The San Francisco 49ers are one of several teams that need help along the edge and the Miami Dolphins might have three different edge rushers who could be available at the trade deadline.
The 49ers lost Nick Bosa for the remainder of the season and Bryce Huff is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Niners, who rank 31st in sacks, recently acquired Keion White from the New England Patriots but could use more help.
USA TODAY’s Jacob Camenker sees the 49ers turning to the Miami Dolphins for help. He predicts San Francisco will acquire veteran edge rusher Matt Judon in a deadline deal with Miami.
“The 49ers are desperate for help on the edge after losing Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the season. They traded for former Patriots second-round pick Keion White but could still use a high-end starter given the injuries they have at the position,” Camenker wrote.
“San Francisco could try to pry Chubb or Phillips away from the Dolphins, but Judon would be the easier and cheaper alternative to consider,” he added. “Perhaps they will value adding his experience after adding White’s upside in the trade with the Patriots.”
As Camenker points out, Chubb and Phillips are both more ideal options than Judon, who clearly isn’t the same player he once was.
If Chubb and Phillips are too expensive for general manager John Lynch’s liking and/or he finds them simply too risky to acquire given their respective injury histories, he might take a flyer on Judon, who is better than nothing.
The 33-year-old has yet to post a sack this season and has just five pressures in eight games, but he has also only played 33% of snaps. Perhaps a change of scenery to a team with a pulse will reinvigorate the veteran.
Even if that doesn’t happen, the 49ers don’t need the old Judon, anyway, as he’d be the No. 3 edge rusher, at best, upon Huff’s return from injury.
For the cost of a late Day 3 pick, it’s worth taking a flyer on Judon.
