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Latest On 49ers’ Deadline Plans

October 26th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers currently sit with a disappointing 3-4 record, but they’re also only a game behind the Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Considering the conflicting outlooks, there have been some questions about how the front office would proceed at the trade deadline.

It sounds like John Lynch and co. will generally be aggressive when it comes to acquiring players. Michael Silver of The Athletic wrote earlier this week that the 49ers could be eyeing help at defensive tackle and wide receiver. While the front office has to consider future cap constraints, the organization is still eyeing both “marquee” acquisitions and affordable, “less glamorous” options.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic points to two potential trade targets in New England: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and defensive lineman Davon Godchaux. Bourne has already been connected to his former club, especially following Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending injury. Bourne dismissed recent rumors that he’s pushing for a San Francisco reunion, but the veteran wideout would be a seamless fit for the WR-needy offense.

Godchaux would also be a logical fit with Javon Hargrave lost for the season. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has started 57 of his 58 appearances in New England across four seasons. According to Russini, the 49ers have also considered making a run at two former players in DeForest Buckner (Colts) and D.J. Jones (Broncos), although the reporter hasn’t gotten the impression that their current squads have reciprocated the trade interest.

Christian McCaffrey will soon be providing some firepower to the offense, and the team will eventually get some defensive reinforcement in linebacker Dre Greenlaw. While the 49ers may not have started the 2024 campaign on the best foot, there’s still good reason for optimism in San Francisco. We also know the 49ers are not strangers to trade-deadline acquisitions, with the team adding Chase Young, Charles Omenihu, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jimmy Garoppolo in recent years.

However, while the organization will try their hardest to make a playoff push, they still may consider subtracting from their current roster. Popular trade candidate Deebo Samuel is likely staying put following Aiyuk’s injury, but Russini says the team could consider dealing impending free agent cornerback Charvarius Ward.

Patriots’ Josh Uche Drawing Trade Interest; K.J. Osborn Could Be Available?

October 26th, 2024 at 8:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

One year ago, Josh Uche was the subject of considerable trade interest. With the Patriots set up to operate as sellers in 2024, the fifth-year edge rusher is again a candidate to be dealt.

New England reportedly came very close to working out a trade agreement in Uche’s case last October. He wound up remaining with the team, though, playing out the rest of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old (like many other Patriots, especially on defense) would up staying in place this offseason by signing a one-year deal. As a pending free agent for the second straight year, he would again represent a low-cost pickup for a contending team.

To little surprise, then, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report Uche’s name is “floating around the trade market.” The former second-rounder is attached to a base salary of only $1.3MM, and any acquiring team would take on a prorated portion of that figure. Especially as a rental at that financial cost, Uche could be an attractive target to any number of suitors. Expectations would likely be tempered in terms of role and production in the event of a deal, though.

Uche’s snap shares have ranged between 30-38% during his career. Never known for his run defense, the Michigan product flashed potential as sack artist in 2022 with a career-high 11.5 in that department. The following season resulted in only three sacks, however, and Uche has managed a pair so far this year. With the Patriots sitting at 1-6, they could be inclined to take a late-round pick as a means of giving him a fresh start on a team willing to add him as a rotational depth piece. Interestingly, Uche changed agents this summer, so being dealt to a new team could alter the nature of talks on a contract keeping him in place beyond 2024.

The receiver position has become a talking point recently in New England, and veteran Kendrick Bourne has been added to the list of potential trade candidates. A move returning him to San Francisco in particular would be sensible, but the 29-year-old said earlier this week he prefers to remain with the Patriots. Younger members of the WR room have expressed frustration with their situations, though, and that includes K.J. Osborn. The free agent addition has seen his playing time drop since the start of the season, something which is no doubt not sitting well.

