The San Francisco 49ers have found plenty of success in 2025, but injuries have been a harsh reality for the NFC West powerhouse.
Brock Purdy and George Kittle have missed significant time with injuries to their toes and hamstring, respectively. Meanwhile, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner — San Francisco's defensive anchors — were ruled out for the remainder of the season after tearing ligaments in their knee and ankle.
All of that is to say that, although the 49ers are just one game back in the division, they'll need to tread cautiously. Investing too heavily in a playoff run that could be derailed by another injury would be risky.
So, what will the 5-3 Niners do as Tuesday's trade deadline approaches? Here’s a look at some players San Francisco could target in the coming days.
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49ers trade targets
DE Trey Hendrickson, Bengals
Hendrickson represents the crown jewel of San Francisco's trade targets. The Cincinnati Bengals star has been linked to a move away for much of the past year.
With 35 sacks over the past two seasons, Hendrickson is one of the NFL's top pass-rushers. He hasn’t quite hit those heights in 2025, but the season is still young, and four sacks in seven games is a solid total for the 31-year-old.
With the Bengals still fighting for a postseason berth, a trade for Hendrickson would be difficult to pull off. But if the Niners want pass-rushing support after injuries to Warner and Bosa, they couldn’t find a better option than Hendrickson.
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EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins
With the Miami Dolphins sitting at 2-7, Phillips may be a more attainable target than Hendrickson. Chris Grier’s dismissal as Miami’s general manager is expected to increase interest in the Dolphins’ top players, including Phillips, who has recorded three sacks so far.
Phillips is still working his way back from tears to his Achilles tendon and ACL, which sidelined him for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. At just 26 years old, he could represent a valuable asset for teams looking to balance present production with future potential.
His injury history could also help keep his cap hit low once his current contract expires after this season.
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EDGE Arden Key, Titans
Key has history in the Bay Area, recording 6.5 sacks during a one-year spell in San Francisco in 2021. With the Tennessee Titans selling, Key figures to be very available in trade talks. He's also a free agent next year, leaving the Niners with the option of attempting to extend his stay in Levi's Stadium for a long while. Key's expiring deal makes his trade value that much more enticing with San Francisco likely to be able to secure his services while surrendering fewer assets.
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LB Quincy Williams, Jets
Williams might not have the gravitas of a Hendrickson or Phillips. But he's a reliable presence in the middle of the park capable of helping fill the void left by Warner's injury.
Williams played under Robert Saleh when the Niners defensive coordinator coached the New York Jets. In fact, Williams posted his best numbers under Saleh's tutelage. With the Jets' playoff hopes already crushed, they should be focused on getting as many assets as they can in return for players like Williams.
WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints
Shaheed and Chris Olave are two of the New Orleans Saints’ most appealing trade pieces, drawing significant interest from teams looking to bolster their receiving corps.
The 49ers find themselves in a different situation. Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Kendrick Bourne have performed admirably in relief, but they don’t make for the most imposing pass-catching unit.
Enter Shaheed, who is expected to command a lower asking price than Olave. While New Orleans’ quarterback play has underwhelmed, Shaheed has racked up 431 yards in eight games and could inject a burst of energy into what has at times been a lackluster WR room in San Francisco.
MORE:Revisiting the blockbuster trade that sent Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers
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WR Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
Meyers is the best wide receiver available ahead of the trade deadline. The Las Vegas Raiders standout eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time in 2024 and has pedigree as a do-it-all threat in attack.
He would cost the 49ers a pretty penny, something that might not be appealing given Warner and Bosa's injuries — maladies that likely kill any chance for a 49ers title run.
Nevertheless, Meyers would likely take the reins of the Niners' pass-catching game as San Francisco's No. 1 WR if he were to be dealt there.