Post-Trade Deadline Expectations for the San Francisco 49ers

Post-Trade Deadline Expectations for the San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers did not make any trades at the deadline, but they have made some moves this season, and they do have some players that could help in the second half. Let’s reevaluate the second half post deadline expectations as the Rams come to town on today’s Locked On 49ers. You are Locked On 49ers, your daily San Francisco 49ers podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Welcome to Lockdown 49ers. Brian Peacock and Eric Crocker with you as always at BDP Peacock at Coach Crocky. Thanks everybody for making this your first listen on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. Love our everyday. Thanks for hanging with us. We got through the first half of the season. uh nine weeks down, nine weeks to go and the trade trade deadline has come and gone and uh we’re going to get into all of those aspects and then what we expect about this team and kind of look at how this team has come together now into the second half of the year as we await the Los Angeles Rams. Six and two Rams got the A team on the broadcast team on Fox this weekend as well for San Francisco 49ers versus the Los Angeles Rams. Now, let’s bring on today’s guest, Nicholas Winkler. Come on down. Action News8 Sports with Nick Winkler. Nick Winkler, of course, our guest in our Winky Wednesday episodes. Uh known as the voice of the fan, my former radio colleague. And uh as the voice of the fan wink, now that the trade deadline has come and gone, what is the official position of the fans about the 49ers not really doing anything on deadline day? surprised. I think I think that a lot of fans and and you know people out there really expected the 49ers to do something. Uh you and they kind of did, right? You know, you know, last week they made a move and they’ve made a couple of moves so far this season. Nothing big, right? No splashy move, which I think we’re kind of glad they didn’t do. They didn’t really mortgage the future for this season based on all these injuries and so many key parts already out. Like I’m I’m I’m happy with where the 49ers are at right now. Would I have liked to have seen them give up a late round and brought bring in another defensive lineman or something? Yeah, probably. But I’m not I’m not upset with where they’re at right now. Yeah. And Croc and I talked right after the deadline and it’s like, you know, well, what what move went down that the 49ers should have actually made and all of the reported prices were just a little bit too high. You know, this is a deadline. You’re supposed to be bargain shopping at the deadline, not trading away multiple first round picks. So, I was kind of surprised that some of the blockbusters and I think in a lot of ways a lot of those moves were overpays and the Jets were trying to get the 49ers to overpay for some of their guys and sounds like maybe the Dolphins were too and and John Lynch the 49ers weren’t having it which I think is is the right move in the long term. You just you I know it it feels like you need to do something. You want to do something and I’m sure the 49ers were motivated and wanted to do something but the right thing and not just throw away draft picks. It’s just not the way to to go about building your franchise and your football team, even if you do have some current needs. And is this the right team to go all in on? Probably not. No Bosa, no Fred Warner, right? And as banged up as it is, although I do want to talk about some help that might be on the way, do you think the uh do you think just the overall feeling about the trade deadline uh let’s say the the Keon White move was Tuesday instead of a few days earlier? Do you think the whole feeling is like, “Okay, here this was the deadline move. They got something. They got this former second round pick.” Yeah, I really do think so because that’s a move, right? I just think the 49er fans wanted something. You know, they’re watching all day long. I had multiple people texting me today between noon and 1 like, “It’s coming. Here it comes. Here I know it. It’s coming. It’s coming.” And nothing happened. And yeah, if the white thing happened last week, I think that 49er fans or happened today, 49er fans would be like, “Oh yeah, this is great. This is exactly what we wanted. help on the D line. And Croc’s like, well, like what are the Bengals doing? Trey Hendrickson is like uh held hostage in Cincinnati. Can’t get a new deal done. And then they’re like, oh, give us a first round pick. And the entire league is like, no. And they’re like, okay, I guess we’re just going to keep him then. Maybe we’ll get a comp third someday. Thinking about the trade deadline today and how many trades were going down, is this a little bit more of a new phenomenon? Because I feel like when I was a kid, I remember Clinton Portoris and Chant Bailey being like the swap going on there. They were traded and that was like whoa, a trade happened, you know, that started it. Yeah. The first big one. Yeah. Is the NBA thing you you didn’t see I mean outside of like maybe a draft day trade or, you know, we saw that, right? Like just the Saints to get Ricky Williams what it took um you know, years prior to that, the Hershel Walker trade, right? like just a crazy amount of trades, but for the most part, it wasn’t something that you saw or even like in an abundance. Maybe if there was like 100% a need, think of I think it was Teddy Bridgewwater traded to the uh Vikings for a first round pick, I believe it was. Um because Teddy Bridgewwater got hurt. So there were like situations where just a trade happened but we didn’t see it especially now where it’s almost