Osborn, 27, posted consistent secondary production from 2021-23 with the Vikings. He only managed a one-year deal worth $4MM on the open market, and that pact includes a base salary of just $1.18MM. The NFL Network piece notes Osborn is thus a likelier trade candidate than Bourne as teams continue to sort out a wideout market no longer featuring Davante Adams, Amari Cooper or DeAndre Hopkins. It will be interesting to see how first-year general manager Eliot Wolf and rookie head coach Jerod Mayo handle the Patriots’ trade chips in advance of the November 5 deadline.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/24

October 26th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne Not Eyeing Trade Back To 49ers

October 24th, 2024 at 9:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trade rumors have followed Kendrick Bourne for much of his Patriots tenure. Despite having re-signed with the team on a three-year deal in March, his name circulated in potential trades this summer and again recently.

The 49ers discussed Bourne with the Patriots this offseason, as the defending NFC champions would have wanted him to come back if Brandon Aiyuk had wanted to be traded to New England. He did not, despite the Pats submitting the top per-year offer. As for Bourne, he does not want to be traded back to his original team.

[RELATED: Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte Unhappy With Role]

“This is where I want to be. I see myself being a strong footprint for this change, and a foundation of where this place is going, because I helped the Niners in their foundation get to where they are,” Bourne said, via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed. “And I want to do it here. I just kind of ignore it, but I hear it, but this is where — I want to do it here, you know what I’m saying? I want to, because when it starts popping, it’s going to be popping, and so I want to be a part of it.

“Because San Fran, they popping, and I see it from a distance. But now that’s not my calling. My calling is to be here and help these guys here in this organization here. 

One of the 2021 additions brought in during Bill Belichick‘s uncharacteristic free agency splurge, Bourne has impressed at points in New England. The former 49ers role player finished with a career-high 800 receiving yards in 2021, helping the team to the playoffs in Josh McDaniels‘ final OC season. As the Pats’ offense cratered during the odd Matt Patricia play-calling season, Bourne was made available as he fell into Belichick’s doghouse. Re-emerging last season, Bourne was leading Patriots pass catchers with 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games before suffering an ACL tear. But the team still prioritized him during an offseason that featured numerous re-signings and extensions.

Bourne, who began this season on the reserve/PUP list, is now 29. Although he re-signed on a three-year deal worth $19.5MM, only $5.5MM is guaranteed. An acquiring team would have Bourne on a flexible contract, and with the Pats rebuilding, it would make sense if the eighth-year veteran was interested in being dealt. As of now, he is not eager to move. Bourne is a bit out of place on this Pats roster, as the rest of the team’s receiving corps consists of players drafted from 2022-24. (K.J. Osborn was also acquired during Eliot Wolf‘s first offseason in charge.) But Bourne, who has just four catches for 29 yards in three games this season, told Kyed he is willing to be a mentor in New England.

The 49ers saw their receiver operation crumble against the Chiefs. Deebo Samuel needed to be hospitalized with pneumonia, and Aiyuk suffered an ACL tear. Jauan Jennings missed the game and has not returned to practice this week, and Ricky Pearsall was making his debut weeks after being shot in a robbery attempt. Considering Bourne’s four seasons in Kyle Shanahan‘s system and the NFC West team’s interest in reacquiring him this summer, an emergency return would be logical.

Losers of six straight, the Patriots will have until Nov. 5 to decide on moving Bourne and their other trade candidates.

Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte Unhappy With Role

October 24th, 2024 at 10:33am CST by Adam La Rose

Not much has gone right for the Patriots this season, and the team currently sits at 1-6 on the year. Frustration has grown in the case of another member of the receiving corps.

Kayshon Boutte began the season behind a number of receivers on New England’s depth chart. Returnees Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and the then-injured Kendrick Bourne found themselves higher in the packing order; the same was also true of free agent addition K.J. Osborn and second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. Boutte was inactive for the first two weeks of the season, but he has since seen his workload increase considerably.

Still, that has not translated into a notable uptick in targets. The 2023 sixth-rounder’s largest involvement in a game so far was in Week 6 when he recorded three receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Boutte has specifically requested for plays to be called for him during recent games, something he feels should not be necessary.

