Despite losing stars like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and Brock Purdy to major injuries, the San Francisco 49ers have managed a 6-3 record — a testament to their depth and resilience. Given those circumstances, many fans and NFL experts expected the team to make a significant move ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Instead, the 49ers’ trade deadline inaction surprised much of the league, as several contenders made major moves to strengthen their rosters.
49ers Trade Deadline Inaction Spells Trouble
A Quiet Deadline for the 49ers
The team’s lone trade came six days before the deadline. The 49ers acquired defensive end Keion White and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection. White, 26, started and recorded five sacks in 2024, but saw his role diminish under new Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
With rookie Mykel Williams suffering a torn ACL against the New York Giants last weekend, White will help patch an injury-riddled defensive line. However, he’s unlikely to have the same impact as some of the bigger names who moved this week.
Seattle and Other Rivals Get Stronger
One of those deals boosted an NFC West rival. The Seattle Seahawks acquired dynamic receiver and returner Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints, giving quarterback Sam Darnold another weapon alongside superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The 49ers’ depleted defense will now have to contend with a strengthened Seattle offense in the division race — not to mention the Puka Nacua- and Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles Rams.
Offensively, San Francisco could have benefited from a similar addition. With multiple wideouts sidelined, running back Christian McCaffrey led the team in receiving yards against the Giants — a clear sign of how thin the 49ers’ receiving corps has become.
Inside the 49ers Trade Deadline Inaction: Missed Moves and Missed Opportunities
The 49ers’ front office didn’t entirely sit on its laurels, as they explored potential deals with rebuilding teams. For instance, the team reportedly pursued New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson before ultimately backing away from a trade that would have bolstered their defensive line.
They also saw potential linebacker targets Logan Wilson go to the Dallas Cowboys and Dre’Mont Jones to the Baltimore Ravens. By not adding an outside replacement for Warner, the 49ers are putting their trust in rising youngsters Tatum Bethune and Dee Winters to anchor the middle of the defense.
Lynch’s Long-Term Strategy Under the Microscope
General manager John Lynch’s decision to hold on to future draft capital preserves the team’s long-term flexibility, but it also raises questions about San Francisco’s ability to contend down the stretch and its Super Bowl hopes.
Depending on how the rest of the season unfolds, fans may look back and wonder whether Lynch made the right call in not going all-in like the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys did at this year’s deadline. Both of those teams gave up multiple first-round picks to the New York Jets for star players. The Colts landed cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, and the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
For now, the 49ers appear content to ride out the season with their current roster, hoping their depth holds and that better injury luck arrives next year. If the 49ers fall short of their championship goals again, this quiet trade deadline could loom large in hindsight.
Main Photo: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
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