The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, and teams are scrambling to make the necessary moves to strengthen their rosters. One of the most intriguing teams to watch is the San Francisco 49ers, who are in desperate need of a dominant presence to replace Nick Bosa following his season-ending injury.
“Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that defensive lineman Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. Bosa will undergo season-ending surgery,” 49ers.com’s Briana Jeannel wrote.
The injuries to Bosa and other key 49ers players have put the team in such a difficult position that they’ve had to hold tryouts midseason — something rarely seen outside of kicker situations.
“Dealing with a laundry list of injuries to the defensive line, the 49ers held tryouts Tuesday with seven defensive linemen, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. Tommy Akingbesote, Shakel Brown, Michale Dwumfour, Jonathan Garvin, Bruce Hector, Jah Joyner and DeMarcus Walker all worked out in Santa Clara,” NBC Sports’ Dan Dempster wrote.
With the trade deadline nearing, the 49ers have been predicted to strike a deal with the Miami Dolphins to acquire veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon.
“The 49ers are desperate for help on the edge after losing Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the season. They traded for former Patriots second-round pick Keion White but could still use a high-end starter given the injuries they have at the position. San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider. Perhaps they will value adding his experience after adding White’s upside in the trade with the Patriots,” USA Today’s Jacob Camenker wrote.
A potential deal for Judon would make plenty of sense for San Francisco, as it would fill a major void in their defense. Judon brings valuable experience and has played for several playoff teams, so stepping into a contender’s locker room would be nothing new for him.
Judon is currently on a one-year deal, meaning if things don’t work out, the 49ers could move on easily. The veteran edge rusher just wants an opportunity to compete and win football games — something both he and San Francisco need right now.
