Full Transcript for What is the biggest position of need for the 49ers ahead of the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline?

game changer. He's a better wide receiver than what you had in the past with Brandon Ayuk or Debo Samuel. But you got to get after the quarterback. These opposing offenses you're going to play. It was a problem the last two Super Bowls. Get into Patrick Mahomes. You need to get after his ass. You need to get him. Like, it was where... They had great defenses in 2019. 2023 wasn't the same, but they didn't apply enough pressure to Patrick Mahomes when it mattered most. 00:03:20 Speaker 4: That's why the Jaguars are going in on. 00:03:22 Speaker 3: Jordan Davis and Jesse Bates because they know they're going to face Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow in the playoffs. 00:03:29 Speaker 4: 49ers will face Caleb Williams maybe in the playoffs. 00:03:32 Speaker 3: So I think it's where anybody that you face, as far as a quarterback, you need to prioritize defensive line. I'm comfortable with Kyle Shanahan putting points up or whoever the wide receivers are. 00:03:42 Speaker 2: And I hear you. 00:03:43 Speaker 7: Yeah. 00:03:43 Speaker 8: But imagine a playoff game where you go into that playoff game and it's, it's DeMarcus Robinson and it's Debo Samuel and it's Jordan Watkins. 00:03:59 Speaker 5: Yeah. 00:03:59 Speaker 2: As your one, two, three. 00:04:00 Speaker 4: Well, we kind of saw last year, 41 to six to Seattle. 00:04:03 Speaker 8: I mean, and there were other issues in that game, but like imagine going up against a good defense in a, win or go home game. 00:04:13 Speaker 2: And that's what you've got. 00:04:14 Speaker 9: Yeah. 00:04:14 Speaker 2: And maybe stribling, but you don't know. 00:04:16 Speaker 8: Exactly how with it he could be at that point. Like it's, that's not enough. And you're not wrong about anything you said, right. As it relates to the defensive line. And I, I think if you're saying JD, you can only have one, I'd probably even still agree with you and say defensive line and input and more specifically edge, because I think you have to hedge against, Nick Bosa potentially being out. 00:04:40 Speaker 2: It's twofold. 00:04:41 Speaker 8: It's you want to have both of them, but my, my reason for needing an edge is, is that you look at Bosa. He could be out at any time. And then you just have nothing. You have key on white and you have Romello height. And I like those guys and Buckner on the inside, but I just fear that. a playoff game or a couple of playoff games where you don't have Bosa for whatever reason. And then you're kind of stuck in that same position. And you're right about Kyle's ability to figure it out with Kittle. And, but I just, I just feel like it's, there is such a fine line between having enough to win the one game out of the three or the four, the two games out of the four that actually gets you to the Superbowl that I really, truly believe they actually need to address both areas and, to give themselves the utmost of confidence that they can have enough, barring some kind of a mishap, to get over the top. 00:05:37 Speaker 3: Let me ask you yesterday, as far as things that happened during the game, what impacts the team more going forward? The fact that Jordan Watkins had a big performance like that or Grayson Halton going down for the rest of the season? 00:05:48 Speaker 10: Halton. 00:05:49 Speaker 3: Yeah, but when you look at that, the loss of Grayson Halton, does that increase what you need to do on the defensive line where Jordan Watkins stepped up yesterday so you can feel a little bit better about that situation? 00:05:58 Speaker 8: I just think the Jordan Watkins thing is independent. Like Jordan, like I don't view it. I view it as Jordan Watkins is coming on and that's awesome. And he can be somebody who plays, he can be in your top. He could be your three or your four and play. And, and, and even in some games, maybe function as a two, but you can't look at what Jordan Watkins did and say, Hey, he's, he's your Mike Evans insurance. 00:06:24 Speaker 2: Like I just, because there's, there's too many other. 00:06:27 Speaker 8: Things that, that he hasn't done that have prevented him from getting on the field that aren't just catching the ball. Everybody sees him get open and catch the ball or make tough catches. 00:06:37 Speaker 2: Like it's not, it's. 00:06:39 Speaker 8: About running the right route on the right play. It's about being able to block on other plays. It's about having trust that he's going to be in the right spot and Brock Purdy addressed post game. He said that he's got more trust in him now than he did before that he's blocking better than he has before. All of those things are positive signs, but you can't have somebody in the wrong spot or drawn a defender into the wrong spot in a critical moment. And you've got the veteran players looking around like that. The youngster messed up because I think too often this has happened with Watkins too often. And I understand it because he has shown that he can be a pass catcher. 00:07:14 Speaker 2: He has shown that like that. 00:07:17 Speaker 8: And that's important, but I feel like there's too many among the fan base right now that are just exceed and catch passes. 00:07:23 Speaker 2: That's all that matters. And that's not all that matters. 00:07:26 Speaker 8: And so you have to make sure that you have a little bit of an insurance policy against that as well. And not just say, Hey, this guy's a great, you know, becoming a, this guy's becoming a good fantasy looking player. 00:07:36 Speaker 5: Right. 00:07:37 Speaker 2: And so everything's fine. That's not how it works. 00:07:39 Speaker 3: No, it's not four one five, eight Oh eight, five, six, two, seven. We're doing cheers, cheers and beers. for the 49ers victory over the Raiders 38-17. And when we're talking beers, there's one guy that has just made an impact on our show during this 49ers season. Ramon in San Jose is on the line. Ramon, how many beers during Raiders 49ers yesterday? 00:08:02 Speaker 11: Just 12 because I

