The San Francisco 49ers sit atop the NFC West standings after picking up a last-second victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday to move to 3-0 on the year. Unfortunately, the vibe around the franchise at this moment does not resemble what would be expected out of a team boasting an undefeated record as we approach the final days of September.
Following Ian Rapaport's report concerning Niners star Nick Bosa suffering a torn ACL during San Francisco's victory in Week 3, the mood throughout the Bay Area turned from one of hope and excitement to bad memories of injuries derailing what had looked to be promising seasons in recent years.
As much as losing a difference-maker on the edge like Bosa changes the look of this defensive unit, hope for this season should not be lost. Niners GM John Lynch has more than enough time to pursue a deal for a pass rusher from another team, and he might not have to go very far through his list of contacts to find a willing trade partner.
49ers Need to Call Eagles for Another Trade Involving Underutilized DE's
While there is no doubt that one of the players called upon to pick up the production lost from Bosa's injury will be former Philadelphia Eagles DE Bryce Huff, there are a pair of pass rushers who are currently being underutilized on Philadelphia's roster that San Francisco would benefit from adding to theirs.
Through three games, both Azeez Ojulari and Ogbo Okoronkwo have not seen a single snap of action for Philadelphia's defensive front. At this point, it is fair to assume that neither plays into the short-term or long-term plans for the Eagles, barring an injury to players ahead of them on the depth chart. There is no downside to Lynch picking up the phone and giving Howie Roseman another call to see if the two sides can agree on a trade for another pass rusher who isn't a piece of the puzzle in Philadelphia.
Given San Francisco's positioning at the top of the division and its desire to return to the postseason this year, there should be plenty of motivation on Lynch's part to get a deal done. The entire league knows that Roseman is never afraid of pulling the trigger on a trade. If there was ever a natural fit for a deal to get done, this could be it.
With that being said, San Francisco's front office must be cognizant of the fact that the Eagles, or any other team for that matter, will attempt to force the Niners to overpay whatever the true value of a player might be just because they are the side looking to replace the lost production of one of the league's best pass rushers.