According to trusted San Francisco 49ers insider Matt Maiocco, the Niners are not expected to make a trade for a veteran linebacker after 4-time All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner’s season ending injury.
The 49ers are instead expected to start Tatum Bethune at the MIKE linebacker position for the rest of the season.
via: @MaioccoNBCS
Maiocco previously wrote in an article on Monday October 13, 2025 that this is the right move for the 49ers, and that without Bosa and Warner in the lineup and with their current salary cap constraints, they simply can’t expect to be able to acquire enough talent to compete for a Super Bowl championship in 2025.
Instead, the rest of this season should focus on formulating their roster for 2026, Maiocco said.
Before his ankle injury, Warner was having another superstar season. He had already amassed 51 total tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 6 games.
He has 2 years remaining on his contract following this season. His injury has a recovery timeline of 3 months and he is expected to be ready for training camp.
All About Tatum Bethune
Tatum Bethune figures to be one of the most important players on the 49ers defense for the rest of the season. So, let’s take a look at who Bethune is as a player and his career history.
Bethune is a 24-year old in his second season in the NFL. He was drafted in the seventh round by the 49ers in 2024 out of Florida State. Bethune also played for UCF during his college career.
In his final season at Florida State in 2023, Bethune amassed 70 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3 pass breakups and an interception, good enough to be named Third Team All-ACC.
Ahead of the NFL draft, his instincts, acceleration, physicality and quickness were seen as his strengths. His perceived weaknesses were that he is undersized, has below average athleticism, and had a tendency to miss tackles in college.
He is an underdog player that it will be easy for 49ers fans to root for if he does well. But if he struggles, Niner fans could quickly become frustrated with him.
During his rookie season in 2024, Bethune played in 11 games (1 start) and recorded 7 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.
So far in 2025, Bethune has played in all 6 games for the 49ers and has 14 total tackles.
Trade More Likely At Defensive End?
Maiocco seems to be ruling out the idea of a trade at the linebacker position. But could the 49ers look to make a trade at defensive end with Bosa out?
The DE position is a little different than the LB position of course because it is less highly specialized. To truly fill Fred Warner’s void, the 49ers would have to trade for another MIKE linebacker.
But in contrast, if they acquired a star defensive end with years left on his contract, the 49ers could simply slot him in next to Nick Bosa when Bosa returns next season.
49ers general manager John Lynch has also been more open to the idea of trading for a DE in the wake of Bosa’s injury than he seemingly is to trading for a linebacker.
Trey Hendrickson is unlikely, according to Maiocco. The 49ers would need to sign him to a new, lucrative contract extension.
Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby is slightly more likely. He also comes with a premium contract. But at least the 49ers know what they’d be getting into with him. And, they wouldn’t have to negotiate a new deal.
Still that guy in the Silver & Black @CrosbyMaxx 🏴☠️
49ers fans, do you think Tatum Bethune will do well filling in for Fred Warner? Should the 49ers make a trade somewhere on defense?
San Francisco 49ers Not Expected To Seek Trade After Fred Warner’s Injury