thought the Niners were eventually going to win the game. Even though the field was close, I was thinking that the Niners were going to still do it. 00:08:13 Speaker 3: You were that confident, even though there was times where the Raiders were kind of on the doorstep to make it a game? 00:08:18 Speaker 11: Yeah, I wasn't that nervous because the only times I get nervous is for the Seahawks and the Chiefs. The Rams, not so much because I don't think the team's going to actually do anything at the end of the year. 00:08:36 Speaker 3: That's fair enough. So, Ramon, how'd everything go yesterday? Did you do your barbecue beforehand? Your wife was doing the needlepoint, and then you and your son watched the game, and you got your 12 beers in? 00:08:46 Speaker 11: Yeah, I did my hot dogs, my hot fries, and my wings. And everything was good. He had fun. She did her thing. I had my beers, and I took a nap after that, after the postgame. And before the game, I watched the movie Clayface. 00:09:08 Speaker 6: Oh. 00:09:09 Speaker 4: How many Ramones do you give it? Or I'll say Lagunitas out of five. 00:09:14 Speaker 11: Yeah, that was Saturday I watched it. 00:09:18 Speaker 2: Oh, okay. 00:09:19 Speaker 11: I would say four Lagunitas out of five. 00:09:22 Speaker 6: Oh. 00:09:23 Speaker 11: Only because I'm not saying it didn't blow me away, but I was thinking maybe it would have something about Batman in the movie. It didn't really have anything. 00:09:30 Speaker 2: Whoa, Ramon spoilers. Come on, man. 00:09:32 Speaker 4: There's some people that haven't seen it yet. 00:09:34 Speaker 2: Mainly me. I was over some Batman. How dare you? 00:09:37 Speaker 11: Well, that's just my thought. I mean, it was good. I liked it, but, um, the other thing I haven't seen this series called crystal Lake because, uh, uh, you know, That sounds pretty good because the girl that's in it, she was in Scooby-Doo. She's a hot cougar. 00:09:56 Speaker 2: Oh, fair enough. Well, Ramone calls in. 00:09:58 Speaker 3: You're getting some football analysis, the amount of beers he's drinking, and. 00:10:02 Speaker 2: Some movies as well. Is that Linda Cardinelli? I think so, yeah. 00:10:06 Speaker 3: And talk to our guy Danny Dunn in the break here, Ramone. He'll definitely talk to you about Crystal Lake. Ramone, always a pleasure, my friend. Call in any time. 00:10:13 Speaker 11: I'll divorce my wife for her or give a kidney. 00:10:16 Speaker 2: All right, that's enough, Ramon. 00:10:17 Speaker 4: God, this guy calls out his wife's cooking. 00:10:19 Speaker 2: She's from Redwood City, I believe. Is she now? Yeah. 00:10:21 Speaker 4: Okay, nice. Yeah, Ramon calling on his wife's cooking and then saying he's going to divorce his wife. 00:10:26 Speaker 2: Good Lord. 00:10:26 Speaker 3: Again, we need Mrs. Ramon to get her side of things. That's what I'm talking about. All right, let's go to Mo on 680 talking about some 49er trade thoughts. 00:10:34 Speaker 2: Mo, you're on with J.D. and D-Pop. What's going on? 00:10:38 Speaker 6: Hey, guys. 00:10:39 Speaker 7: I have a less sexy idea. And this is only from living through the last five to seven years of the 49ers. I say we don't make any trades. 00:10:50 Speaker 5: Whoa. 00:10:51 Speaker 7: And the reason why is because if we don't have Mike Evans, I don't care who we get. I mean, barring like a Garrett Wilson or somebody like that, a generational player. But if you don't have Mike Evans, the way that that offense looks is way, way, way different. If we don't have Nick Bosa or we get another catastrophic injury on the line like we're all worried about, it doesn't matter. I mean, very few people matter in trading for it. And what I see is that John Lynch is going to make a trade or two. He's going to get rid of it. He's going to overpay because that's what I'm seeing in the market right now. He's going to overpay in draft capital. And only one team can win the Super Bowl. And if we don't, now we've sacrificed three, four draft picks for the next couple years. I hearken back to what we paid for Christian McCaffrey and the other teams that were in the running for Christian McCaffrey. Now, I do it again and twice. I do it every day of the week and twice on Sunday. But what did we give up for Christian McCaffrey? We gave up a ton of draft picks. that wound up impacting how we reloaded after those Super Bowl years. And the teams that were also in the running for Christian McCaffrey were who? The Rams and the Seahawks. And we saw how they reloaded. 00:12:06 Speaker 9: Okay. 00:12:10 Speaker 2: Go ahead, Mo. 00:12:11 Speaker 7: No, I was just going to say, like, All the guys, well, a lot of the guys we're talking about who are taking, like, stepping into leadership roles for the Niners right now, they're all guys we got in the draft. Who was Grayson Halton? Romello Haidt? Renardo Green? Malik Mustafa? Kalon Black? Like, we have the talent evaluators. 00:12:30 Speaker 1: I just. 00:12:33 Speaker 7: The fan in me wants them to just throw caution to the wind, go for a Super Bowl this year, but, like... what's going to happen next year or the year after when they're 500 and we're like, what the heck happened? Or where are the draft picks? Where are the reinforcements? When McCaffrey and Kittle and Trent Williams, when they have gone the way of the Dodo. That's all I just wanted to say. 00:12:53 Speaker 3: No, I appreciate the call, Mo, and I appreciate the take, but at the same time, I think that you have an opportunity here with this team at 7-1 where I'm not saying giving up a first-round pick or a second-round pick, but if you can move a third-round pick to get a pass rusher, it's not the end of the world, especially if it's an expiring contract. 00:13:08 Speaker 2: We've seen them do that before. 00:13:09 Speaker 3: Like a third-round pick to get Chase Young, again, it didn't work out, but I still do that every day of the week. And as far as McCaffrey, I get it, but he's been your best

player for the last four years. And I'd rather have Christian McCaffrey on my team than drafting an unknown rookie there. So I don't view that as a mistake by any means, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth. I do that every day of the week for Christian McCaffrey. He's more of an impactful player than what Jonathan Taylor is right now. So yeah, I don't look that as a mistake. The Niners made years ago. 00:13:40 Speaker 2: You got a shot to win it. Now you got to go win it now. And I'm sorry. 00:13:43 Speaker 8: I disagree with the point on, well, if, if Bosa gets hurt or if you don't have Evans, then you're just screwed anyway. Like, no, that's exactly the opposite of that is exactly what needs to be true. You need to be able to maybe not win four playoff games without Mike Evans, but you need to be able to win as many as you can and give yourself a chance to win as many as you can without Mike Evans or without Nick Bosa. 00:14:08 Speaker 2: If you have them, that's why. 00:14:09 Speaker 8: You do go make the move is because this may be your last best chance to win it. 00:14:14 Speaker 2: And you need to protect yourself if you don't have those guys. And you know what? 00:14:17 Speaker 8: If you go get guys at those positions and those guys do stay healthy for a stretch run, then you're more apt to win it. And look, there's no absolute, there's no guarantee, but forget about, forget about, win the Super Bowl this year, and you know what? 00:14:31 Speaker 2: If they're 8-8 next year or two years, nobody's going to care at that point. Exactly. 