The San Francisco 49ers strengthened their defensive line by acquiring DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick, but league analysts continue to list the team as a potential destination for additional trade-deadline targets.
Buckner, a three-time Pro Bowl selection drafted by San Francisco seventh overall in 2016, returns in the final year of his contract. He has recorded four sacks and 31 combined tackles through seven games this season. The move comes as the 49ers sit at 6-1 and look to bolster a unit that has dealt with injuries along the front.
ESPN ranked the top 25 trade candidates ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. landed at No. 2, with a projected 45% chance of being dealt. League executives have noted a decline in his targets and playing time.
“League execs are sensing the end for BTJ in Jacksonville, as his targets and playing time have dipped,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported. “How Jacksonville has struggled to make this relationship work is still a mystery. Thomas is an elite mover with size who draws coverage deep, setting the stage for teammates Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers to eat underneath. But that plan for Thomas hasn’t materialized this season.”
Thomas posted 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024. Through six games in 2026, he has nine catches for 105 yards and one score. ESPN analyst Matt Bowen described him as a 6-foot-3, 209-pound receiver with straight-line speed and ball-tracking ability who can separate at multiple levels. Team fits listed by ESPN included the Chiefs, Steelers and 49ers.
Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat ranked third on the same list, with a 40% projected trade chance. An NFC executive told Fowler that a move to Dallas would make sense as a profile fit. Sweat is in the second year of a four-year, $76 million deal, and reports indicate he could seek a new contract.
Bowen noted that Sweat recorded 12 sacks and 37 pressures last season but has two sacks and 10 pressures so far in 2026. He remains a long, angular player who can win with speed-to-power. ESPN listed the Cowboys, Bears and 49ers among possible fits, though the NFC West division and contract terms complicate any interest from San Francisco.
Former 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, now with the Minnesota Vikings, appeared at No. 16. He is viewed as a trade candidate after catching just four of eight targets for 43 yards in limited opportunities this season. Fowler reported that Jennings is not a focal point of the Vikings offense and sits on a one-year deal.
“The Vikings’ free agent addition is not a focal point of the offense and is considered a trade candidate leaguewide,” Fowler wrote. “But he did catch two passes for 34 yards Sunday against the Colts for a Minnesota passing game that’s not exactly thriving right now.” Bowen called him a consistent route runner who plays through contact. Team fits included the Rams, Falcons and 49ers, with a 50% projected chance of moving.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston ranked 20th, with a 25% chance of being traded. The Chargers are 0-6, and Johnston has eight receptions this season after producing 700 or more yards in each of the prior two years. He stands 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds with straight-line speed. ESPN listed the 49ers, Raiders and Steelers as fits. Johnston has three drops against those eight catches and 18 career touchdowns.
Khalil Mack of the Chargers ranked seventh overall with a 35% trade probability, though the 49ers were not listed among his team fits. The acquiring team would inherit roughly $8 million of his remaining salary. Philadelphia Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson, in the final year of his guaranteed money, carried a 25% chance and was not linked to San Francisco.
Former quarterback Russell Wilson highlighted another option in a CBS Sports appearance. “The 49ers have a chance, and if I’m Garrett Wilson, I’m checking out the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan should make the call. Mike Evans can make plays down in the red zone, but to find a player who can run every route for you, that’s Garrett Wilson,” Wilson said.
The 49ers also face questions at cornerback and along the offensive line as the deadline approaches. Charvarius Ward, currently with the Colts, has allowed a 39.1% completion rate with zero touchdowns surrendered this season. The Colts have already traded Buckner and Quenton Nelson amid a 2-5 start, signaling a broader sell-off.
San Francisco holds its first-, second- and third-round picks for 2027 after parting with a fourth-rounder for Buckner. Whether the front office pursues further additions will depend on evaluations of clear upgrades versus depth pieces already on the roster.
