49ers Rumors: Colts' DeForest Buckner, Patriots' Bourne Among Trade Deadline Targets

As the injuries pile up for the San Francisco 49ers on both sides of the ball, they are keeping an eye on some of their former players in their search for reinforcements before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner are among the players the 49ers are discussing as trade options.

Other trade candidates for the 49ers cited by Russini include interior defensive linemen Davon Godchaux of the Patriots and D.J. Jones of the Denver Broncos.

The Niners' most glaring needs right now are on the interior of their defensive line and wide receiver, as you might expect based on the players they are reportedly interested in. Javon Hargrave is out for the season after suffering a partially torn right triceps in a Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Brandon Aiyuk's season came to an end in the 49ers' 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the third quarter when his knee bent awkwardly after making a reception.

The 49ers will also be without Jauan Jennings for a second straight game on Sunday due to a hip injury.

Russini did note the Patriots will "listen to any proposal," so Bourne and Godchaux are probably more attainable because the "sense" is the Colts and Broncos don't want to move Buckner and Jones.

Another potential complicating factor for the 49ers is three of the four players cited are under contract for multiple years. Jones is the only one in the final season of his current deal.

Buckner has base salaries of $13 million in 2025 and 2026. Bourne will make $5.5 million in each of the next two years after 2024. Godchaux is owed $10.5 million in base salaries between 2025 and 2026.

The 49ers have an NFL-high $55.2 million in cap space this season, but they will likely try to save as much of that as possible to roll it over into 2025 when they are expected to sign Brock Purdy to a long-term extension.

Bourne, Buckner and Jones all played for the 49ers before, so there would likely be less of an acclimation period for them if they were brought back. Godchaux is in his eighth NFL season and fourth with the Patriots.

Even as the 49ers explore trade options, there appears to be help on the horizon for the reigning NFC champs. Christian McCaffrey is trending toward making his season debut when they return from a bye in Week 10.

Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles during the Super Bowl, might be back a few weeks after that.

If the 49ers (3-4) can get a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday to get back to .500 going into their bye, the potential return of McCaffrey could provide a much-needed spark for an offense that has the sixth-worst red-zone touchdown percentage in the league this season.

We will know by the time the 49ers play their Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 10 what, if any, trades they were able to make as they look to get back in the NFC playoff picture.