expected is oh it’s a trade deadline trades better happen 49er fans probably a little you know wish the 49ers were more active and it was just something you didn’t see in the past. Yeah. Traditionally, NFL teams were just so riskaverse and they didn’t want to make any moves ever and free agency wasn’t as crazy and trades weren’t as crazy and the new school GMs and and the way the league is now, they’re okay. Someone says, “I want to request a trade.” In old days in the NFL, they’ve been like, “What did you say? Request a trade.” No way. In fact, you have to go to prison for that. You you you can’t say that. Are you kidding me? And now it’s just like, “Okay, we’ll trade you within 35 minutes. I’m sorry, sir. Here you go. you get to go to a new team now and uh and just teams are are not afraid to trade picks, not afraid to make moves and so uh it makes it a lot more fun and it wasn’t record I think 2022 was the modern record of the most like deadline day trades. I think there was 10 maybe there was eight or something today something like that. So it was one of the top three days I think ever but maybe not number one although that was before maybe there were some late moves that got it over the top I’m not sure but things especially the last two three four years and you know like the Macaffrey move was that 2022 as well I think that year was like really the first one was like oh my gosh the NFL trade deadlines actually a thing this one there was a lot more big blockbusters too compared to last year I think last year we expected more and this year you got some really big ones like the the sauce move was just nobody saw it coming you know you thought the Jets might be involved, but Sauce was not the name that was thrown out there. So, that was a big shocker. That’s one where you have to check and make sure it was like, is that the real Adam Shfter or is that like a fake deal? Even Quinton Williams like it was brought up like it was mentioned, but I didn’t think that there was any like any real stuff behind Quinton Williams potentially being moved. We discussed him or oh yeah, go get Quinton Williams. All right, let’s do it. But I didn’t think he would actually get traded. And not only did he get traded, I’m seeing my group jack uh blowing up. I traded to the Dallas Cowboys of all places. So weird. You know what’s crazy too is when I saw that Sauce Gardner thing go by, I thought about Niner fans because I’m like, Niner fans know three Jets quarterbacks ever, right? They know Sauce Gardner, they know Derel Rivas, and they know Eric Crocker, right? And it’s like, how excited were they to be like, “Oh, cool, cool. A Jets DB got traded?” Uh, I did get an offer from locked on Cowboys for Eric Crocker, but I shot that one down. Cleaning up enough first round picks for me. I said, “Nope, can’t do it. Need at least three consecutive.” They’ll trade you wink and they’re like, “Nope, not interested.” Um, there is some help on the way potentially for the San Francisco 49ers though in the second half. And not just Brandon Iuk, although it was reported by Kyle Shanahan, this is not the week for Brandon Iayuk. the practice window is not going to open for him this week. I do want to talk about some of those things as well as we get ready for the Los Angeles Rams here is a fun little um curveball in the middle of uh of usually it’s everything’s just so rigid throughout the NFL season. You go to the previews, then you go on to this and that and then you got the next game, you got the crossovers and you have a nice little trade deadline thrown in here which is always a lot of fun. But uh we are going to look ahead at the Rams a little bit. Wink, I do want your thoughts on the New York Giants game as well and I know you have a wink watch for us. Uh, but I do want to talk about some potential help that could be on the way and and maybe some expectations for some players uh that haven’t done a lot this year that could help the 49ers in the second half. Even if they weren’t traded for, I think help could potentially be on the way for the San Francisco 49ers. Next, this episode of Lockdown 49ers brought to you by FanDuel, America’s number one sports book. The NBA, it’s back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of a game, you want to ride the hot hand. FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into same game parlays for a shot at a bigger payout. 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All right, guys. So, Brandon, IU practice window not going to open this week, but it could be sometime soon here. You get Brock Party back maybe, although now it sounds like this turf toe is going to linger all year long. So, I don’t know when Brock Party is going to feel like he can come back and play his game for the San Francisco 49ers. Uh Ricky Piol is somebody who’s going to come back for the San Francisco 49ers. Helped them out on the offensive side of the ball and he was their number one guy when he was in the lineup earlier on in the season dealing with that PCL a pesky PCL injury and and hopefully that’s coming back soon as well. Um so those are all big things. Spencer Berford has jumped into the starting lineup now that he’s healthy at left guard. Some uh some good plays, some bad, but I think an upgrade overall over the rookie Connor KBY who was kind of thrust into action. And look, if Connor KBY was better, he would have kept that job, too. Because uh we saw Dominic Puny do that, too. Spencer Berford a right guard last year. So, you know, if the if the guy comes in, it’s like, “Oh, this is a dude, dude, that he’s going to stay.” And I think Connor Kobe might be a good player for the P9ers. But, um going back with with Spencer Burford a left guard, and then you might