00:14:35 Speaker 3: We'll talk about more trade options for the 49ers as the deadline is tomorrow at 1 o'clock. 00:14:40 Speaker 2: We'll talk about that. 00:14:41 Speaker 7: 415-808-5627. 00:14:42 Speaker 3: If you have ideas, if you have a trade in mind that you want to see the Niners pull off before tomorrow's deadline, let us know. John Dickinson, Derek Poppin, and another question that we could get into here. The 408 says, real question, did Ramon Pirate Clayface offline and incriminate himself, or do we. 00:14:57 Speaker 4: Think he actually went to the movies? We'll discuss that next. on The Sports Leader. 00:15:02 Speaker 1: Now back to dirty work with Copes and Depop on 104.5 FM and 680 AM The Sports Leader. 00:15:15 Speaker 2: Dirty work on a Monday. 00:15:17 Speaker 3: John Dickinson, Derek Papa reacting to the 49ers 38-17 victory over the Raiders to give them a 7-1 record on the season. And the trade deadline is less than 24 hours away. We had some crazy trades today. I'm sure it's going to get crazier tomorrow. Jesse Bates. the Falcon safety that intercepted Brock Purdy a couple weeks ago. 00:15:36 Speaker 4: He goes to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 00:15:38 Speaker 3: Then a couple hours later, the Jaguars make a deal to get Jordan Davis. There was rumors about them wanting to get Jalen Carter for two first-round picks. Howie Roseman and the Eagles decided to go with Jalen Carter for the long term. They also paid Jordan Davis this offseason, but he's getting shipped to Jacksonville to team up with his old Georgia Bulldog teammate, Trayvon Walker. So Jacksonville making some moves. We'll see if the 49ers make some moves tomorrow. A lot of rumors going down. Jonathan Taylor, maybe the Giants get him. There's other names out there. Buda Baker has been a longtime safety for the Arizona Cardinals. The Bills need safety help. There's going to be some movement tomorrow, but will the 49ers be a part of it? We've been talking about, do they need to prioritize running back? 00:16:17 Speaker 2: Sorry, not running back. 00:16:17 Speaker 3: Wide receiver or defensive end. And I think there's more options as far as pass rusher. There is Will McDonald. There is Khalil Mack. There's other guys available. Jadavion Clowney, who had two sacks yesterday. And the Houston Texans, they got a ton of pass rushers. Kind of a weird deal where they could probably add and sell the deadline if a team is willing to give up enough for Jadavion Clowney. As far as wide receivers, it's limited. There's Josh Downs, and I think that the Chiefs are willing to get him for a fourth-round pick. 00:16:44 Speaker 4: I don't know if the Niners are that interested. 00:16:46 Speaker 3: There's maybe Marquise Hollywood-Brown, who's a good speedster, but I think also Kyle likes guys that can block. So there's also Brian Thomas Jr. Will the Niners be willing to give up a lot like the same trade package that The Arizona Cardinals got from the Houston Texans to get Marvin Harrison jr. 00:17:03 Speaker 2: I hear your JD. 00:17:04 Speaker 3: They definitely need to have depth and wide receiver in case they don't have Mike Evans for the playoffs, right? And there's more options when it comes to pass rusher at the deadline. 00:17:13 Speaker 6: Yeah. 00:17:13 Speaker 8: And is, are we sure that with Jordan Davis being dealt to Jacksonville, that Howie Roseman wouldn't still move Jalen Carter? Are we sure about that? I know on the surface you would think, yes, they, you know, paid him, you know, you paid them both, but, but you know, move on from one. And I mean, they got a, they got a nice haul for Davis. I mean, that's, that's what they got from Juergens too. 00:17:37 Speaker 10: I know. 00:17:37 Speaker 2: I mean, they like how he's reloading. 00:17:40 Speaker 4: I think he's going to sell off the expiring contracts. 00:17:43 Speaker 3: Now there's the other defensive tackle, Moro Jomo, who's the younger of all these defensive tackles on their line. 00:17:49 Speaker 2: And it sounds like they want to pay him. 00:17:50 Speaker 3: They could have easily traded him and God, you know, pretty good compensation for him off an expiring contract. 00:17:55 Speaker 4: They already paid Jordan Davis. They already paid Jalen Carter. 00:17:58 Speaker 3: I think if, If the Jags are offering two first-round picks for Jalen Carter and they said no to that, I think they're done there. 00:18:04 Speaker 2:

I think that they want to have him. He's a game wrecker. 00:18:08 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's whether he's actually motivated enough to play football, I think. They were kind of hesitant to give him a long-term contract, but I think they're done as far as trading away guys that are in a contract for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles move Dallas Goddard. I wouldn't be surprised if they move Tyreek Wolin. I wouldn't be surprised if they move Marquise Hollywood-Brown, but I think that's it when it comes to the Eagles. 00:18:28 Speaker 8: Yeah, and any of those names potentially strike your fancy. Dallas Goddard is interesting, although, again, you're bringing him in to be a two. 00:18:36 Speaker 2: Yeah. But that's fine. That's fine at this point. Which I think could be fine at this point. 00:18:42 Speaker 8: Reek Woolen, not for the Niners, but I'm just thinking of him as somebody that could wind up a Detroit– or somewhere else. Like there, there are some teams in that mix with the Niners, obviously that they're going to have to play at some point that I think like go to the AFC. 00:19:01 Speaker 4: Well, that's why I asked Kyle, like the whole thing, like remember, I would. 00:19:04 Speaker 8: Want to see Regal and go to, you know, Buffalo or something. 00:19:08 Speaker 2: I don't know. 00:19:09 Speaker 3: But it, but it sounds like the bears and lions are on him. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's moved to an MC North. 00:19:13 Speaker 8: It feels like, I mean, the lions for him, I thought the lions would be in play for baits potentially. Yeah. Uh, and, and obviously Jacksonville ended up there. Like, I think that's, that's a team that's playing well enough to, to look to add and also has a pretty easy schedule. Why it's kind of concerned me. If I'm the Niners, I'd like to see the lions end up not making it somehow. 