49ers could once again use old friend's success to their advantage at the NFL trade deadline

Having got back to 4-4 with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football last week, the San Francisco 49ers are likely to be buyers at the trade deadline as they seek to make a run down the stretch. San Francisco has consistently been aggressive in the trade market in pursuit of that […]

Nicholas McGee
Add as preferred source on Google
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans reacts during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium.
Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Having got back to 4-4 with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football last week, the San Francisco 49ers are likely to be buyers at the trade deadline as they seek to make a run down the stretch.

San Francisco has consistently been aggressive in the trade market in pursuit of that elusive sixth Super Bowl title and is not short of 2025 draft capital to work with as it looks to make additions that could be crucial to its hopes of finally lifting the Lombardi again.

Here's a quick look at the 49ers' projected draft picks in 2025:

  • Round 1
  • Round 2
  • Round 3
  • Round 3 (Compensatory)
  • Round 4
  • Round 5 (Compensatory)
  • Round 6
  • Round 7
  • Round 7 (Compensatory)

Per Over The Cap, the 49ers are set to receive compensatory picks for the departures of Sam Darnold (fifth round) and Charlie Woerner (seventh round) in free agency this offseason.

Of course, as neither of those picks are official, they cannot be used in a midseason trade.

However, the 49ers can trade their third-round compensatory pick, awarded for DeMeco Ryans being hired as the head coach of the Houston Texans.

Last season, the 49ers utilized a third-round pick given to them for Ryans' hiring and the Tennessee Titans employing Ran Carthon as their general manager to acquire pass rusher Chase Young from the Washington Commanders at the deadline.

Young did not have the impact many expected, but that is unlikely to stop a 49ers team that could again use help on the defensive line from being aggressive.

As such, that third-round comp pick is a very useful asset, and it could even be used to strike a deal with Carthon and the Titans, with Harold Landry and Arden Key compelling potential targets for a 49ers team that could clearly use help on the edge.

Regardless of whom they target before the November 5 deadline, it appears likely that compensatory third will come up in discussions, with the 49ers once again benefiting from their success in developing minority coaches and front office members. 

The 49ers haven't felt the impact of Ryans' proclivity for coaching defense since the 2022 season, but they could reap the rewards of helping him come through their pipeline in the coming days by dealing their compensatory third for a player with the ability to immediately improve their Super Bowl chances.

Related Articles