Baldy weighs in on the 49ers' biggest trade deadline need

Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers

As the NFL trade deadline approaches, the San Francisco 49ers will likely evaluate roster depth to determine which areas they should strengthen for the second half of the season. With wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, many are speculating that the team could be looking for reinforcements at the position.

However, one NFL analyst suggests the 49ers are focusing on another area. Brian Baldinger believes the team should strengthen its defensive line, an area that has been a priority since head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch began building the roster.

“I would go on the defensive,” Brian Baldinger said Tuesday morning on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game.

He cited former 49ers defenseman Arden Key as an example of a valuable rotation player who made an impact without being a household name.

“I would now combine the teams,” said Baldinger. “They don’t give these guys away. They cost some security, some draft capital. But I would now try to add more depth to the defensive line.”

Injuries took their toll on the 49ers' defensive line. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is out for the season with a partially torn triceps, although there is hope he could return for a strong playoff effort. Defensive player Yetur Gross-Matos could soon be back after a knee injury.

The offseason acquisition of Leonard Floyd has yet to live up to expectations, with just three sacks and a career-low 56.1 pass rush rating from Pro Football Focus.

With the trade deadline looming, Lynch recently made it clear that the 49ers will likely benefit from the return of injured players like Gross-Matos.

“When I look at our trade deadline, I look at our IR list and say: (RB Christian) McCaffrey, (LB Dre) Greenlaw, Gross-Matos, (S Talanoa) Hufanga, if we get those guys back, I think that is the impetus we need as much as any we will get from outside,” Lynch explained.

The NFL trade deadline is November 5th, giving the 49ers limited time to explore their options to bolster the roster for the remainder of the season.

You can listen to Baldy's entire interview below.