49ers rumors: Report says Niners could make another trade by deadline

The 49ers already made a move for Randy Gregory before the NFL trade deadline, but ESPN is reporting the Niners may not be done dealing yet.

Earlier this year, the San Francisco 49ers tweaked a number of high-end contracts in order to create plenty of salary cap space. As of Oct. 12, the Niners have the most in the NFL with over $40.1 million available, according to Over the Cap.

General manager John Lynch stressed the desire to roll all of this over, especially with the team making edge Nick Bosa the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. Combine that with plenty of other increasingly expensive contracts, and saving now makes a lot of sense.

But, for a Super Bowl-hopeful team like San Francisco, freeing up that kind of cash could also mean a midseason deal is in the works.

The 49ers already traded with the Denver Broncos for veteran pass-rusher Randy Gregory, who has yet to debut with his new team.

According to another report from ESPN, Lynch and the Niners may not be done.

NFL rumors: ESPN says 'don't rule out' 49ers at NFL trade deadline

ESPN's Dan Graziano (h/t 49ers Webzone) suggested San Francisco might continue stockpiling talent prior to this year's NFL trade deadline.

"Don't rule out the possibility of the 49ers, as tremendous as they already look, adding a player if they think it can make a difference," Graziano suggested. "The Niners have the biggest of goals for this season, and they were aggressive last year when running back Christian McCaffrey became available."

Indeed, San Francisco's 2022 deadline blockbuster for McCaffrey completely transformed the franchise, and the team has lost just one regular-season game since.

Combined with the league's biggest amount of cap space, it's reasonable to assume Lynch and Co. would go after available talent from teams looking to trade it away.

Related story: 4 Broncos players 49ers may target at NFL trade deadline

In addition to cap space, the 49ers are projected to have 12 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including five that are compensatory. And they'll also have a first-round pick for the first time since 2021, too, which could make landing a star player much more feasible.

According to Graziano, it's definitely a possibility worth monitoring.

Lynch and the Niners have until Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET to decide whether or not they want to engineer a trade, as that's when this year's deadline hits.

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