The San Francisco 49ers chose not to do anything at the NFL trade deadline despite the injuries piling up on defense.
With this quite possibly being defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's only year back with the Niners, they may be wasting it.
Getting Saleh back as defensive coordinator may very well have been the Niners' biggest offseason addition. He helped create the nucleus for San Francisco's defense from 2017 to 2020, and his return has helped the defense get back on track after it lost its way the last few seasons.
Even though the Niners have lost both of their star defensive players, linebacker Fred Warner and edge rusher Nick Bosa, the defense has held up fairly well and at least given the Niners a chance to win most weeks.
This bend-but-don't-break defense is held together with rubber bands and twine, though. With all of the injuries, at some point, all of those missing players are going to catch up with the 49ers, and they are going to have a very tough time slowing down opponents.
This is going to put a lot of pressure on the offense going forward to win games, but the lack of activity at the trade deadline could waste the great coaching job Saleh has done this season.
General manager John Lynch chose to not make any additions at the deadline. There are rumors that San Francisco was involved in talks for some edge rushers, but apparently whatever was being asked for them was more than what Lynch was comfortable giving up.
If the asking price was too high for whatever options were out there, perhaps Lynch will be proven right for his approach in the long run. But considering the fact the Niners are 6-3 and this is probably going to be their only season with Saleh before he leaves again for another head coaching opportunity, one cannot help but wish Lynch maybe gave him a bit more to work with for the rest of the season.
Sure, we can always say that Warner and Bosa will be back next season, but with how cursed this team has been by injuries, there is simply no more "wait until next year." Who knows what fresh batch of injuries and misfortunate next year will bring? San Francisco at least has a shot this season, so why not double down and go for it?
Again, maybe this is the right call in the long run. But the 49ers are wasting what will likely be their one last season with Saleh by not getting him any help after injuries have ravaged his defensive unit.