00:19:34 Speaker 3: I mean, again, there could be some teams that go 11 and six and somehow miss the post season. And yeah, I think that the lions are looking at defensive back help. Same thing with the Chicago bears. Like we'll talk about it later, but Chicago bears look a little vulnerable last night. You know, you play a little zone defense on caleb williams he's throwing some picks all across the yard. 00:19:49 Speaker 8: Todd bowles had it dialed up he did until that that final breakdown. 00:19:53 Speaker 3: Yeah colson leveling wide open there but can raheem morris if they face him you know kind of do a similar you know defensive scheme against caleb williams but you got to be mindful about what these other teams are doing as well Can you beat him to the punch? And that's why you and I were talking about this weeks ago when there was rumors about Juwan Jennings. And I was like, I don't think the Vikings would trade Juwan Jennings back to the 49ers. 00:20:12 Speaker 2: They would have. And they would have. 00:20:13 Speaker 3: And that's insane to me. So I asked Kyle that like last Thursday. He goes, yeah, we're mindful

of that. That happened weeks ago, though. It was when the Vikings were good, but not like. you know, where we thought that they would be probably like something we're going to see in the postseason. 00:20:25 Speaker 2: Before they were 6-0. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. 00:20:28 Speaker 3: So I'm surprised about that piece. And mainly it's where if we're going to do trades, we don't want to do with teams in our own division. But if it's another contending team, the AFC, and they're offering the best deal, yeah, we have to go. 00:20:38 Speaker 2: We have to jump on that. 00:20:39 Speaker 3: So that's going to be very interesting to see tomorrow. If the Bears make a move, do the Niners feel compelled to make a move? And honestly, I don't think so just because we saw this offseason. where you know miles gary gets traded and they're like no we're good like we feel comfortable with our team so i wonder if they have the same mentality tomorrow but if something you know comes across their desk that tickles their fancy they'll jump on it i the. 00:20:59 Speaker 8: Bears to me where how would you rank the the we love throwing this phrase around all in how would you rank in in looking at the nfc the the all-in teams because i think the bears are probably at the top of the all-in list? 00:21:14 Speaker 2: I would say so. We've already seen it, obviously, with Jeffrey Simmons. 00:21:17 Speaker 3: It sounds like the Giants, and I don't think they're a threat whatsoever, that they could win the NFC East easily. 00:21:21 Speaker 2: Yeah. 00:21:22 Speaker 3: But as far as a Super Bowl contender, I don't see it. But it sounds like they're in on Jonathan Taylor. They're in on Grover Stewart, the defensive tackle from the Colts. If I had to say today who I think Jonathan Taylor's going to, it's probably them. And they'll see the Niners later in a couple of weeks. 00:21:34 Speaker 2: The Giants. 00:21:34 Speaker 6: Yes. 00:21:35 Speaker 2: Interesting. 00:21:36 Speaker 3: I think it'd be sexier if he goes to, like, Cincinnati. That offense would be unstoppable. Or the Minnesota Vikings, but I know Niner fans would hate that. But, yeah, if I. 00:21:44 Speaker 2: Had to guess... Minnesota should go get him. You think so? I mean, they should. I mean, just purely looking at it from their point of view. Would you rather have a quarterback, though? Yeah, but, I mean, you're. 00:21:54 Speaker 8: Going to make a mid-season trade at quarterback. 00:21:57 Speaker 4: Yeah, because Daniel Jones knows the system from the practice squad a couple years ago. 00:22:00 Speaker 2: Well, Colts said they're not moving him, right? I don't buy it. I'm not buying it either. I don't buy any of this. I'm not buying it either, Derek. I'm not buying it either. I agree with you. We're agreeing too much now. I have to start having hot takes. Yes. I have to start disagreeing with everything you say. Let's go out to the phone lines. 00:22:12 Speaker 4: Let's go out to Kenny in San Francisco. 00:22:14 Speaker 2: No, I don't want to do that. I'm going to disagree with you. Let's not go to Kenny. 00:22:17 Speaker 10: I'm joking. 00:22:18 Speaker 2: Okay, I can switch it up here. 00:22:19 Speaker 9: No, Kenny. 00:22:20 Speaker 2: No, I'm kidding. Kenny, you're on with JD and Depop. We're disagreeing. What's up? 00:22:24 Speaker 6: Hi, how are you? 00:22:25 Speaker 9: Can you hear me? 00:22:26 Speaker 2: Yeah, we got you, Kenny. 00:22:28 Speaker 6: Awesome. 00:22:28 Speaker 9: Hey, thanks for taking my call. I got to tell you, I want to sometime have lunch with Ramon. 00:22:34 Speaker 2: Yeah, you do. 00:22:35 Speaker 11: I think he's... I don't know. 00:22:37 Speaker 9: He sounds like a fascinating person to me. 00:22:39 Speaker 3: He is fascinating, and he'll have to schedule with his drinking time, but I'm sure he'll make some time for you, Kenny. 00:22:44 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:22:44 Speaker 7: Hey, so. 00:22:46 Speaker 9: you know, in a way I sort of get conflicting messages. People, including Steve Young said, we got to go all in. And then we talk about, you know, well, we got to think about the future too and stuff. And I really think in a way it's kind of the, at that pick thing, we need to go in all now and try to win this year and worry about next year later, because like the Rams said that and they won and then they didn't go down the toilet. So, you know, I, I really think we need to try to go all in while we have the, you know, how do you say the irons are hot? 00:23:18 Speaker 10: Yeah. 00:23:19 Speaker 3: So Kenny, what's your definition of going all in giving up a first round pick for a significant player? 00:23:23 Speaker 9: Um, you know, it would depend on which player obviously, but yeah, kind of give up whatever you think you need to give up to get whatever we think we need. And I, I do believe we could use a receiver. I definitely believe we could use more, um, defensive line. And, you know, I'm not too worried about the defensive line, speaking of yesterday, because I know people were talking, Murph and Mac, Murph was talking, sorry, not Murph and Mac, Murph was talking about that they didn't get to Cousins yesterday, but we did put pressure on him, and he did get tackles behind the lines, tackles for losses. So, you know, I mean, I definitely think we put pressure on him. It wasn't the result we wanted to see with Buckner, but. 00:24:05 Speaker 1: You know, yeah. 00:24:07 Speaker 2: Does that answer your question? 00:24:09 Speaker 3: No, appreciate the call, Kenny. I would say that, yes, the defense applied pressure yesterday, but you got to get home against these more mobile quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins. 00:24:17 Speaker 2: You should be able to sack him. 00:24:18 Speaker 3: It's the same kind of deal with like second Sam Darnold five weeks ago or whatever it was five times a couple. 00:24:23 Speaker 2: Of weeks ago. 00:24:24 Speaker 3: But yeah, I think it's where the defensive line. They can just add more to that. You can

