Report: Two Patriots players among potential 49ers trade targets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With the 2024 NFL trade deadline less than two weeks away, the 49ers reportedly have their eye on two New England Patriots players.
San Francisco has been ravaged by the injury bug this season and currently has glaring needs at both defensive tackle and wide receiver. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Saturday that the The 49ers are possibly targeting Patriots at both positions ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline, as well as a couple of other familiar D-line faces on other teams.
“I’ve been told to keep an eye on the Patriots, who will listen to any proposal, with a run-filling interior defensive lineman. Davon Godchaux and former Niners wide receiver Kendrick Bourne among possible targets,” Russini wrote. “Two other former San Francisco players, defensive tackles DeForest Buckner (Colts) and DJ Jones (Broncos), have been discussed internally by the team’s decision makers, but I don’t get the feeling that Indy or Denver is open to moving either player.”
With defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps) and Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) both out for the remainder of the 2024 NFL regular season, the 49ers could certainly use some help in those two areas. In addition to the team’s defensive line depth issues, San Francisco has struggled at times to contain the run this season, and Godchaux is widely considered one of the best run defenders in the NFL.
Bourne, on the other hand, was originally signed by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch as an undrafted free agent in 2017 before joining the Patriots in 2021. Last offseason , when San Francisco attempted to reach a new contract or trade for Aiyuk, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported that the team had the frame of a shop in the place with New England that would send Bourne back to the Bay.
Bourne began the 2024 campaign on the physically unable to play list after tearing his ACL last October and therefore missed the first four games of the season. Since being activated on Oct. 5, Bourne has recorded four receptions for 29 yards and no touchdowns in all games.
While both Buckner and Jones, who had successful careers with the 49ers before their departure, appear to be a long shot for San Francisco to acquire them at the trade deadline, according to Russini, there’s no denying that either of them would be a Great acquisition for a 3-4 team looking to stay afloat in the NFC West.
For now, the 49ers’ main goal is to beat the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” at Levi’s Stadium in Week 8. But behind the scenes, it looks like Lynch and company could be looking to make some moves.