The San Francisco 49ers targeted two Indianapolis Colts players ahead of the trade deadline to solidify their roster.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner fills a void in the middle of the defensive line. A productive pass rusher who can hold his ground against the run and allow the rest of the interior linemen to play fewer snaps makes a fourth-round pick look like a steal, especially given Buckner’s production this season.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen gives Brock Purdy a trustworthy veteran target, taking
pressure off players like Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing in a playoff setting. Allen isn’t exactly the TE2 the 49ers had on their radar, but he’s close in usage and effectiveness as a blocker.
The 49ers could have done more, but the question is whether they should have.
The team with the best record in the NFL, the highest point differential, and an offense that leads the NFL in passing and rushing success rate probably felt pretty good about where they are at this point in the season.
What would you have done differently as the 49ers GM ahead of the trade deadline?
My answer: I would’ve targeted a cornerback. To me, that’s the one area where the 49ers can be susceptible. But you’d have to pry a cornerback from a bad team. A contender, or a team that thinks they’re a contender, isn’t parting ways with a premium position.
Martin Emerson Jr. from the Saints is near the top of the league in completion percentage allowed. He’s 6’2″, has a couple of interceptions, and, up until last week, hadn’t allowed more than 47 receiving yards in a game. But you’d be giving up on Upton Stout and would need to move Deommodore Lenoir inside. Cornerback isn’t realistic, even if the current ones have their faults. But this is what I would do.
Outside of a blockbuster trade that would’ve landed a player any team could use, it’s hard to poke holes in the roster from a team-building perspective. You can never go wrong adding more pass rushers. But you’d take away snaps from Mykel Williams and Romello Height by doing that. That’s a deep room as it is.
Mike Evans is your WR1. George Kittle is your WR1b. You don’t need another household name when those are your top two options. Jordan Watkins and Demarcus Robinson make for ideal backups with different skill sets. Ideally, De’Zhaun Stribling contributes this season. That name will get lost in the discussion of wanting more. Allen gives them much-needed experience, which is likely the one drawback of having so many youngsters at the position.
What would you have done differently? Let us know in the comments below.
