49ers May Be Playing Themselves in Position for a Big Deadline Trade

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Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch at San Francisco 49ers Training Camp

hrough the first five games of the 2025 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers are rolling. Sitting at 4-1, and coming off of a massive overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams in week five, the 49ers not only own sole possession of first place in the NFC West, but they also own one of the best records in the entire NFL. Coming into this season with lower expectations than in seasons past– with the roster featuring a lot of rookies and younger players– the 49ers have defied expectations so far and have looked like serious contenders once again.

But the 49ers still have a lot of work to do. Still having 12 games remaining on their schedule, with some tough games coming up, the 49ers will have their resilience tested as they look to return to the playoffs– and possibly the Super Bowl. But given the early success that the 49ers are experiencing, and the big confidence boosting win over the Rams, it is very possible that the 49ers put themselves in a position to land a big name player at the trade deadline to give them even more of an edge.

Will the 49ers Swing a Trade?

Entering their week five contest, the 49ers were heavy underdogs– with the expectation that they would fall to 3-2. And despite all the injuries they had going into it, the 49ers not only won, but won in dramatic fashion– potentially shifting the trajectory of their season. And if that is the case, then general manager John Lynch may start picking up the phone– declaring prior to the 49ers‘ win over the Rams that the team will have to earn a big deadline deal.

“I think there’s also a component, you’ve got to earn the right, probably talked about more in baseball: Do you earn the right to motivate people to go acquire people?” Lynch said in an NBC Sports Bay Area interview last week. “So that means we’ve got to keep playing good football, so this guy could be the guy who makes a difference.”

And with the win, along with the rest of the NFC West losing in week five, the 49ers playoff hopes got a massive boost. If that is the case, the 49ers could be aggressive in landing a player that helps them get back to the Super Bowl this season.

The 49ers Roster Situation

The 49ers are an impressive 4-1, but what is even more impressive is the fact that they are 4-1 with all the injuries that they have. Losing star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a torn ACL for the rest of the season, the 49ers have also played most of their games without quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, among others, and won the game against the Rams with mostly backups. Acquiring another player could help improve their depth and provide the team with an extra cushion to combat their injuries.

But since Bosa’s injury, trade rumors for a new pass rusher almost immediately became the talk of the town. Players such as Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals are names that started to be thrown around, and while there are other pass rushers in the league that could become available in the near future as well, Lynch tired to downplay how big of a difference maker the 49ers would get.

“Oftentimes, it’s just another add,” Lynch said. “With anyone on that trade market, you’re not replacing Nick Bosa.”

The 49ers got to enjoy a mini bye week following their win over the Rams but are now locked in on their next task– taking down Baker Mayfield and the red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. Kickoff for the game is at 1:25 p.m. (PT) and will air on CBS.

Dylan Grausz A lifelong sports fan, Dylan channels his passion for sports into being a journalist, where his primary goal is to provide readers with content that they love to read. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dylan’s love for the Warriors, 49ers and Giants runs deep, having the ultimate dream of being a beat reporter for one of those teams. More about Dylan Grausz