NFC rivals beat 49ers to trade for former first-round pass rusher

The San Francisco 49ers missed out on a trade for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who is instead being acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. This development slightly reduces the pool of available edge rush options for the 49ers as they approach the trade deadline.

The 49ers had been in discussions with the Dolphins regarding Phillips, along with other teams like the New England Patriots, but ultimately did not secure the deal. Despite this, the 49ers may not be overly disappointed due to Phillips' history of injury issues, which have affected his availability on the field in recent years.

With the trade deadline approaching, the 49ers are expected to pursue another defensive line trade, especially after acquiring Keion White last week and dealing with an injury to Mykel Williams in their recent win. Potential targets include pass rushers from the New York Jets, who might be interested in reuniting with coach Robert Saleh, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, whose team is showing more openness to a trade following a loss that dropped them to a 3-6 record.

Other options like Bradley Chubb and Matthew Judon from the Dolphins are also under consideration, as the 49ers seek to address their urgent need for a consistent edge rusher. Despite a strong pass rush performance in Week 9, a trade is viewed as essential to maintain defensive stability for the remainder of the season.