“For me personally, in the game, I get frustrated when I’m not getting thrown the ball knowing that I’ve caught every ball that’s thrown to me this season,” Boutte said (via MassLive’s Mark Daniels). “So, I just feel like I would always go to the sideline and demand the ball. So, whether it was that deep ball – I asked for that. The Texans game, I asked for that. So, I feel like I shouldn’t have to really ask.”

The LSU product has hauled in eight of 10 targets in 2024, and his catch percentage leads all New England receivers. His 17.4 yards per reception average is the highest mark on the team, an indication he could be in line for a larger involvement in the passing game as the season moves forward. Developing rookie quarterback Drake Maye (who is now in place as New England’s starter) is of course the team’s top priority for 2024, and strong play from the receiver spot would be key in that process.

Osborn – whose playing time has been reduced since he returned to the lineup – has also been frustrated with his usage in 2024. The former Viking signed a one-year, $4MM pact to head to New England as the team sought out upgrades in the passing game. Part of than plan in that respect was development from recent draftees such as Douglas, Thornton and Boutte. The latter was the subject of an investigation into gambling during his time in college, but charges were dropped in July.

Boutte, 22, made just five appearances during his rookie campaign, one which included being benched for eight consecutive games. He remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026, so plenty of time remains for the Patriots to sort out his role on offense. It will be interesting to see how things shake out at the receiver spot moving forward with multiple members of the unit making it known they are dissatisfied.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/24

October 23rd, 2024 at 7:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While the Dolphins should soon have Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, the team has still added another QB to the mix. The team added veteran C.J. Beathard to the taxi squad today. The quarterback has bounced around the NFL since 2017, including a few stops in San Francisco when current Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel served as the 49ers run game coordinator. The 30-year-old got a start for the Jaguars last season, completing 17 of his 24 pass attempts for 178 yards. The newest addition will join a QB room that also includes Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and Tim Boyle.

Patriots Notes: Belichick, Barmore, OL Changes, QB, Osborn

October 23rd, 2024 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

When the Patriots parted ways with Bill Belichick following the 2023 campaign, the divorce was described as an “amicable” and “mutual” decision. However, during a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast, owner Robert Kraft made it pretty clear that it was his decision to move on from the iconic head coach.

“I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said (via Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe). “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it – if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.”

“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt. People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”

Belichick generally drew much of the blame for the organization’s post-Tom Brady decline. The team didn’t bottom out right away; in fact, they won 10 games and made the postseason with a rookie Mac Jones during the 2021 campaign. However, following a 4-13 showing in 2023 (the team’s worst showing since 1992), Kraft decided to make Belichick the scapegoat and move on from the franchise stalwart.

With Belichick now hitting the media circuit, the former coach has generally been pretty reserved when discussing his former club. That changed this past week, when Belichick appeared on Jim Gray’s Let’s Go! podcast alongside Brady. The future Hall of Fame coach was especially critical of new head coach Jerod Mayo‘s assertion that his 1-6 squad was “soft,” and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald wonders if Belichick may be changing his tune following Kraft’s aforementioned quotes.

More notes out of New England…

  • After Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots in July, the Patriots had been bracing for a potential full-season absence for the starting defensive lineman. Fortunately, there may be some good news on that front, with Mayo telling reporters that the former second-round pick was “progressing” in his recovery (via Kyed). Mayo even admitted that he’s changed his stance on Barmore’s 2024 availability, with the head coach stating that the DT could end up seeing the field at some point this season.
  • Michael Onwenu started the season as the Patriots right tackle but has seen an uptick in playing time at right guard in recent weeks. Offensive line coach Scott
    Peters said he hopes the change is permanent, although the former sixth-round pick’s position will continue to be dependent on his teammates’ availability (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss). The team is bracing for another position change on their OL, as former first-round guard Cole Strange could see snaps at center when he’s activated from PUP (via Kyed). The lineman has missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a knee injury.
  • While the Patriots always seemed to hint that Drake Maye would eventually take over for veteran seat warmer Jacoby Brissett, the staff hastily made the change ahead of the team’s Week 6 contest. Brissett told reporters that he wasn’t told of the team’s definitive 2024 plans at the position (via Kyed), although he did seem to hint that he knew he’d eventually hit the bench for his rookie teammate. Brissett tossed a pair of touchdowns in his five starts, while Maye has already found the end zone five times in two starts.
  • Mayo admitted to reporters that offseason acquisition K.J. Osborn was likely frustrated with his role in New England, per Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal. The former Vikings draft pick led the position in snaps for the first four weeks of the season, but after returning in Week 7 following a two-game absence, the veteran found himself behind all of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Ja’Lynn Polk (Osborn had two more snaps than fellow wideout Demario Douglas). In five games this season, Osborn has hauled in seven catches for 57 yards and one touchdown.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/24

