The San Francisco 49ers are 4-0 and already look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. But even with that blistering start, general manager John Lynch isn’t standing pat, eyeing the November 10 trade deadline to solidify their roster.
The Defensive Line Reinforcements Are Coming
Injuries are hitting the defensive front hard for the Niners, making defensive line help an especially logical area to explore. Bradley Locker from Pro Football Focus already tagged 15 players who could be on the move before the deadline, and eight of those players are potential fits for San Francisco, mostly on the D-line.
Tuli Tuipulotu, an EDGE from the cratering Chargers, is an intriguing option. He boasts an 80.9 PFF grade, a 71.9 run-defense grade, and a 16.7% pass-rush win rate through four games this season. He’s also racked up 2 sacks, 17 tackles, and an interception. The 49ers need pass-rushing support badly, and Tuipulotu, in the final year of his rookie deal, is an experienced vet who could step right in. Then there’s Yaya Diaby, another edge rusher from the 0-4 Buccaneers. Diaby hasn’t lit it up in 2026 with a 50.6 pass-rush grade and seven pressures in four games. But dig into his recent history: 132 pressures from 2024 to 2025 and a pass-rush win rate of at least 17.4% in both seasons. At 27 and also in the last year of his rookie deal, the 49ers could snag him as a buy-low option, adding a rotational piece alongside Bosa and the rest of the defensive front.
But Zaven Collins, the EDGE from the Cardinals, is the real eye-opener here. His strength directly attacks one of San Francisco’s biggest weaknesses. This dude’s overall PFF grade is a whopping 90.4, ranking third among qualified edge defenders, and his run-defense grade is an insane 90.9, second overall! Through four games, Collins has seven tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble, plus an impressive 9.8% run-stop rate. San Francisco doesn’t just need another edge rusher solely to chase quarterbacks. A versatile player like Collins, who can strengthen the run defense, would be a massive, useful piece for Raheem Morris.
The Marvin Harrison Jr. Wildcard
On the offensive side, Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Cardinals is the biggest name being floated. Sure, his 2026 production hasn’t matched the hype for a former No. 4 overall pick. He’s only got five catches for 85 yards and one touchdown through four games, including a quiet 3-catch, 40-yard performance against the 49ers in Week 3. His PFF receiving grade is down to 51.9, and his drop rate is a concerning 16.7%. Still, with the 49ers losing a lot of receivers to injury this year, adding a 6-foot-3 former elite prospect to Brock Purdy’s arsenal is a fascinating upside swing that could make an already dangerous offense even tougher to defend.
Here’s the rub though: it’s super unlikely the Arizona Cardinals would actually trade Harrison Jr. inside their own NFC West division. It just doesn’t make sense for them to directly empower a rival.
John Lynch has more than a month until the November 10 deadline to scout and figure out what other pieces this 4-0 squad needs. With the clear defensive line issues and the temptation of an upside receiver like Harrison Jr., these next few weeks are all about evaluation. What moves will solidify their Super Bowl contender status? We’re all watching to see if Lynch pulls the trigger on any of these game-changers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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