Who is the perfect trade target for the 49ers? + Injury Updates: Wilson Jr, Samuel, and more.
Yet another RB on IR, but a mixed bag of good and bad news on the injury front. Plus, looking at a pass rusher that has not come up in trade rumors... yet.
San Francisco 49ers/YouTube
(Santa Clara) - What a game. A day after, it still feels surreal that a Bill Belichick-led Patriots team with a former MVP at the helm was absolutely beatdown by a decimated team like the 49ers. And it shows that John Lynch, even with his questioned skills in terms of cap management, along with Adam Peters, Paraag Marathe, and Kyle Shanahan - These are the guys. Period. While Peters and possible Paraag could be poached in the future by other teams, one thing is clear - John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan know how to build a roster and build it with depth. While you can question their cap management, there is no question that both in terms of finding cheap talent, and drafting talent, they have done an incredible job in creating an elite team with elite, NFL-leading depth. The 49ers have an incredible amount of injuries:
And yet, as mentioned above, they are 4-3 and have dominated tough opponents like the New England Patriots. The Patriots were clearly punching above their paygrade with the 49ers. This is a rare quote to hear from anyone, let alone Bill Belichick.
We were out-coached, outplayed, out-everything.
A lot can change. If you asked any 49ers fan after the 3rd straight NFC Championship under Jim Harbaugh, they would have said Harbaugh is the coach for the next decade. But as of right now, and what we have seen of the Shanahan-Lynch duo: they are the duo, present and future, and get used to their names for the next decade. It is simply incredible that the 49ers can just keep trotting out new players, unknown players, UDFAs, and make them look like stars, and it showcases the potential this duo has.
And on that note, we have our injury updates from Kyle Shanahan.
Jeff Wilson Jr. has been placed on short-term IR with a high ankle sprain.
Deebo Samuel will miss this week’s game vs. the Seahawks, and likely next week’s game on Thursday Night vs. the Packers due to a hamstring injury.
Alex Barrett and Parnell Motley were waived.
With 3 roster spots opening up in addition to one already being open - Shanahan did have a couple of thoughts. Namely, K’Waun Williams and Tevin Coleman could return this week, although it remains to be seen if they will be able to. Williams has a better chance than Coleman - but right now, the 49ers need TeCo in a time where Mostert and Wilson Jr are out, and McKinnon just does not have his legs under him yet. But if Coleman can’t go Sunday, expect to see a lot of JaMycal Hasty, who has looked good, and the 49ers could also flex Austin Walter from the practice squad. With Samuel out for a substantial amount of time, likely missing GB and SEA, Kevin White is also likely to get a permanent promotion to the active roster. White looked healthy and physical when he was on the field earlier this season, and with Pettis currently embroiled in trade talks as well, the 49ers clearly need to add another WR. That’s one roster spot.
You can also add another roster spot for Jordan Willis, who, barring COVID complications should suit up Sunday for the 49ers and provide a small boost to the pass rush.
2 roster spots remaining. We can theorize that if K’Waun Williams cannot be activated in time for this week, Tim Harris Jr, the 49ers 6th round pick in 2019, could get his first game action as a 49er. Harris is active on the practice squad after dealing with injuries for the past year and a half. The 49ers certainly would not promote Brian Allen once again, and with Parnell Motley waived, maybe Harris finally gets his shot.
One roster spot. And this becomes very interesting, because with Weston Richburg, Ronald Blair, Richard Sherman, Ben Garland, and Dee Ford all slated to return in Week 12, the 49ers still have a need at… EDGE. Alex Barrett was waived. There have been trade rumors surrounding the 49ers all season, that they could make a move to bolster a weak pass rush. A popular name is Ryan Kerrigan - but that is not who I think would be a good fit.
The Perfect Trade Target
Enter Marcus Davenport, Saints defensive end.
Davenport was drafted high in 2018, with the Saints trading up for him thinking he would be the bookend pass rusher across from Cam Jordan. Unfortunately, for many reasons, Davenport has not been able to stay on the field - but he has produced. Playing 13 games his rookie season, Davenport notched 4.5 sacks, then improved while becoming a starter in his sophomore season in 13 games as well - with 6 sacks, 26 pressures, and 5 TFLs. Davenport has been pretty good while on the field - PFF loves him. Physically, he is as gifted as anyone with incredible size, speed, and violence for a defensive end.
Why would the Saints trade him?
The Saints have -$78,199,622 in 2021 cap space. Yes, there is a negative symbol. While Davenport has 2 years including his 5th year option left, the Saints simply can’t afford to extend him.
But why trade him during contention?
Their replacement for Davenport to start this season was Trey Hendrickson, their former 3rd round pick. Hendrickson has played outstanding, he leads them in sacks with 5, TFLs with 6, and is top 10 in tackles on their team. He has outplayed Cam Jordan in the 1st 7 games, he is top 10 in sacks in the NFL, and in general - is on track to notch double digit sacks. He’s been their best defensive player, at least in the front seven, and if he keeps it up will earn a nice deal in the future. The Saints simply aren’t going to bench a guy who leads them in every defensive lineman category, and a guy who is on track to have double digit sacks. Which means, as you can see in their current depth chart, Davenport, a top #15 pick, is effectively a rotational player.
In addition, the Saints also drafted Zack Baun, a talented EDGE rusher who also factors into this. Simply put, there is both not a need for Davenport, who is considered disappointing by Saints media, and there is not a spot for him in the future either.
Here is where the 49ers come in. Clearly, the 49ers are dying for an EDGE - and Davenport would fulfill that. While he is not an amazing pass rusher (yet), he’s got incredible physical gifts, improving technique, and he would still be our best healthy EDGE rusher the minute he landed at SFO. He is also a very good run defender.
Kris Kocurek would salivate, getting his hands on Davenport, who would both be a short-term and long-term solution for the 49ers at EDGE and allow them to move on from Dee Ford in the offseason - and if Davenport continues progressing, he would form a fearsome duo with Nick Bosa once he returns.
Essentially, the reason the Saints would trade him:
They have better players and he is a rotational player.
They have needs elsewhere.
They can’t fit his extension in one to two years, and would not be able to keep him in mostly any circumstance. Trading him now would yield the highest value before it depreciates due to him needing a new contract in 2 years, not including this season. They also cannot afford his 5th year option without sacrificing one of Marshon Lattimore and or Marcus Williams.
He has not fulfilled expectations as a guy they traded multiple 1sts for.
The 49ers would trade for him because:
He has 2 years not including this left, with 5th year option included.
He is cheap, on a rookie deal with around 2 million on it per year (til the 5th year opt) so the 49ers can fit him short term (the Saints can as well, but they lose value because they can’t resign him).
He helps short term, and long term as a physically gifted player and gives the 49ers a true EDGE across from Bosa.
He gives the 49ers a reason to fully move on from Dee Ford without afterthoughts.
The 49ers should give the Saints a call. While the Saints would be hesitant to help out a rival, for a mid-round pick (2022 3rd round pick), an cheap replacement EDGE (Hyder Jr.), and a young CB (Ahkello Witherspoon), this would benefit both teams substantially - and the Saints would pounce on an opportunity to get a good pick and two decent players cheap, in exchange for a non-starter who they cannot afford anyways.
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How do you clear $78m in cap space (more actually, because they'll have a draft class to pay)? Is this their "win now" window, and they'll go into full blown yard sale mode in the offseason? I can't imagine Brees plays another year on a talent gutted team, so that takes care of some of it.
Davenport would be a good get. Pettis might be good as a Saint.
I can't imagine they'd trade him though. When is Cam Jordan's contract up? Maybe they release him to keep Davenport.