Bhan-UPDATE: The 49ers Are Quietly Preparing for Life After Nick Bosa — Front Office Reportedly Targeting a High-Upside Dolphins Star in a Blockbuster 2025 Trade That Could Redefine San Francisco’s Defense for the Next Decade!
The San Francisco 49ers might have the perfect trade-deadline opportunity to replace the injured Nick Bosa.
New York Jets v Miami Dolphins | Cooper Neill/GettyImages
The San Francisco 49ers are 4-1, but injuries have quickly become a storyline for the team this season. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been in and out of the lineup, George Kittie is on injured reserve, Nick Bosa is out for the season, and several other players are dealing with injuries.
Just about everyone will return to the field at some point this year, but Bosa, who tore his ACL, isn’t coming back this season.
It’s tough to replace a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time Defensive Player of the Year, but the Niners could have an opportunity to acquire an edge defender to help fill the void left by Bosa.
Matt Verderame, in a recent Sports Illustrated piece, named one trade every NFL team should make before the deadline. For San Francisco, Verderame said the team should send a fifth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for Jaelan Phillips.
NFL analyst says 49ers should trade for Jaelan Phillips
Verderame detailed how San Francisco’s pass-rushing group could seriously use some help after losing Bosa, explaining why Phillips could be the perfect fix:
“Phillips is still working his way back from significant injuries the past few seasons, but the Dolphins have trusted him enough to play 63% of the defensive snaps this season. At 26, there’s a strong possibility that Phillips can regain his top form in a month or two. The 49ers need an immediate impact player now, but at 3–1, they seem like a good bet to make the postseason.”
Matt Verderame (Sports Illustrated)
This isn’t an unrealistic trade idea, because Miami could feasibly move Phillips. The Dolphins are just 1-3, and if they can’t get things turned around, they could become sellers at the deadline.
Phillips has all the makings of a trade candidate, as a productive player in the final year of his contract. With the young outside linebacker set to enter free agency this offseason, Miami could just decide to trade him before he walks for nothing in the offseason.
That would work out great for the 49ers. They’ll have a productive pass-rusher to keep them competitive for this season, and San Francisco will also have the chance to extend and keep him around long term.
