The San Francisco 49ers already made one splashy defensive trade this week, and they might not be done. The 49ers reacquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The No. 7 overall pick by the 49ers in 2016, Buckner had four sacks in seven games with Indianapolis — more than anyone on San Francisco’s roster — and his 20 pressures rank second behind Osa Odighizuwa (21).
However, San Francisco’s pass-rush still has a long way to go. The 49ers, who are battling several injuries on defense, have just 15 sacks in seven games (tied for 20th) after finishing with a league-low 20 sacks last year. They managed only three pressures on 34 dropbacks in Sunday’s 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, which is why several NFL analysts believe San Francisco could make another big trade — this time for an edge-rusher.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen recently named 25 trade-deadline candidates to watch, and they both linked the 49ers to a possible trade for Arizona Cardinals DE Josh Sweat. But many teams are looking for an edge rusher.” Sweat had 12 sacks and 37 pressures last season but has just two sacks and 10 pressures this year for a struggling Cardinals team. Pairing Sweat with Nick Bosa, who’s been sidelined since Week 3 with a calf injury but is expected back soon, and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, the 49ers would have one of the more dangerous pass-rushing trios in the NFC, on paper.
The Cardinals are clearly open to moving Sweat for the right price, which unfortunately for the 49ers will presumably be higher than for any other team — the cost of doing business with a division rival. For a rebuilding Cardinals team reportedly seeking a high Day 2 pick, squeezing a rival for premium draft capital is about the only way a Sweat-to-San Francisco deal makes sense. Despite the Buckner trade, there's buzz that the 49ers could have another potential trade in the works.
The 49ers and Bears,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz said on “The Pivot” podcast about which teams could be active on the trade front.
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