The San Francisco 49ers have been battered and bruised, but that hasn’t stopped them from finding ways to win football games. It hasn’t always been pretty, but sitting at 4-1, the Niners couldn’t ask for a better start, especially in light of the many key players they’ve been missing.
As we inch closer to the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline, it seems more than likely the 49ers will go big-game hunting. General manager John Lynch is no stranger to swinging for the fences with a midseason trade (see: McCaffrey, Christian in 2022), and this year, he has some extra urgency to make a big move with the pass-rush woes since Nick Bosa’s season-ending injury.
On the flip side, the rash of injuries has given San Francisco a golden opportunity. Many of the depth pieces have stepped up and played above expectations. With the cavalry coming back soon, these players who have overperformed will suddenly find themselves riding the pine.
In the meantime, some of these lesser-known players have raised their profiles around the league to the point where they would garner significant trade interest if put on the block. With Lynch potentially eyeing a big splash, having these guys available to replenish some lost draft capital should make him the envy of most general managers.
He can truly have his cake and eat it too.
3 Niners who could wind up on the trade block once injured starters return
Quarterback Mac Jones
Mac Jones is the most obvious one, of course, but the much-maligned former first-round pick has rejuvenated his standing around the league thanks to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tutelage. With 905 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception over three starts, Jones has looked like more than a competent starter as Brock Burdy has shuffled in and out of the lineup.
Jones is known for playing it safe, and his average depth of target of 7.1 yards ranks 31st among 33 quarterbacks who have had at least 80 passing attempts. Still, he’s kept the offense on schedule, ranking 10th in adjusted completion percentage (78.4%), 12th in EPA/play (0.18), and 17th in passer rating (99.1). Overall, he looks like a mid-tier starter.
Mid-season quarterback trades can be tough, but there’s more than one team that could use Jones’ services, including one that desperately needs a field general to salvage their playoff hopes (no, Joe Flacco isn’t enough) that also happens to have a Trey Hendrickson that could fit nicely into the Nick Bosa-sized hole on the Niners’ defensive line.
Tight end Jake Tonges
Jake Tonges has filled in better than anyone could have imagined after George Kittle’s unfortunate Week 1 injury. The former undrafted free agent has caught 19 passes on 27 targets, racking up 166 yards and three touchdowns in the process.
Purdy and Jones have combined for a 132.7 passer rating when targeting Tonges. That mark is the fourth highest in the league among tight ends with at least 10 targets. Tonges has shone in what he can do after the catch, averaging 5.1 yards after the catch per reception, which ranks 13th.
With Kittle’s return on the horizon, opportunities for Tonges in the passing game will become few and far between. His strong showing so far, though, should drum up enough interest to get a late-round pick back, while the 49ers can rely on Luke Farrell to step up and handle TE2 duties as he’s become accustomed to during Kittle’s absence.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne
To say that Kendrick Bourne has been a godsend to the 49ers’ receiver room might be the understatement of the year. With Brandon Aiyuk yet to return from last season’s ACL tear, the absence of Demarcus Robinson for the first three games of the season, and subsequent injuries to Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ pass catchers have been desperately thin.
Bourne was signed off the street after Week 1 and has gone on to rack up the fourth-most catches and third-most receiving yards on the team, with 18 grabs for 229 yards in the books so far.
However, Robinson has returned, and Pearsall and Jennings don’t seem far behind. While not a wideout, Kittle’s eventual return will further eat into Bourne’s target share and that’s to say nothing of what will happen once Aiyuk’s back.
If and when San Francisco’s skill group is finally all healthy at the same time, Bourne will end up as the seventh-fiddle with all the receivers, as well as McCaffrey serving as the passing game focal points. The 30-year-old is a professional receiver and far too good to be buried that far down on the depth chart.
Once everyone is back in action, Lynch can likely take advantage of someone else’s injury woes and ship Bourne off for some additional draft ammo. Not too shabby for a guy who was sitting at home during the season opener.