never have enough when you get to the playoffs. Like the Eagles for years added guys as far as the pass rush position. Remember one year they were leading the league in sacks and they added Robert Quinn for the hell of it. So again, like they have injuries. Grayson Halton's out for the year now. Alfred Collins isn't coming back either. It's just nice to have another veteran presence. You can rotate the young guys, whether it's Mikel Williams or Romello Hyde or any of these guys pass rushers, Keon White, but yeah, I would definitely consider adding a pass rusher at the deadline. 00:24:56 Speaker 4: If it's a guy like Khalil Mack, who I'm not buying anything. 00:24:59 Speaker 2: You're not giving up a first for him. No, of course not. You're buying a fourth maybe for him. Well, they don't have a fourth. 00:25:04 Speaker 3: Anymore, but yes, like a fifth round pick, that seems appropriate to me for expiring contract and a guy at his age right now. 00:25:11 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. 00:25:12 Speaker 8: See, and that's interesting about them not having a fourth. I misnoted that in my little sheet here, but I Yeah, fifth might not be enough to. 00:25:19 Speaker 2: Get it done. What about a third for Khalil Mack? I'd do a third. Yeah, I would. Yeah. And you know what? 00:25:24 Speaker 8: Maybe you take a fifth back or you take a sixth back or you can do the value thing to make it kind of even out. 00:25:30 Speaker 3: And as far as like going all in, like giving up. 00:25:33 Speaker 8: A third for Khalil Mack to me is kind of going all in. 00:25:36 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would agree. That's a lot. I would agree. It's probably more than you should, but. I don't think they're going to trade. Yeah, I get it. 00:25:44 Speaker 3: But I don't think they're going to trade away a first round pick for the likes of like Garrett Wilson. I don't think like the, I don't think they need Garrett Wilson. 00:25:50 Speaker 2: They don't. 00:25:51 Speaker 3: So that the guys that we're talking about, like a Calvin Ridley, if he's available and whatever happened at the airport last night, it's not a big deal. 00:25:57 Speaker 2: Then I do that. 00:25:58 Speaker 3: And I think that he's worth maybe a fifth round pick at this point, a six round pick. I would definitely do that deal. That's a no-brainer to me if you could do that. 00:26:05 Speaker 2: Well, it's another older wide receiver. He's 31 years old. That's okay. 00:26:09 Speaker 8: Again, you just need somebody that can come in and be productive to where you don't get caught. 00:26:15 Speaker 2: Be it in real big trouble. 00:26:16 Speaker 8: If you end up in a big game without Mike Evans, like you have somebody that can, you know, cause it's not, it's, it's, you know, Ridley and the other guys and Shanahan scheming it up. I just feel like without Evans, they're a guy short. And if you have Evans, then so be it. 00:26:29 Speaker 10: Yeah. 00:26:29 Speaker 2: Like that's great. Throw them in the mix. 00:26:31 Speaker 4: Let's go out to Anthony and Danville. This is a young Tony, right? 00:26:33 Speaker 8: Dan. 00:26:34 Speaker 2: Okay. 00:26:34 Speaker 3: Not young Tony. Anthony and Danville has got some pass rush ideas. What's going on, Anthony? 00:26:39 Speaker 10: Hey, how's it going guys? 00:26:40 Speaker 2: Pretty good. 00:26:40 Speaker 10: So I don't, thank you. 00:26:42 Speaker 6: Yeah. Great. 00:26:43 Speaker 10: I don't know how, if it's been talked about recently, but I know it was talked about before the season started, but I was thinking that, you know, a couple of the veterans should really get together and Nick Bosa get together and just try to convince his brother just to come out of retirement for a playoff run. Because hear me out. You get the defensive end you want. You don't have to pay any draft picks for a guy who's not on a team right now. You're not doing a trade. And if he could just get right by like the end of the season and be a part of that playoff run, he could really like add another back presence that we need. So I think like, I just hope that the Niners are going back and like giving it everything they can and try to convince that guy to come. 00:27:27 Speaker 2: Out of retirement. I appreciate the call. And a million dollars a game will probably do it. 00:27:31 Speaker 6: Yes. 00:27:32 Speaker 3: I mean, it's going to be costly with the salary, but as far as like not giving up draft capital, that's my last resort. Like, there's other guys that I'd rather get, Will McDonald or, like I said, Khalil Mack. There's guys like Yaya Diaby for the Tempe Buccaneers, if he's available as well. But, I mean, yes, we would talk about Joey Bosa all offseason. I thought that was going to happen at one point, but... Nick Bosa on these airwaves talking to Murph and Marcus saying he's more comfortable just golfing in Florida than being on a team right now. And I'd rather have a guy that's been playing most of the season. If it's where Joey Bosa is wanting to play with his brother and make a Super Bowl run, by all means, if they don't make a deal. 00:28:08 Speaker 4: But that's a last resort in my opinion. 00:28:10 Speaker 8: I think he would consider coming out of retirement if you're going to pay him an exorbitant amount of money. And I jokingly say a million a game, but I think it's probably about right. 00:28:21 Speaker 3: No, I would think so. Dirty work on a Monday. John Dickinson, Derek Papa. Let's catch up with Ted Wynn of The Athletic. He loves breaking things down from the All-22. Knows the Raiders well and knows the 49ers well. Let's break down this game. We'll talk to him about maybe some options the Niners could have at the trade deadline. 00:28:35 Speaker 4: It's dirty work on The Sports Leader. 