The San Francisco 49ers seem like they’re done making big moves ahead of next season, but they can still improve the roster in some important ways.
General manager John Lynch should hit up some of his team’s old friends around the NFL to see if the Niners can trade for some players ahead of the season.
Trade for Titans safety Amani Hooker
It’s been a bit strange that Lynch, a former safety in his own right, has not invested all that much into the safety position. San Francisco's safeties struggled at time last year, and it seems like the 49ers are largely going to run it back with the same bunch in the 2026 season.
They did at least add some competition to the mix by signing Ashtyn Davis, but the Niners could do more to improve a position group that some consider a weak spot.
Why not hit up Robert Saleh and see if he’s open to trading Amani Hooker? The 28-year-old Hooker has been with the Titans since 2019 and is a solid player in the secondary. He had five interceptions in 2024 and could be the playmaker San Francisco needs.
Maybe the Niners would part with a draft pick, or they’d be willing to let Saleh choose either Ji’Ayir Brown or Marques Sigle in exchange for Hooker.
Trade with Commanders for Jerome Ford
The 49ers swung a trade with the Washington Commanders for a backup running back last year by landing Brian Robinson Jr., so why not do it again?
Lynch could see if the Commanders are willing to part ways with running back Jerome Ford. They did just sign him this offseason, but Ford would give the Niners some insurance if their young backups, Kaelon Black and Jordan James, don’t cut it.
Ford had 813 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns back in 2023 with the Cleveland Browns, and he’s proven he’s a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield.
If Washington GM Adam Peters is in a giving mood, maybe Lynch can get him to help the Niners pad the running back depth chart just a bit.
Boost edge rusher in a big way with Danielle Hunter
This one would be a long shot, but if head coach DeMeco Ryans has any sort of heart at all and saw how terrible San Francisco’s pass rush was last season compared to how good his Houston Texans defense was, maybe he would allow the 49ers to land edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
The Niners would have to give up quite a bit to get him, but to acquire a guy who had 15 sacks last season would transform the defense, especially with both him and Nick Bosa on the field at the same time.
It’s a pipe dream, but that edge rusher spot opposite Bosa is still a question mark, and acquiring Hunter would turn it into an exclamation point.
Lynch has friends all over the place in the NFL, so he should get on the phone and see if he can work some magic during these slow summer months.
Add us as a preferred source on Google