The San Francisco 49ers stayed put on the final day of the NFL trade deadline, leaving fans who were expecting a major move to fill gaps in the defense feeling let down.
The team had already made a notable trade earlier in the window, acquiring defensive end Keion White from the New England Patriots on October 28. Still, the lack of action on deadline day doesn’t rule out the possibility of the 49ers making further additions.
Nonetheless, the Niners did aim to make a move on deadline day, but general manager John Lynch explained that the asking prices didn’t justify approving any trades.
“Yeah, it was a little off,” Lynch said during a November 6 appearance on KNBR. “We were in on a lot of players. Sometimes it was just a one-year rental, and we didn’t want to get involved in that… At the end of the day, we made a judgment. We have been active, we’ve acquired a lot of players to help our team.
“Now you throw them all out there and you say this is our team, let’s keep forging ahead… We weren’t going to get fleeced. We weren’t going to overpay. That’s just bad business.”
It will be interesting to see if this stance proves to be the right one for San Francisco. The Niners have been able to overcome injuries to key players, especially on defense, and have a 6-3 record heading into Week 10.
However, could the injuries begin to catch up to them in the second half of the season? It’s a tight race for the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, so the team with the strongest depth could be the squad that wins the division.
49ers Remain Active in Adding to the Squad
NFL Network league insider Ian Rapoport reported on November 5 that free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. will be visiting several teams in the coming days, including the 49ers.
Samuel’s visit schedule, according to Rapoport, begins with the Carolina Panthers on November 5, then the Green Bay Packers on November 6, the Minnesota Vikings on November 7, the 49ers on November 10, the Chicago Bears on November 11, and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 12.
The cornerback is not only eager to get back on the field but is also aiming to join a team with playoff aspirations. He had spinal fusion surgery in April and has since been cleared for football activities, per ESPN.
Drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, Samuel has totaled 176 tackles and six interceptions over 50 career games, including 47 starts.
San Francisco Passed on a Reported Trade Target
The 49ers’ reported interest in signing Asante Samuel Jr. comes shortly after the team pursued a significant move on trade deadline day.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on November 4, citing sources, that both the 49ers and Bears explored acquiring New York Jets pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II.
According to Schultz, the Jets were asking for a second-round pick, prompting Chicago to turn its focus toward Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. San Francisco ultimately passed on the trade, which would have paired Johnson again with former Jets defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
John Lynch Gives Blunt Reason on 49ers’ Quiet Trade Deadline