00:28:38 Speaker 1: Now back to dirty work. Adam Copeland and Derek Papa in the KNBR Casino Matrix Progressive Jackpot Studios. Casino Matrix Progressive Jackpots are here. Where are you? 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1-800-GAMBLER. 00:28:58 Speaker 3: We are back on the sports leader, John Dickinson, Derek Papa. It's always a pleasure to be joined by senior NFL writer for the athletic Ted Wynn, breaking things down all 22 from the Raiders of 49ers yesterday. 00:29:10 Speaker 2: What's going on, Ted? 00:29:10 Speaker 5: Not much. 00:29:12 Speaker 1: How are you? 00:29:13 Speaker 3: I'm pretty good, man. So just want to get your expertise. You know, you know, both teams very well. So how should we take this 49ers offensive performance with no Mike Evans against the struggling Raiders defense? 00:29:25 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I don't think I learned too much about this Niners offense. We knew they were good coming into the game. We knew that they could deal with injuries coming into the game. We know Kyle Shanahan is very good after a bye week, and we also know the Raiders have an awful, awful defense, and everything was proven on Sunday. The Raiders' defense is just struggling right now. They are 32nd against the run in DVOA. The Jets were just going up and down the field against running the ball on them, and for some reason they stopped in the second half, and I knew Kyle Shanahan wasn't going to do the same or make the same mistake Frank Wright did. And yeah, they just ran the ball on the Raiders. And they had a little bit of a better effort in the second half. But I mean, when you give up 21 points in the first half, it's tough to overcome. 00:30:12 Speaker 8: Ted, have you noticed anything in watching the 49ers in the two games since Mike Evans is out? We know he was out in the second half against the Commanders. But in the Atlanta game or the game yesterday, has there been anything that stood out to you that Kyle Shanahan has tried to maybe do differently because Mike Evans has been out. 00:30:33 Speaker 5: I didn't have to go to it as much in, in this game, but they were just using college. I mean, they were just using Christian McCaffrey as a receiver. I mean, they would motion him out of the backfield and from the backfield, he would run like post routes and dig routes. And he would just line up straight up as a receiver at times. And Keelan Black would be in the backfield and, And I've never seen a running back run the type of route tree he ran. 00:30:57 Speaker 6: And, you know, it's just unique. 00:30:59 Speaker 5: And it's creative. Not a lot of coaches would trust a running back even as good as McCaffrey to do it. So, you know, it's just finding creative answers to a big problem. And it's something Kyle Shannon has done for a long time now. 00:31:12 Speaker 3: Talking to Ted Wynn from The Athletic on the UMA guest line. Jordan Watkins stepped up big time yesterday. But I'm taking that with a little grain of salt just because we've seen what the Raiders defense has done against– even kind of mediocre talent, I would say like at a nine Mitchell, I think went off against them a week ago, Braylon Allen guys that are not bad, but what'd you make. 00:31:30 Speaker 2: Of Jordan Watkins performance? 00:31:31 Speaker 3: And do you think he's a guy that Niners can rely on more and more as the season goes on here? 00:31:37 Speaker 4: I do. 00:31:37 Speaker 5: I think he offers a little bit more explosion than some of the other, the other Niner receivers. So, you know, I don't think he's going to all of a sudden just have no role and um, Evans does come back and deal with Samuel comes back. I think just having a little bit more speed could open things up and kind of lift the roof off, uh, of things for the, for the Niners offense. And, you know, I think the Sean Stripling was supposed to be that guy, but we, we don't know if he's going to be back yet. So I think just having some youth and just having, um, somebody that could just create a little bit more space for everyone is definitely useful. 00:32:12 Speaker 8: Brock Purdy had praised Watkins in terms of being somebody that he trusts more now than he did earlier in the season. He also said that he feels that the run blocking of Watkins has improved, which of course is going to be something that you're going to need in a Kyle Shanahan system to play for Shanahan. 00:32:31 Speaker 2: What have you noticed about Watkins? 00:32:33 Speaker 8: I mean, in terms of just improvement as, as he's gotten more opportunity to play being in the right spot. I know it's been talked about sometimes he's not on the right spot or he's dragging defenders into areas in which, you know, he's kind of getting in the way has happened a couple of times. What, what have you seen from Watkins as far as just kind of cleaning up some of the things that aren't just getting open and making a catch? 00:32:56 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think this is a hard offense for receivers to learn, and we've seen that throughout the years where a young receiver we thought was going to make an impact early just kind of gets into a doghouse. I think it's the same thing for Watkins. It just takes time on task and learning this offense, and not just learning your route. You have to learn the entire concept, which which is why it could be, it could be a little difficult. And I think when you learn the entire concept, you, you know, like I'm not just trying to get open and maybe access the space that I'm not supposed to. If you know the whole concept and, you know, maybe the defense changes a little bit more than you thought it would, you still know where to go to get somebody else open. So, so I think with Watkins is just learning the playbook and just the more reps he gets, the better he's going to get. And, I know the question isn't about Deshaun Stripling, but it makes me think back to the reps that Stripling is losing. Unfortunately, he was so hyped coming into training camp, but these reps are valuable. It makes me just think, how much of a contribution can he actually make when he does get back? 00:34:07 Speaker 8: I think that's a fair point to bring up. Along those lines, would you, Ted, be

more apt to maybe think the 49ers need to add a receiver as opposed to just being dependent on either the continued improvement of Watkins or what Stribling could provide in addition to obviously Debo and, of course, Mike Evans at some point down the line coming back? 00:34:29 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I was always in a camp where I think adding a receiver could be useful, but at the same time, I didn't think– I think there were definitely people that thought it was a bigger need than me just because I think These guys are coming back, and I think you do have some talented receivers on this roster. I think if you could make a move for a depth piece, a guy that has some experience that can play for the right price, you could do it. But I don't feel like the Niners are in a point where they are desperate to have. 00:35:03 Speaker 2: To make a move. 00:35:04 Speaker 5: We just saw the Jaguars trade a first and a second for Jordan Davis. I don't think they're desperate enough to have to overpay for him. 00:35:12 Speaker 9: For a receiver. 00:35:14 Speaker 5: I think the Kansas City Chiefs are a team that might have to overpay for a receiver. I just think if the right deal comes along, then they could make it. But I don't think it's such a huge need for them. 00:35:25 Speaker 2: Talking to Ted Wynn of The Athletic on the UMA guest line. 00:35:28 Speaker 3: During preseason, you wrote a great article about a lot of teams going to 13 personnel with the tight ends and more versatile safety slash linebacker hybrid players like Nick Emanwari taking the league by storm. I brought up the potential of Jaden Duggar What did you see on his pick six yesterday? Was it a great play by him or just a really bad decision by Kirk Cousins? 00:35:49 Speaker 5: I think it's a little bit of both. I mean, it was probably Kirk Cousins' worst play of the entire season. And I saw some people saying it might be the worst play of his career or one of the worst plays of his career. So it was just a very bad decision by Kirk Cousins. I don't want to take too much credit away from him. But as soon as he dropped that ball, I mean, Brock Bowers was open on that. 00:36:14 Speaker 9: Play, too. 00:36:14 Speaker 5: I think he just really panicked, and it was one of those brain farts that you want to put behind you. 00:36:21 Speaker 8: Ted, as you look at the loss of Grayson Halton for the 49ers, how significant in your mind is that? 00:36:30 Speaker 2: And I know he's an. 00:36:31 Speaker 8: Interior player, but the 49ers have been reported to be looking at maybe edge. They went and got to Forrest Buckner, obviously, to come back and play on the interior. Where does the loss of Halton sit with you and then Bosa's return on the edge as you figure out what they may look to do tomorrow at the deadline? 00:36:51 Speaker 5: Yeah, that injury definitely hurts, but it makes it a little bit better that the Niners traded for DeForest Buckner. But when I was studying Raheem Morris' scheme, I thought the guy was a budding young star. At the time, he was fifth in defensive tackle for losses and run stops for a defender. He was making some noise at the pass rusher who was coming along in that department, too. Um, so it, it just stinks. I hope the injury is not so serious that it affects them, um, coming into next year too. Um, but I, I think they do have a little bit more depth to handle it now, but I think it was enticing to have him and to force Buckner because then you could have like these waves of pass rushers and just losing him. It's just another long line of unfortunate injuries for, for this team. 00:37:42 Speaker 4: Talk about Ted Wynn of the Athletic on the UMA guest line. 00:37:44 Speaker 3: As far as the return of DeForest Buckner, the acquisition the 49ers made last week for a fourth-round pick, what did his return do to open things up for Nick Bosa and Osa Digizu to make plays yesterday? 00:37:55 Speaker 5: Yeah, I didn't go back and watch the All-22 yet on DeForest Buckner. So, yeah, I mean, there are so many things going on for the Raiders that I have to keep an eye out for that. I didn't really watch the D-line just yet. 00:38:14 Speaker 3: Talking to Ted Wynn of the athletic on the UMA guest line. Just real quick, I know in the closing seconds there, you know, Kirk Cousins, back into the game, the game was kind of in hand there. Were you surprised for Nita Mendoza to get any playing time in the fourth quarter? 00:38:28 Speaker 11: Yeah, I actually was. 00:38:30 Speaker 5: When they were down 21 with about five minutes left, I thought that was the perfect time to put Mendoza in and get his feet wet. But they didn't put him in. And I think the thinking of this coaching staff and, I think, you know, I could see it as the right approach is they just don't want to give up. And, you know, even down 21 to five, I don't know if they were holding out hope for a comeback. And, you know, even just looking at a bigger picture, they're four and five right now. The defense gave up 30.6 games in a row. I mean, realistically looking at this team, it's not a playoff team. So I don't know what their mindset is. And there's reports that they don't want to trade Kirk Cousins. But to me, I just feel like this is a time where they should get Mendoza in. He just needs the reps to get better. So I was surprised they didn't get him in late in that game, but their, their mindset just seems to be really steadfast that they don't want to give up on a season. 00:39:32 Speaker 8: Would there be any concern, Ted, just looking at, I just happen to be looking at their schedule, Seattle at Denver at Cleveland, and then the bi-week and then the schedule lightens up a little bit. Is it, Do you think it could be about maybe trying to find a little softer spot to get him in there to where he can have some early success as opposed to Seattle and Denver maybe right out of the chute? 00:39:58 Speaker 5: Yeah, 100%. I think that could be. But the issue is, I

think ideally, yeah, you would want to get him in during that bye week. But with the trade deadline coming up, and I know it was reported that the Rays aren't getting called for Cousins, but I'm a little bit surprised by that, especially because the Vikings being in a position that they're in right now, but like with the trade deadline coming up, if a team offers you a fourth or third round pick for Kirk cousins, I mean, like, I think you owe it to your franchise to, to take that pick. And, you know, yeah, you know, ideally you don't want to get Mendoza in against those games. Maybe you play AOC in those games, but, At the same time, the Raiders have shown they can at least pass block, and Clint Kubiak has been able to get guys open through his scheme. We saw that yesterday. It's not the perfect time, but I just think if you get an offer for Cousins, you've got to take it. 00:40:56 Speaker 3: A couple more minutes with Ted Wynn of The Athletic on the UMA guest line. As far as the Raiders' defense, we know that Max Crosby is always going to make plays. There were different defense early on with Rob Leonard at defensive coordinator with Kobe Dean and. 00:41:08 Speaker 2: Quay Walker making plays. 