General manager John Lynch recently told NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco the San Francisco 49ers needed to continue winning games so they could "earn the right" to pull off a big trade prior to the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline.
At 4-1, coming off a thrilling overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5, the Niners are checking that box.
Sitting atop the NFC West with some room to breathe, thanks to three in-hand victories over division rivals already, San Francisco is in position to take a swing on a trade, and there's been plenty of speculation about targets already. One big name, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, would be a dream pickup to help alleviate the season-ending loss of All-Pro pass-rusher Nick Bosa.
But, Hendrickson won't come cheap. And that's led to some thinking the 49ers may go a cheaper route and target New Orleans Saints ageless veteran Cameron Jordan to help plug the gap left by Bosa's injury.
In fact, defensive ends and pass-rushers seem to be the preferred trade target.
However, one well-known media outlet is bringing in another name (and another position, for that matter) into the fold leading up to the deadline.
Pro Football Network tosses in big-bodied WR as preferred 49ers trade target
Pro Football Sports Network's Josh Weil compiled a list of all 32 teams' best trade scenarios ahead of the November deadline, and he had the 49ers making two moves.
One of them was trading for Jordan, backing up the above argument about landing the veteran pass-rusher.
Yet another pickup was the Niners trading with the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Xavier Legette, and here was the analyst's justification:
"Another player who could help San Francisco is WR Xavier Legette. After one year, the Panthers felt it necessary to draft another wide receiver, Tet McMillan, in the first round and bring Legette's usage down. Having a guy with Legette's size and skill set would be a change of pace for San Francisco, and with how banged up they always seem at wide receiver, it looks like a great idea to add some depth."
Indeed, the third-year pro has taken a back seat to McMillan. But the 6-foot-3 and 227-pound pass catcher from Round 1 of the 2024 draft might provide a unique long-term replacement for veteran wideout Jauan Jennings, who's injured now and missed the Rams game, but is also a pending free agent this upcoming offseason.
Should San Francisco pull off such a trade, Legette would be under contractual control for at least another season, plus a fifth-year option, should it be deemed worthy by head coach Kyle Shanahan to use.
Of course, the 49ers have already experienced some logjams at the position when their crop of wide receivers have been healthy, including Jennings and second-year pro Ricky Pearsall returning soon from injuries. And that doesn't even account for veteran star Brandon Aiyuk, who's expected back later in the year from last season's torn ACL and MCL.
Maybe that pumps the breaks on a would-be trade, but it's certainly provocative to see Legette's name mentioned in Niners circles at the moment.
Lynch has until Tuesday, Nov. 4 to decide whether or not such a move is reasonable.