The San Francisco 49ers may be one of the three teams that remain undefeated through six weeks in the season, and they're the only team to stand at 6-0, thanks to the bye weeks of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings.
But injuries have been a thorn in the side of head coach Kyle Shanahan from the jump, and it's been mightily impressive the Niners have still managed to put together such an impressive performance.
Several injuries to the wide receiver room has sparked a tirade of media about whether or not the 49ers will inquire about additional help in that department. Mike Evans leaving the game on Monday night before halftime didn't help the situation, and Deebo Samuel Sr. being ruled out before it even began just makes things worse.
That's how it came to be that Brian Thomas Jr. has been floated as a potential candidate.
Across the media, fans and pundits alike have pitched their choices for whom they think the Niners need to go and get in order to survive. While it's fun to create mock trades, they hardly ever come to light.
It's extremely easy to see the current state of San Francisco's depth chart and hit the panic button. But the Niners have John Lynch as their president of football operations and general manager, and he's not new here. He won the 2019 Executive of the Year award from the Pro Football Writers Association, and since 2024, he's been a member of the NFL's Competition Committee.
His experience and decision-making has brought much success to the 49ers, including two separate Super Bowl appearances.
That's the type of work that takes an immense amount of planning, contract negotiation, and the need to be able to balance the now with the future.
And that's the chief reason why the Niners shouldn't go and trade for any additional receivers.
49ers' returning WRs make a splash trade unnecessary
At present, the Niners have several receivers who are on the route back to the field, including the likes of Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson. It's true that they're all on their respective injury recovery timelines, but that's no reason to go and get additional help now, only to not play them when your primary receiving room has returned.
That's a recipe for a depth-chart disaster, and a general manager's worst nightmare. The only way roster spots like that open up is by creating the space somehow.
Additionally, as well as Brock Purdy has been playing, he's always looking to his primary playmakers in George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Kyle Juszczyk. By the time any additional help has been coached up and learned the playbook, the receiver room would be crowded, especially by adding someone like Thomas Jr.
There's a very large difference between a team that is in desperate need, and a team that is patient. The Niners may have had a few close games recently, but the scoreboard and the standings speak for themselves.
Lynch should the deadline pass and keep the draft capital that built this team instead of trying to fix something that isn't broken.
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