"Yes, the 49ers need help. They need bodies. Present tense. But let's be specific about what they actually needed before the deadline: high-quality, young, cheap, and controllable talent for this year and, more importantly, the next few. Now, I'll ask you the question that should make you pause before firing off that next angry tweet: Do you know how many young, cheap, controllable, and high-quality players were available for trade on Tuesday? It's a trick question."
"But here's what was available: rentals, flawed stars trading on past glory, and guys who are going to hold their new team hostage for a massive payday come the summer. And the price for those players was absurd. There are seller's markets, and then there was the 2025 NFL trade deadline. You saw the mayhem. The Colts traded two first-round picks for a cornerback who's been living off his rookie-year reputation for the past four seasons."
The NFL trade deadline generates frenzy rooted in fantasy, desperation, delusion, and instant gratification. The 49ers did not make trades at the deadline. The team urgently needs roster additions but specifically required young, high-quality, inexpensive, and controllable players for this season and the next few. No such players were realistically available on the trade market. Most trade targets were short-term rentals, declining stars banking on past performance, or players poised to demand large paydays and leverage. Market prices were exorbitant, prompting the 49ers to avoid overpaying for marginal upgrades.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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