San Francisco 49ers Week 5 Stock Report

Stock down: San Francisco 49ers’ former All-Pro inside linebacker, NaVorro Bowman.

In 2013, Bowman seemed to be the Niners’ best defender—better than Justin Smith, Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis. So, when San Francisco lost those three players this offseason, optimistic 49ers fans didn’t panic. Bowman, who missed 2014 with a torn ACL and MCL, was coming back.

Problem is, Bowman isn’t Bowman anymore. He’s just a guy now—no longer an above-average player. At times, he actually below average, and the Niners run defense has suffered as a result. It currently ranks 19th in the NFL.

The 49ers are scheduled to pay Bowman $9.554 million in 2016, $8.954 million in 2017 and $10.104 million in 2018, according to Spotrac. Should San Francisco pay him all of that money? Or will the Niners end up cutting Bowman when the season is over?

This is the Week 5 stock report.

Stock Up: ILB Gerald Hodges

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Tuesday afternoon, the 49ers announced they traded center Nick Easton and an undisclosed draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for inside linebacker Gerald Hodges (h/t the Press Democrat), pending a physical.

Easton was the 49ers’ backup center and, according to Pro Football Focus, had played zero snaps through four games despite backing up one of the worst centers in the NFL—Marcus Martin.

Hodges started three games at middle linebacker for the Vikings this season and is the 15th-highest graded inside linebacker in the NFL this season, per Pro Football Focus.

But Hodges seemed on the verge of losing his job to rookie Eric Kendricks, whom the Vikings drafted in the second round. Now, Hodges has an opportunity to start right away for the 49ers.

Stock Down: ILB Michael Wilhoite

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Michael Wilhoite was supposed to be the Niners’ No. 4 inside linebacker this season. Then Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retired, and the Niners gave Wilhoite a starting job by default. He had virtually no competition.

Opposing teams are going at Wilhoite routinely this season. It’s clear he is not good enough to start in the NFL—he’s a liability in coverage and against the run. The man is a backup, nothing more.

And that’s what he’ll be once Hodges passes his physical. Make no mistake, the Niners acquired Hodges to replace Wilhoite, the weakest link on the 49ers defense.

Stock Up: OLB Aaron Lynch

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

The 49ers didn’t lose their best pass-rusher when they released Aldon Smith this offseason. Aaron Lynch is the Niners’ best pass rusher. He’s better than Smith.

Smith used to be good, used to have pass-rush moves. But now, he runs straight into the offensive tackle and tries to bench-press him almost every time he rushes. Is that a technique?

Offensive tackles have a tougher time blocking Lynch than Smith. Lynch has three sacks already this season. Among 3-4 outside linebackers, only Green Bay's Julius Peppers and Denver's DeMarcus Ware have more than three sacks.

Lynch is 22 years old. He probably will be an integral member of the team for another eight years at least.

Stock Down: RB Reggie Bush

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

Running back Reggie Bush should have been the 49ers’ X-factor on offense Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers.

Tight end Vernon Davis, typically the Niners’ X-factor, didn’t play against Green Bay—he had an injured knee. So the Niners needed someone to step up, and Bush seemed like a good candidate.

In his prime, Bush was a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. In theory, he should have been able to create separation and catch passes against Green Bay’s slow linebackers.

Reality didn’t work out that way. Colin Kaepernick threw Bush three passes, and Bush caught just one for only six yards, per Pro Football Focus.

Bush is no X-factor—he’s done.

Stock Down: QB Colin Kaepernick

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Quiz: If the 49ers tried to trade quarterback Colin Kaepernick today, what could they get for him?

Answer: Nothing. Kaepernick is untradeable.

I’m not saying no team would want him, but I am saying no team would likely trade for him under his current deal, which includes a cap hit of $15.3 million this season and $16.8 million next season, according to Spotrac.

No team needs to pay that much money for a quarterback playing as poorly as Kaepernick. The Niners certainly don’t need to pay him that much money—they probably can find an upgrade in the draft for a fraction of the price.

Don’t be surprised if the Niners cut Kaepernick at the end of the season.

Follow @grantcohn.