The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in an interesting spot with the NFL trade deadline looming on Nov. 5 at 1:00pm Pacific Time.
With a 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers pushed their record to 4-4 and put them in a tie for the NFC West lead with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
They figure to get running back Christian McCaffrey back after the Bye week, injecting new life into an offense that struggled to find the end zone for much of the first half of the year.
Had the 49ers lost to the Cowboys, they might have become sellers at the trade deadline with a couple of key players like cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir headed to free agency and big paydays in the offseason.
However, a win puts San Francisco firmly in the buyers market.
This is a team that in 2021 was 3-5 at one point before finishing 10-7 and making the playoffs. In 2022 they were 3-4 and then won 10-consecutive games to win the division.
Given the impact McCaffrey figures to have, the 49ers can easily talk themselves into contending in 2024.
They need help on the defensive line and at linebacker. Their wide receiver room is a little thin as well. Offensive line help is always welcome, and running back depth could insulate them from a setback from McCaffrey or ongoing issues with RB Jordan Mason’s shoulder that he re-injured Sunday night.
What player(s) the 49ers acquire at the deadline will depend largely on market, injuries, and an internal analysis of their roster. They’ll surely be aggressive in making acquisitions ahead of the deadline though now that they’ve pulled themselves to 4-4 going into their Bye week.
The 49ers won’t get to play another game to analyze what they need, so they can get to work ASAP to find upgrades that may help them rise back into the ranks of Super Bowl contender.
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