49ers rumors: Niners desperately wanted this cornerback at NFL trade deadline

Both the 49ers and Eagles were trying to land the services of this high-profile Broncos cornerback at the NFL trade deadline last month.

There are plenty of experts and analysts who probably think the San Francisco 49ers were the biggest winners from the 2023 NFL trade deadline.

After all, landing edge Chase Young in a deal with the Washington Commanders in exchange for a third-round compensatory pick, one which the Niners likely get back if Chase walks in free agency in 2024, has to be viewed as the steal of steals, right?

Especially with Young paired alongside his former Ohio State teammate, edge Nick Bosa, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

However, multiple reports and rumors suggested San Francisco wasn't just targeting Young at the trade deadline.

There was another player, one who could have rounded out the rest of the defense in a massive Super Bowl-winning kind of way.

Rumor has it both 49ers, Eagles tried trading for Broncos star CB Patrick Surtain II

The 49ers' pass rush certainly needed a boost after struggling to sack opposing quarterbacks for much of the season, and the Niners have long prioritized their defensive line anyway since general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan took over their respective duties in 2017.

However, the secondary was also viewed as an area in need of improvement, which helps explain why ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Lynch and Co. were exploring a deal with the Denver Broncos for star cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

Plenty of other teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, made offers to Denver, according to various other reports. San Francisco and Philly were also reportedly worried the other would land Surtain in what's turning into a bit of a cold war between the two NFC contenders.

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Ultimately, though, the Broncos elected to retain the first-team All-Pro. Despite Denver's efforts to trade off assets elsewhere, Surtain appears to be a building block for head coach Sean Payton and Co.

And not a member of the 49ers or Eagles.

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