Many expect the San Francisco 49ers to be buyers as the NFL trade deadline approaches. The team is 5-0 and has extended its NFC West lead. The 49ers believe they can contend for a championship, and expectations are growing that they will look to strengthen their roster.
That could mean addressing position groups hit hard by injuries, including the defensive line and wide receiver corps.
On Friday morning, general manager John Lynch acknowledged that trade discussions have started to heat up, although he stopped short of suggesting a deal might be imminent.
Later, head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his thoughts on the 49ers’ approach to potential trade opportunities.
“I think it’s a time we could pursue everything, but the right thing’s got to be there,” Shanahan said on Bay Area radio station KNBR. “I know John wants to do that as much as anyone, and that’s what he’s looking to every day and every week.
“Usually, it gets a little bit more real the closer you get to that deadline, just as far as the whole league, but I know if there’s something out there that makes sense, that we think can help us, I know he won’t hesitate to do it.”
The NFL trade deadline is November 10, giving the 49ers more time to explore potential moves. Whether Lynch finds a deal that makes sense remains to be seen, but Shanahan made it clear that the team is open to pursuing opportunities to strengthen its roster for the final stretch of the 2026 season.