5 last-minute deals that could help 49ers at NFL trade deadline

49ers trade target No. 5: CB Jaylon Johnson, Bears

San Francisco's defense lacks teeth when the pass rush isn't getting home. And, for the most part this season, it hasn't been getting home.

This has exposed the 49ers' defensive backfield a good deal as of late, and it's becoming painfully obvious that the Niners need a good cover cornerback who can play opposite Charvarius Ward. An upgrade at nickel over Isaiah Oliver would probably help matters, too

Perhaps the No. 1 trade target for San Francisco at the deadline would be Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who'd be a rental and a free agent next season. But his current prorated cap hit of $2.99 million is awfully affordable. The only question for the 49ers is whether or not they could get him for an acceptable crop of draft picks.

Related story: 3 players Niners could look to trade by NFL deadline (but probably won't)

If they did, Johnson could take over one boundary spot, which would allow No. 2 cornerback Deommodore Lenoir to move inside, thereby pushing Oliver into a backup role, which isn't the worst thing for a struggling secondary.

The 2023 NFL trade deadline is on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET.

Read more from Niner Noise