Packers 9.5-Sack Edge Rusher Considered Trade Target for 49ers

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One trade rumor has Kingsley Enagbare as a trade target to the 49ers.

The Green Bay Packers made one of the biggest acquisitions just before the start of the season, improving their pass rush by trading with the Dallas Cowboys for Micah Parsons.

Parsons and Rashan Gary now serve as the Packers’ primary edge rushers, with former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness also heavily contributing. That depth has left Kingsley Enagbare as the odd man out, working primarily as a backup behind the trio.

Even so, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Enagbare could draw significant trade interest from teams in need of pass-rush help — one of those being the San Francisco 49ers.

Rapoport pointed to the 49ers losing Nick Bosa for the season with a torn ACL as a potential reason they could inquire about Enagbare. Bosa suffered the injury back in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals but still ranks second on the team in sacks (two) and is tied for the lead in tackles for loss (four) heading into Week 6.

Along with Enagbare, Rapoport also mentioned Tennessee Titans edge rusher Arden Key and Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb as possible trade targets for the 49ers and other teams looking for pass-rushing help.

Kingsley Enagbare Career With Packers

Enagbare, 25, is in the middle of his fourth season in Green Bay. He has appeared in all 17 games each year — 55 total — but has just 18 career starts. His best season came in 2024 when he recorded 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. Overall, he has 9.5 sacks, 23 QB hits, and three forced fumbles in his career, with at least 20 pressures in each of the past three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus.

This season, his impact has been limited. Enagbare has yet to make a start but has appeared in all four games, posting six tackles and one QB hit without a sack. That limited production is largely due to playing behind Parsons, Gary, and Van Ness — a trio that has combined for 7.5 sacks this year.

Would It Make Sense To Trade Kingsley Enagbare?

A 2022 fifth-round pick, Enagbare is nearing the end of his rookie deal with the Packers. Trading him could be an easy way to move on if the front office doesn’t plan to re-sign him. However, the real question is whether a team like the 49ers could offer enough value to make it worthwhile for Green Bay.

Since Enagbare has primarily served as a depth piece throughout his career, his trade value likely wouldn’t be very high. The Packers would need to weigh the short-term benefit of a draft pick against the long-term value of keeping him as insurance.

“The Packers would likely need a draft pick worth more than a potential future compensatory pick to consider a trade,” Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse wrote.

Let’s face it: the Packers, sitting at 2-1-1, still look like one of the more complete teams in the NFC. Despite their youth, they appear capable of making a strong playoff push come January. But playoff football requires depth — especially at edge rusher. If something were to happen to Parsons, Gary, or Van Ness, Green Bay would need a reliable fill-in.

Right now, that backup option would be 2025 fourth-round draft pick Barryn Sorrell. The rookie has appeared in three games this season, posting 0.5 sacks and one QB hit.

Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker