ESPN insider expects 49ers to avoid a large segment of NFL trade market

The San Francisco 49ers are 5-3, and coming off a brutal loss to the Houston Texans, in which the offense led by Mac Jones couldn't get much of anything going all game.

Brock Purdy is one of many players steadily working their way back from injury, but with the trade deadline right around the corner, some of the other areas of the roster that dealt brutal injuries could use some help.

However, while the 49ers are expected to be active at the deadline, as they've already added Keion White from the New England Patriots, ESPN's Bill Barnwell expects that the 49ers will avoid a large segment of the trade market this season.

49ers are expected to avoid a large portion of the trade market

"This team isn't in rental territory right now," Barnwell writes. "If the Niners can find young players who can make an impact in 2025 and stick around in 2026 and beyond, though, Lynch could probably justify making a move or two."

If the 49ers hold to this report from Barnwell, it'd mean that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan won't add any one-year rental options at the trade deadline.

While they could still look to add a young player who's under contract for more than just 2025, those options are few and far between.

More: Why 49ers GM John Lynch might not be aggressive in trade talks

White, for example, was a player who was under contract in 2026. He won't just be a player the 49ers have for 2025, but a player who can grow and develop with this team for the next year and a half.

So, while Lynch and the 49ers aren't out of the trade market completely, any player who's a one-year rental likely won't be someone the 49ers go after.

With Fred Warner and Nick Bosa out for the year, the 2025 season is hard to go all-in on. But adding a player who will be around for 2025 and 2026 at least would help the team in the short term while also preserving some value into the future.

Barnwell doesn't expect the 49ers to target any rental players, as he believes San Francisco will wait for the returns of Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk, and Bryce Huff.

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