For a while now, the San Francisco 49ers have been loosely linked to Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The superstar might very well be with a new team before the season rolls around, and the Niners, finishing dead last in sacks in 2025, appear to be an ideal fit.
But it's mid-July, and nothing has happened. Former San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, however, might have the answer as to why:
"Alfred [Collins], I know he was a second-round pick and all, but he's still probably the biggest surprise to me in terms of just how much better he got from training camp... His mindset, his work ethic, he's only going to get better, and when it triggers for him, he's going to be a bear to stop," Saleh said on a recent podcast.
49ers electing for the route of long-term gratification
Last season, Collins was by no means an elite lineman. PFF graded him the 123rd-best at his position out of 134. As a result, he helped the Niners march to a tune of 20 team sacks, easily good for last in the NFL. But the fact of the matter is that he's young, and he still has his entire career ahead of him. It seems like, even though he hasn't turned the heads of the 49er fanbase, he has won over the hearts of the coaching staff.
While it's not the flashy route, Saleh is attempting to bring fans back to reality. Star pass rusher Nick Bosa missed nearly the entire season, and the keys to the front seven were left to a group of unproven rookies. A subpar defensive season should've been expected.
Saleh also expressed positive impressions of fellow youngsters Mykel Williams and C.J. West, both of whom were drafted in the same 2025 class as Collins. In mentioning this trio, Salah is clearly outlining the 49ers' defensive strategy, which can be summed up in one word: patience.
It's a bit of a tough pill to swallow, especially since fans view their team as having a win-now roster, but perhaps the Niners coaching staff believes their young front seven is on the cusp of a breakthrough. Especially with Bosa and Fred Warner healthy this season, it would shock just about everybody if the defense repeated las year's underwhelming performance.
49ers may still be healing past scars
It would also be difficult to blame the 49ers for having trade hesitations, as they haven't had the most luck pulling off such moves. The blockbuster deal that sent Christian McCaffrey to the Bay was a smash hit, but outside of that, general manager John Lynch doesn't necessarily boast a flawless resume.
Fans might still have mixed feelings about the trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, who was viewed to be the next San Francisco savior. After just 100 days, Lynch made him one of the richest quarterbacks in the league. While the rest of the roster arguably carried him to a Super Bowl appearance, Garoppolo soon proved he wasn't what the team had initially believed him to be.
At risk of bringing back nightmares, the draft-day trade for Trey Lance back in 2021 was one of the worst trades in NFL history. Lynch gave up three first-round picks for the rights to select Lance at number three overall. The move nearly crashed and burned before Lance's career even started, and it severely crippled the 49ers' future in terms of securing first-round prospects.
When it comes down to pulling the trigger on yet another blue-chip name, it's no surprise the 49ers want to explore internal options first. Given their transactional pedigree (or lack thereof) and the belief they have in their young guys, it makes sense as to why coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff feel confident rolling into 2026 with those who currently reside on the roster.
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