The San Francisco 49ers are 5-0 and in firm control of the NFC West, but that shouldn't stop them from trying to improve their team. Many might look at their star-studded roster and think that there is little to improve. The Niners, however, are no strangers to making big splashes in an attempt (see the Christian McCaffrey trade of 2023).
The red and gold once again find themselves in a position to make a move. Not only is their franchise quarterback Brock Purdy playing at an MVP level, but he has the pieces around him to truly make a run at another Super Bowl.
Many suspect GM John Lynch will make a few small, supplemental moves to bolster depth, but there are a few trades he could make that would shock the league - and make them shoo-ins for yet another championship run. They certainly have the cap space to make a blockbuster move. Here are a few that could put the 49ers in elite company.
5. Quenton Nelson
It took the 49ers five weeks to allow their first sack, an impressive feat, but there is still room for improvement.
Amid the stonewall is one position that has been a cause for concern since training camp. Connor Colby, the Niners' left guard, has been the tentative starter since Week 1. While the decision worked for the first four weeks, he started to show some weaknesses, and the Seahawks sacked Brock Purdy twice in the divisional matchup.
The 49ers could elect to make their offense's strength even stronger by trading for a left guard. Acquiring another lineman would give them a Thanos glove of O-lines, and it could lead to even more success for Brock Purdy.
The Indianapolis Colts are 2-3. Even though they are in second place in the weak AFC South, they are unlikely to overtake the 4-1 Jaguars for the division's top spot. If they lose a few more games in the coming weeks, it may be time to sell a player like Quenton Nelson. The 30-year-old veteran is still playing at a high level and could help round out the San Francisco line.
Nelson is currently the second-best left guard in the NFL by PFF's standards. A tandem of him and Trent Williams covering Purdy's blind spot would be near impenetrable.
4. Omarion Hampton
Yes, this seems a bit far-fetched, but no one expected Marvin Harrison Jr. to be wearing a different uniform by his third year, yet here we are.
Hampton is good at football, and there's no way around that fact. Despite his season-low 30.0 percent snap share in Week 5, he is a formidable runner who can punish opposing defenses. It's why he was drafted 22nd overall out of UNC in 2025.
Last year, he ran for 4.4 yards per carry behind an makeshift Chargers O-line. He also showed an adept ability to catch the ball in space. In other words, he looked like a young Christian McCaffrey. His fall from grace in Los Angeles could certainly result in another team's gain, and it makes perfect sense for the Niners, who currently rely on a 30-year-old tailback, to swoop in and revive his career.
Snagging Hampton would be a head-turning splash that no one would see coming, but he wouldn't be the first youngster who was given up on by the team that drafted them. If the 49ers were to buy low on the back, he could form a lethal duo with Christian McCaffrey.
It's already apparent that Kyle Shanahan is committing to lightening McCaffrey's workload this season, and Hampton could be an exceptional protégé who could take over the backfield when CMC eventually departs. It would simultaneously be an immediate lineup improvement and a move for the future.
3. Maxx Crosby
While the 49ers' pursuit of Crosby was more of a summer thing, they could still go barking up the same tree. After all, who wouldn't want to see both Nick Bosa and Maxx Crosby terrorizing opposing quarterbacks simultaneously?
The Raiders started off 3-0 but proceeded to lose two straight, and their upcoming schedule doesn't get any easier. If things continue to go south, the 49ers could swoop in just before the November 10th deadline and borrow his services for the remaining year and a half left on his contract.
Crosby deserves to be on a winning team, and the 49ers represent a clear contending option where he could fit right in. A pass-rushing unit featuring him and Bosa would be gratuitous, especially with Keion White, Mykel Williams, and Romello Height as serviceable backups to spell them when needed. Opposing quarterbacks would spend entire games running for their lives.
2. Vita Vea
Yes, this is still a realistic possiblity.
Even though the 49ers have a greatly improved pass rush from last year, defensive tackle is still one of their shallowest positions on defense. With Alfred Collins' season-ending injury right before the star of the year, rookie Gracen Halton has been asked to step into a larger role than anticipated. He has done magnificently on short notice, playing a huge part in the win over Seattle, when he stripped and recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown.
But Vea is a different animal. The run stopper just signed a one-year extension, meaning if the 49ers wanted to trade for him, they would have multi-year control over his employment. His current salary of $1.3 million is pennies on the dollar compared to the level of production they could get from the bruiser.
In short, his contract is extremely team-friendly despite his extension. Tampa Bay is 1-4, and there is no incentive to keep the 31-year-old around when they could deal him for future assets instead.
1. Garrett Wilson
Talk about a league-altering splash.
Wilson just recently signed a four-year deal with the Jets, but if anybody could take on the salary, it would be the 49ers. The franchise has the most cap space in the league, and if they wanted to give Purdy another big-time weapon, they have the means to do so.
Wilson has started 2026 strong. The pass catcher has accrued 374 yards through the air and three scopres to bout. A wide receiver room headed by him and Mike Evans would be an embarrassment of riches for a quarterback who has already proven he can throw to just about anyone.
New York is 2-3 and in danger of becoming irrelevant in the AFC East. Regardless of how their next few games go, it's clear they have no Super Bowl aspirations this year. They already sold their young cornerback, Sauce Gardner, to the Colts last year, and they could continue that trend with Garrett Wilson before this season's trade deadline.
If John Lynch were able to pull this off, he would give his team one of the best wide receiver rooms in the league. There is no doubt Purdy could effectively lead such a high-powered offense deep into the postseason.
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