engineering trades, the 49ers wouldn't be shocked at such a deal actually happening, knowing fully well it'd only make one of their chief in-division threats the more dangerous on that side of the ball.
Considering how hotly contested the NFC West is expected to be, any move of such caliber endangers the Niners' hopes of recapturing the division.
Hopefully, the Giants get a better offer from someone else... preferably out of the conference entirely.
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