Matt Barrows: 49ers should ‘double down’ at the Trade Deadline

The 49ers’ 6-0 start gives them a chance to do more than protect their lead in the NFC West. The Athletic’s Matt Barrows thinks San Francisco should use its position to add help before the trade deadline and strengthen its chances of making a Super Bowl run.

“I do think that they’re going to make a move, and I think it’s going to be an aggressive move,” Barrows said on Sactown Sports’ The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.

“You’re 7-0, or 6-1 going into the bye. Either way, you’re at the top of the NFC, and you realize that you’ve got a special thing going, and you need to double down on that.”

Barrows expects general manager John Lynch to make plenty of calls, though he noted that interest and phone calls don’t always lead to a trade. The 49ers have made midseason deals before, often targeting a defensive end or wide receiver, and Barrows believes those are still the positions to watch.

The 2026 NFL trade deadline is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th. Teams must finalize transactions by the official league cutoff time at 1:00 PM PT.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Mike Evans’ health makes the receiver question more pressing. Evans left the win over Washington with Achilles tendinitis after also dealing with rib issues.

Without him in the second half, Brock Purdy didn’t target a wide receiver, instead looking to George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. Barrows called Evans critical to the offense and said the team may need to be cautious with him before its bye.

The defensive line could also use reinforcement, even after recent signs of progress. San Francisco had four sacks against Washington and five against Seattle, but Barrows said the team is still evaluating its options.

He pointed to the possibility of adding a pass rusher and noted that players themselves are thinking about potential help, including Khalil Mack.

“Last night they had four sacks, and they had five against the Seahawks. So all of a sudden, you’re thinking, eh, maybe defensive end isn’t that important,” Barrows said. “But if they go into Atlanta and there’s zero there, I think that will come to the top again.”

That’s the balance for San Francisco: the defense is showing it can generate pressure, while injuries have left questions at receiver and across the roster. Barrows said the 49ers are gathering information on who might be available and what the cost would be.

Barrows cautioned that the 6-0 start doesn’t mean the NFC West is settled. But it does give San Francisco a reason to act like a contender. If Lynch can find the right fit, an aggressive move could help the 49ers turn their strong start into a deeper postseason run.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

More 49ers content from Sactown Sports

• Mike Evans update: Kyle Shanahan hopeful after Achilles flare-up

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers 2026 Schedule

• Sunday, October 25th – @ Atlanta Falcons – 10:00 am PT
• BYE WEEK
• Sunday, November 8th – vs. Las Vegas Raiders – 1:05 pm PT
• Sunday, November 15th – @ Dallas Cowboys – 1:25 pm PT
• Sunday, November 22nd – vs. Minnesota Vikings – 5:20 pm PT

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our Sactown Sports YouTube page. channel.

Related

Sacramento Kings fans rank 6th in Nielsen NBA Fandom IndexSacramento Kings announce 2026-27 opening night rosterMike Evans update: Kyle Shanahan hopeful after Achilles flare-up49ers survive Commanders’ attempted comeback, improve to 6-0Athletics hire Taylor Smith to lead Baseball OperationsBen Simmons’ injury changes everything before Kings’ season opener