get Ben Bart as well. Was the starter to start the year, and he’s had a lot of injury problems throughout his career. It’s really was kind of dogged him, but coming back on the offensive line. So hopefully you get a better offensive line in the second half of the year. Looks like Pooney actually is playing a little bit healthier than he was a few weeks ago as well, which is a good sign for the 49ers going forward. Uh but particularly what we were talking about with trading for a defensive player. Um I was really impressed guys with what I saw from Cleveland Ferrell. Actually, I was shocked that the snap counts after the game that Cleland Ferrell did not outnap actually um Keon White because when I was really, you know, I just didn’t I didn’t chart every snap of the game, but when I was really paying attention to that, especially at the beginning of the game, like, okay, who’s who here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here who’s here’s the new guys who’s out there like Cleon Ferrell’s out there a lot and he’s playing awesome and uh Keon White had some moments as well. But that’s two new names and two guys, you know, Frell started in this league. He’s he knows the 49ers system. He looked very spry uh for the 49ers in his first role back after being signed this week. And then uh Keon White, I think, could play a role and and I saw a big athletic guy. And so that’s those are two players that can give the 49ers a little something. You got Bryce Huff. He’s coming back from his hamstring injury. Maybe this week, maybe next week. We’ll see. But he’s been out, you know, supposed to be around two-ish weeks, and he’s been out now two weeks with his hamstring injury. So that’ll be a welcomed pass rush edition. and we saw how good he was against the Atlanta Falcons a couple of weeks ago and and that’s massive for the 49ers to have somebody off the edge that can create their their own pressure. Um and then you look at the defensive interior guys and you do have the second round pick Alfred Collins, his snap count has kind of picked up as the season’s gone along. Um kind of played starters amount of snaps in recent games. Jordan Elliott’s been out there the starter along with Kalia Davis as well. Kevin Given came back from his pec injury and it’s actually made it so they have so many defensive tackles now that CJ West wasn’t even active last week. But I still expect a lot from the rookie and CJ West from a a run stuffing standpoint. I don’t know if he’s ever going to develop into a big-time pass rusher or anything like that, but I think he’s going to be a good player, potentially even a starter along with Alfred Collins long term. So, I’m really looking forward to the development there. Um, the the 49ers cupboard is not bare. Now, they don’t have a lot of depth if they’re losing even more guys from where they’re at right now, but um maybe in four weeks Gross Mats comes back, right? Robert Beal uh has had a few snaps. Okawan has been dealing with some stuff, but the 49ers have some bodies. And I I they’ve been able to be a team that’s six and three. And if I’m looking at the younger players, Robert Beal, Okawanu, especially Collins, and CJ West inside, and Kalia Davis has shown some development, I think you could possibly be okay on the defensive line. And I’m not trying to um finagle anything by any of the fans that are upset about the trade deadline, guys. But the 49ers are six and three, as injured as they’ve already been. They can win four more games and it be a playoff team. They weren’t going to win a Super Bowl because they traded for Bradley Chub anyway. So, tell me why this 49ers team can’t be as good or maybe in some ways even better in the second half with some of these young guys developing on the defensive side of the ball. You know, I fully expect the 49ers to be better in the second half and I always expected that. The the more reps these guys are getting and the more experienced, they should stop making some of the mental mistakes that they’re probably making early on. And I I remember, you know, my rookie year, yeah, I didn’t have this long tenure with the Jets or anything like that, but just in my time there, one of the things that was very clear was when you’re thinking, you play much slower than what you’re actually capable of playing. And a lot of these guys are probably thinking a ton about, oh, should I do this, should I do that? But once you can start manipulating what you believe an opposing def uh uh offensive is seeing, right? the quarterback, late movements, but I know exactly where I’m going. My confidence is growing. I’m making some plays. You become a different version of yourself. And a lot of times that clicks the last quarter of the season, four young guys going into their second year. So, I’m excited to see how much better and much growth these guys have. Man, you don’t think Upton Stout has, you know, it’s been like spinning. Yeah. whereas, man, I’m out here, then I’m hurt, then I come back and I’m playing and they’re attacking me and then and before you know it, it’s gonna be, okay, I’m comfortable now. I’m understand what’s being asked of me. And I think that’s going to be a lot of these guys. So, I fully expect a young 49ers defense to to play better in the second half. Yeah, I think that all goes back to one name, right, with this young defense, with this for the veterans as well, and it’s one guy on that side of the ball, and and he’s the coach. She’s Robert Salah. I mean, he he’s the reason this defense has been so good. They’ve been able to just plug guys in. I mean, Bthoon had what 16 tackles in this game. You know, it’s he he’s designing the defense around the guys he has because you have to do that. You got young guys. Let’s