Why the 49ers made Davis make the trade, a value acquisition, instead of a big move

Why the 49ers trading Davis was a value acquisition rather than a big move originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers' roster remained unchanged through the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

Just before the PT window closed at 1 p.m., the 49ers added a little-known defensive tackle who figures action is part of the team's rotation.

The 49ers have acquired backup defensive lineman Khalil Davis from the Houston Texans for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area.

It wasn't a big deal, but the 49ers concluded it was a solution that didn't cost much.

The big additions for the 49ers will come from players returning from injuries.

The 49ers may need to clear roster spots for running back Christian McCaffrey and offensive lineman Jon Feliciano in the coming days. Both should return this week and could be in uniform on Sunday when the 49ers play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10.

In the next few weeks, the 49ers could make further moves to bring back linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos and safety Talanoa Hufanga.

General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan said they would weigh the short-term and long-term implications of each trade scenario.

It is clear that a larger deal that could have been completed did not meet all the criteria in their estimates.

“When I think about the trade deadline for this team, I think our strongest trade deadline is all those guys that were on IR,” Lynch said on NBC Sports Bay Area's “49ers Game Plan” last week. “I think this will encourage us.”

Under Lynch's leadership, the 49ers have been active in recent trade deadlines. Since 2017, they have made in-season deals to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo, Emmanuel Sanders, Jordan Willis, Charles Omenihu, Christian McCaffrey, Randy Gregory and Chase Young.

Add Davis' name to the list.

“If we see a solution that can improve our football team, we will not hesitate to implement it,” Lynch said last week.

The low-level move seems to indicate that the 49ers believe the conditions are in place for the team to turn things around and make a breakthrough in the second half of the season.

The 49ers sit at a disappointing 4-4 ​​record with nine games remaining in the season, and the only help along the way will be players currently on the injured list.

In many ways, the 49ers' success in the 2024 NFL Draft could have proven the value of holding on to their selection.

After all, seven of the 49ers' eight draft picks were active for games. Their eighth draft pick, offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston, was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers before the start of the regular season. He was used as a substitute in the last three games.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, cornerback Renardo Green, guard Dominick Puni, safety Malik Mustapha, running back Isaac Guerendo and returner Jacob Cowing – all rookies – played crucial roles for the team in the first half of the season.

These draft picks become increasingly valuable to the 49ers as each is locked into a four-year contract with a reasonable future salary cap hit.

With salaries rising for many of their top players and what is likely to be a big deal for quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers need young players on their first contracts to balance their finances.

The 49ers have seven projected draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including two third-round picks and no fifth-round selection. They also expect to receive three additional compensatory draft picks. By acquiring Davis, the 49ers retained all of their draft capital for next year.

One could argue that they should have tried to make a trade for a more well-known player, but the 49ers have also found success with players who are little known.

They hope Davis fits into the rotation behind starters Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott. Davis joins a group of backup defensive tackles that includes Kevin Givens, Kalia Davis and rookie Evan Anderson.

Khalil Davis had two sacks and nine tackles and one sack last season while playing 172 defensive snaps this season. He comes from a similar system under Houston coach DeMeco Ryans, the former 49ers defensive coordinator.

The 49ers should add another boost to their defensive line with Gross-Matos due to return from knee surgery in the coming weeks.

Deals had to be made across the league. Teams bought and sold in a flurry of moves.

The NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals have acquired Arizona edge rusher Baron Browning for a sixth-round draft pick. Would Browning have been an upgrade for the 49ers? He had five sacks in 2022, 4.5 sacks last season and has yet to get to quarterback this season.

The Detroit Lions, the NFC's top team, acquired veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick from Cleveland for a fifth-rounder in 2025 and a sixth-rounder in 2026. The Lions were moved to trade after Star's pass Rusher Aidan Hutchinson was out for the season with a broken leg.

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded defensive end Preston Smith from Green Bay – earning a total of $27.5 million over the next two seasons – for a seventh-round draft pick.

It's interesting that the Packers, currently in the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoffs, would trade Smith. Would they have assigned him to the 49ers, a team that was on their schedule?

A year ago, the 49ers made headlines with their deal to sign Young for a third-round draft pick. He contributed 2.5 sacks in nine regular season games but had one sack in the Super Bowl.

This year, the 49ers concluded that the best move was to rely on their scouting department to find a possible value acquisition rather than a recognizable name.

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