The 49ers should explore whether they can have their cake and eat it too at the trade deadline amid strong start and mounting injuries
Could the San Francisco 49ers buy (and sell?) by the trade deadline?
The San Francisco 49ers are in a fascinating intersection for their 2025 season. Sitting at 4-2, the 49ers should be considered viable contenders in a crowded NFC. But despite the hot start, the 49ers have been absolute hammered by injuries. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are gone for the year — hits of that magnitude would be enough to dramatically change the outlook of any team’s forecast.
That’s before you acknowledge injuries on the offensive side of the ball, including Brock Purdy and George Kittle. It creates a rock and a hard place that the 49ers may find themselves in. So what is a team to do? Buy despite the magnitude of losses? Sell prematurely while still firmly in the thick of the hunt?
Perhaps there’s a way this team could have their cake and eat it too with the upcoming trade deadline in three weeks — by revisiting one of their summer headaches.
The San Francisco 49ers should revisit Jauan Jennings’ trade request amid Kendrick Bourne and Ricky Pearsall emergence
49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is playing hurt right now. He deserves a nod of respect for working through it, especially while doing so in a contract year. Jennings aspired to secure a new deal from the 49ers this summer, going so far as to request a trade in the process.
The 49ers rebuked that request.
But now, with the state of affairs in San Francisco, the emergence of Ricky Pearsall and the return of Kendrick Bourne, the 49ers have some wiggle room. They should see Brandon Aiyuk back at some point and George Kittle is expected back sooner rather than later. The 49ers should revisit Jennings’ trade request and gauge the interest for him on the market.
San Francisco 49ers 2025 receiving leaders through Week 6
- RB Christian McCaffrey: 46 receptions, 444 yards
- TE Jake Tonges: 25 receptions, 224 yards
- WR Kendrick Bourne: 23 receptions, 371 yards
- WR Ricky Pearsall: 327 yards
Perhaps you could flip him for an early Day 3 draft pick. Maybe there’s a player for player swap that makes sense and allows the 49ers to collect another defensive body to provide reinforcements while leaning into the emerged names in their skill group.
After all, Jennings is an expiring contract. The 49ers spent this offseason stripping salary and Jennings will be 29 years old next summer and in need of a new contract.
Maybe the opportunity for Jennings as a trade chip has passed the 49ers by. But if I’m John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan? I’m most certainly going to spend the next three weeks trying to find out. It could be the right way to delicately balance their status as contenders with the mounting injuries this season.
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