A disruptive force hits the trade block. Could the 49ers' defensive woes be solved, or will a division rival snatch up this elite pass rusher?
Albert Breer added more fuel to the growing belief that a Maxx Crosby trade could be around the corner, noting in his latest column that he’d “lean toward a deal happening, and maybe this week.”
If that proves true, the ripple effects will be felt across the league, including by the San Francisco 49ers.
Breer also tempered expectations regarding compensation. Unlike the massive returns the Las Vegas Raiders once received for Khalil Mack, which was two first-round picks in 2018, or what other franchises have landed for superstar talent in recent years, Crosby’s situation is different. He’s 28, established, and well past his rookie contract. That matters financially and strategically.
Still, his production speaks loudly.
Since 2022, Crosby has racked up 40.5 sacks, 79 tackles for loss and over 250 quarterback pressures. He’s averaged nearly 90 total tackles per season over the past three years. These are elite numbers for an edge defender. In 2024 alone, he posted 14.0 sacks and 23 quarterback hits, continuing a stretch of dominance that has made him one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenders.
That’s exactly the kind of player San Francisco could use opposite Nick Bosa.
The 49ers finished last season with just 31 total sacks, which put them in the bottom five in the league, and no defender outside of Bosa recorded more than five. Bosa also only played a third of the season. For a defense that once prided itself on overwhelming quarterbacks with four-man pressure, that drop-off was glaring.
However, Breer listed multiple teams monitoring Crosby’s availability and notably, San Francisco wasn’t highlighted as a primary contender. One NFC West team mentioned? The Los Angeles Rams.
That omission doesn’t eliminate the 49ers from the conversation entirely, but it suggests they may not be willing to part with premium draft capital. Holding the No. 27 overall pick in the upcoming draft, general manager John Lynch could opt for a cost-controlled rookie rather than absorbing a contract that likely exceeds $25 million per season.
There’s also the long-term roster math to consider. Extensions for cornerstone players and future flexibility matter, especially for a team balancing win-now urgency with sustained contention.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth, if Crosby is ultimately traded for less than expected (for example: a first-rounder plus mid-round compensation) and he lands in the division, it will sting.
Because the 49ers don’t just need another good player. They need pressure. And Crosby has consistently delivered it.