00:41:10 Speaker 3: But what have you seen from them the last few weeks where they went for the four-game losing streak where a lot of teams are just going bombs away on them or having their way on the ground? 00:41:19 Speaker 5: Yeah, it starts with the run defense. I think early on they were able to create some chaos with moving the front and blitzing and things like that. But it seems like teams have figured out figure them out or that the randomness has kind of regressed into, you know, maybe have some good luck with some randomness early on the season, but now that, you know, it's just not working. And I think that Christian McCaffrey touchdown was kind of symbolic of what's going on right now, because it was a cover zero blitz and they got caught. It was a bad execution by the Raiders on the blitz because they, When you do that, you want instant pressure. They didn't get instant pressure. The Niners got five receivers out into a route and pretty had time to make that throw. So it was just poor execution. They got caught in the wrong call. So I think early on, the randomness worked for them. But now the randomness is just, you know, teams are catching them and it's not working out and they're getting hit for big plays. 00:42:22 Speaker 2: Last one for you, Ted. 00:42:23 Speaker 3: Just what did you see from the 49ers secondary in their coverage on the tight ends of the Raiders, Brock Bowers, and Michael Mayer? Well, Brock Bowers still went off seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, but just the opportunity to get turnovers there. Just what did you see from Raheem Morris' defense in the coverages against those two tight ends? 00:42:41 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I think Clint Kubiak's done this all year, and he's able to scheme up Brock Bowers to get open, and I think just Brock Bowers is just one of the toughest guys to covering this league. He's been so productive as soon as he got back. I don't know if it's a Niner problem specifically, especially when you have Fred Warner in the middle of that defense. I just think this is one of the best things about the Raiders offense. Right now, even after that game, they're eighth in points per drive. 00:43:10 Speaker 6: This is a good offense. 00:43:11 Speaker 5: It's based on those two tight ends. Receivers haven't contributed much. I wouldn't say it's a Raheem Morris problem. I just think that the Raiders 12 personnel, it's just a unique problem to deal with in general. 00:43:27 Speaker 3: Ted, when of the athletics joins us from time to time, talk a little bit about the X's and O's all 22 Ted, thanks. 00:43:33 Speaker 2: For joining us. Thank you. No problem. 00:43:35 Speaker 5: Thanks for having me on. 00:43:36 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. 00:43:37 Speaker 3: Catch out the catch that interview on these sports leaders, YouTube page or the sports leader.com or the sports leaders app. He brought up Kirk cousins, possibly getting traded to the Minnesota Vikings. That'd be a big time move that would change things in the NFC. I would be very surprised, J.D., if that move went down because I do think the Raiders are trying to win, even though it's still a rebuilding year. Once upon a time, they were interested in trading away Max Crosby for two first-round picks. 00:44:01 Speaker 4: Don't see that happening by tomorrow. 00:44:03 Speaker 3: If a team offers a second maybe for Kirk Cousins, then I think they consider it. It'd be like what some teams would offer to get Mac Jones at this point, in my opinion. 00:44:11 Speaker 8: They just don't want to. set Fernando Mendoza up to fail and I respect it. And I'll, I'll give full credit. I was, I saw our old friend, Paul Gutierrez last night as he was kind of walking out. And, uh, I, I was curious, I said, are we going to see, you know, Fernando mania, obviously Paul, longtime Dodger fan and like the original Fernando mania with Fernando Valenzuela back in the, back in the day. 00:44:34 Speaker 2: But, uh, are we going to see that here? 00:44:37 Speaker 8: And he was the one, and I, I hadn't, looked at the Raiders' schedule, but he was the one that said, oh, they play Seattle, Denver, Cleveland, and then they hit the bye, and then it gets. 00:44:46 Speaker 2: A little easier. 00:44:47 Speaker 8: They play Denver again, but they have Tennessee mixed in there. It's a little bit of an easier schedule. Arizona, Tennessee, Arizona, the Chargers again after the bye. They still play the Chiefs and the Broncos in that mix, but those final, let's say, five games... You don't want to have him facing Seattle week one, even if. 00:45:08 Speaker 2: It's in Vegas, as opposed to... as opposed to up in Seattle. 00:45:12 Speaker 8: So it made, it made a lot of sense to me in that, in that vein. Like I, I kind of, I thought, all right, is now the time. And then when he said that, I thought, oh, okay, I get it. 00:45:21 Speaker 2: Yeah, I get it. And just kind of, I. 00:45:23 Speaker 3: Don't see that happening, but I wouldn't put it past the Minnesota Vikings and make a big time move tomorrow because they need to do something on offense. 00:45:28 Speaker 4: If it's where Carson Wentz goes off tonight, what. 00:45:30 Speaker 2: Makes sense for the Vikings? 00:45:31 Speaker 9: Yeah. 00:45:32 Speaker 2: Like the Vikings. If I'm the Vikings, I would love to have right. Kirk cousins. No, absolutely. 00:45:37 Speaker 3: But for the Raiders, it's like, all right, are we punting on the season already? We're just 4-5, one game below. 500 here. They've been worse in recent seasons. If it's where the team's offering significant draft capital for Kirk Cousins, then I consider it. But then you'd be sending Fernando Mendoza to the Wolves right away, where his first game's against Seattle. 00:45:54 Speaker 2: That's tough. Seattle-Denver right out of the chute. I don't see that happening. 00:45:59 Speaker 3: Again, I could see Daniel Jones getting dealt to the Minnesota Vikings, or even Geno Smith getting dealt to the Minnesota Vikings. 00:46:06 Speaker 6: Yeah. 00:46:07 Speaker 2: And that will be a big-time impact on the NFC. 00:46:09 Speaker 3: But let's talk about that along with some games yesterday in Week 9 in the NFL. Do we still feel the Bears are the biggest threat to the 49ers in the NFC? 00:46:16 Speaker 2: We'll talk about that next. 00:46:17 Speaker 4: John Dickinson, Derek Papa on the Sports Leader.