October 22nd, 2024 at 5:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: S Erick Hallet

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Prince played under Brian Callahan in Cincinnati but has only played two games over the past two seasons. A six-game starter with the Dolphins and Bengals, Prince missed all of the 2020 season due to a COVID-19 opt-out and then all of the 2022 season due to injury.

The Vikings cut Tonyan from their 53-man roster earlier today, but because the NFC North mainstay is a vested veteran, he did not need to clear waivers before joining Minnesota’s practice squad. With T.J. Hockenson on the way back, Tonyan profiles as insurance.

This is a third chance for Marshall. The Panthers waived him after three seasons. No team claimed the former second-round pick, with Joe Brady‘s Bills passing. The 49ers took a flier soon after but released him last week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/24

October 19th, 2024 at 6:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad callups:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Autry was hit with a six-game PED suspension in July, leaving the Texans without a key figure along the defensive line. The free agent pickup could have suited up by means of Houston using his one-week roster exemption; instead, he has been activated in time for Week 7. Autry, 34, posted a career-high 11 sacks last season and he will look to make an immediate impact during his Texans debut. Especially with Mario Edwards having been issued a four-game suspension of his own earlier this week, he should have a notable role right away.

NFL Injury Updates: Texans, Carr, Dean, Lowe

October 18th, 2024 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans defense played without rookie starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter last weekend, and they may be without him for a bit longer. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Lassiter is expected to miss a few more games due to the scapula injury he suffered against the Bills nearly two weeks ago.

Wilson emphasized that Lassiter is improving and that he is expected to make a full recovery with no surgery, but for now, he’s a ways off from returning to the field. Another defensive back who is expected to miss his second straight game is veteran safety Jimmie Ward, who sat out last week’s contest after aggravating a groin injury.

Lastly, undrafted rookie running back British Brooks, who was placed on injured reserve 10 days ago, has undergone successful knee surgery, per Wilson. The procedure to repair Brooks’ torn meniscus took place yesterday. He is expected to make a full recovery but isn’t expected to return this season. Brooks should be ready for organized team activities in the spring.

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NFL:

  • After a promising 2-0 start, the Saints‘ 2024 campaign has taken a slide with five straight losses, partially due to the injury and absence of quarterback Derek Carr. Well, it appears that Carr will be out at least one more week. Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Carr may be trying to come back by Week 8 to plays the Chargers, a team he’s very familiar with, but the team views the Week 9 trip to Carolina or the Week 10 matchup versus the Falcons as more likely return-dates for their quarterback. Head coach Dennis Allen echoed this sentiment, telling Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune that he wasn’t sure whether or not Carr would play in Los Angeles but claiming that it was “very likely” that he’s back in time for the Panthers.
  • After leaving this past Sunday’s game in New Orleans early with a hamstring injury, Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean has not practiced this week. Greg Auman of FOX Sports believes that Dean is likely headed towards a multi-week absence. While a stint on IR may be in the cards, the Buccaneers haven’t gone that way just yet.
  • Patriots left tackle Vederian Lowe is another player who left this weekend’s games early. He underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed the expected diagnosis of an ankle sprain. While Lowe has been downgraded to out for this weekend’s game in London, New England expects to see him back in the near future, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
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