The 49ers have managed to glide to 6-0 despite their usual run of injuries. Although the wide receiver positions is reeling right now, San Francisco has played much of this season without Nick Bosa. The former Defensive Player of the Year has missed four games due to a calf injury sustained in practice. Bosa is not on IR, but he and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams — activated off the reserve/PUP list in Week 5 — have not played together since Bosa’s ACL tear suffered in Week 3 of last season. San Francisco’s pass rush is still faring better than it did following the Bosa and Williams ACL tears last season, and Bosa should be back soon. But John Lynch recently revealed during a KNBR appearance (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) George Kittle asked about the prospect of the team acquiring Khalil Mack before the deadline.
While this is hardly confirmation the 49ers are in on Mack, the 13th-year edge rusher has come up in trade rumors at multiple junctures (as the Chargers are 0-6). A Bears return emerged as a possibility. He is on a one-year, $18MM contract, but the deal features an $8MM base salary that would make it easier for an acquiring team to absorb. The 49ers have 2025 trade pickup Keion White and third-rounder Romello Height joining Williams presently, but rumors mentioned a potential EDGE pursuit this summer. The team signed Ogbo Okoronkwo last month but already moved on from fellow September signing Matt Judon.
Less than three weeks remain until the deadline; here is the latest from the trade market:
Stetson Bennett is in Year 4, but the former national championship-winning QB can be controlled (via an RFA tender) for two more seasons due to his contract tolling while on the Rams’ NFI list in 2023. Ty Simpson’s arrival also affects Bennett’s Los Angeles future. Teams showed interest in the Georgia product during the preseason, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Rams named Bennett their No. 2 QB following the preseason slate, stashing Simpson in a developmental role. Simpson’s readiness, as Matthew Stafford is 38 and has battled several injury issues as a Ram, would stand to determine how open L.A. is to moving on from the 2023 fourth-round pick by the deadline.
The Buccaneersshelled out a three-year, $66MM deal to retainChris Godwin in March 2025. At the time, Godwin was coming off an ankle dislocation; he still turned down more money (from the Patriots) to stay in Tampa. The longtime Mike Evans sidekick has not justified that contract. After an injury-plagued 2025, Godwin has 23 catches for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The 30-year-old receiver has stayed healthy for a change, but the Bucs are 1-5 and have used first- or second-day picks three times (Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, Ted Hurst) since 2024. Execs have wondered about Godwin’s availability, per casino.org’s Jason La Canfora, with Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano also mentioning the 10th-year receiver’s name as one to monitor in trades. Godwin’s $22MM base salary, however, will be incredibly difficult to move without Tampa Bay paying down some of the money.
Another receiver situation to monitor at the deadline could come out of Buffalo. The Bills have seen Keon Coleman respond to internal offseason criticism with a positive start, contributing (19 catches, 283 yards, three TDs) as D.J. Moore has struggled to stay healthy. Buffalo has seen Josh Palmer score twice, but the $10MM-per-year player has just four catches in five appearances. Khalil Shakir remains in place as Josh Allen’s most reliable wideout, and EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline expects Palmer to draw deadline interest. Palmer’s $9.66MM base salary will not be easy to move, either, as the ex-Charger third-rounder has not rewarded the Bills on a three-year, $30MM contract.
Although a recent report from The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones mentionedAlex Highsmith as a trade candidate, the Steelers do not look ready to bite. Pittsburgh has long resisted trading the veteran T.J. Watt sidekick, and the Pat McAfee Show’s Mark Kaboly denies the team is looking to sell. As I mentioned in last week’s Trade Rumors Front Office chat, the Steelers carrying so many veterans — most notably a soon-to-be 43-year-old Aaron Rodgers — to go with a soon-to-be 63-year-old HC in Mike McCarthy makes it farfetched they will consider selling. Highsmith’s 2027 status, with Nick Herbig extended this offseason, is a different matter entirely.