not leave him out on an island. Let’s not let’s protect them. Let’s let’s make sure that we’re plugging holes. We’ve got guys covered. We’re putting pressure when pressure needs to come. And I mean, what Robert Salah has done this year, we we harp on it. I do at least every single week I’m on this show because it’s noticeable. He he he has made such a difference on this football team coming back that it’s it’s actually fun to watch this defense play football because you never know where pressure is coming from. You never know, you know, who who’s going to make the next big play for these guys because it’s always somebody and and like you said, I was surprised when West was a a healthy scratch before this game. But trust in Sullah, you know, he knows what guys can play right now and who needs more time to kind of develop what Croc was talking about. I saw an interview with Steve Young the other day and he was talking about that as a quarterback. Like do all the homework, do everything ahead of time. So when you’re out there, you’re not thinking, you’re just reacting. You’re seeing and you’re doing. And I think that Croc hit the nail right on the head with that with a lot of these young defensive guys are still learning that. And you can see it with especially with Stout. you know, he he struggled a little bit early on and he’s starting to come along a little bit and it’s just noticeable. I love it. Yeah, it’s really important for this young secondary to develop together because when you look at Dondor Lenor who, you know, not too long ago signed his long-term contract. Renardo Green’s in year two and you have Malach Mustafa who’s in year two and is clearly a part of the starting lineup and and they want him to be there for a long time. You got the rookie in Upton Stout who’s had some ups and some downs and uh and now gets a chance to kind of settle in in the second half of his rookie year, Marcus Seagull. We’ll see what kind of a role he’s able to um to carve out the second half of his rookie season to prove that he’s a part of this long term. I mean, those five guys might be like the starters for a long time in the secondary for the 49ers. And then Nick Martin’s just kind of this bonus third round super speedy linebacker. Hasn’t had a chance to play defense at all for the 49ers, but is on special teams now. And I wonder at some point if he might get his shot if there’s, you know, if D. Winters gets deaned up again. Are they going to go to Martin give him an opportunity? Can he can he uh can he earn a role and and and get some snaps? And I wouldn’t mind seeing what he could do because he could fly around and make plays as well uh if if he’s anything like what we saw in the progression of him in the preseason. So there is some ways that the 49ers can get some help that we haven’t seen in the first half of the season and the second half season. And uh similar to Nick Martin on the defensive side, you got the fifth round rookie running back in Jordan James on the offensive side of the ball. And if look, if Isaac Reno’s completely falling out of favor, I thought he was the one that could have gotten traded by the 49ers. Um, he’s still around, but if he’s not returning kicks, make him the healthy scratch and get Jordan James up. I want to see him carry the football at least cuz he was about to be the number two running back on the team till he broke his finger and then they traded for Brian Robinson. And so there is still some hope for the 49ers to have some uh some gems and unearth some things that we haven’t seen yet that could help them in the second half of the year, but a lot of it, you know, pertains to health as well and getting some guys back and getting Pierce all back. And hopefully you see Pertie back and he’s the same guy. And uh and Brandon IU could be really nice if he’s actually the same dude when he shows up at some point soon, which could potentially be in the next couple of weeks here for that last run month down the uh down the stretch of the season because um the 49ers are in a dog fight with it’s not like the 49ers at six and three are uh are by themselves. They got the they got the Seahawks and the Rams and and the Rams this week and six and two football teams and and uh and so it’s going to be a fight for the 49ers to uh to earn that playoff spot and and potentially even try to win the West. So, I’m I’m fascinated to see what this team looks like down the stretch. Wink. Next, I want to hear what you think about the Giants game. And of course, we got to take a peek ahead, get your wink watch, and then uh talk a little bit and turn the page to the Los Angeles Rams in week 10 next. This episode of Lockdown 49ers brought to you by Built. And you know, nobody likes paying rent. We know that. But if you must, you might as well get something for it. That’s where Built comes in. Built is changing the game by turning your rent payment into real rewards you can actually use. When you pay rent through Built, you earn flexible points that can be redeemed toward hundreds of hotels and airlines, future rent payments, uh how about your next lift ride, and so much more. But it isn’t just about rent. It’s about everything you do around your entire neighborhood. When you’re walking around your neighborhood, grabbing uh food at your favorite spot, maybe heading to the gym, getting coffee, still earning rewards with Built. Built has made everyday life feel more rewarding from your neighborhood to your travel plans. So turn your rent into rewards and start earning points around your neighborhood by going to joinbuilt.com/lockedonfl. That’s joinbuiltb.com/lockton. and make sure that you use the link so they know we sent you. Uh, Wink, what do you think about the New York Giants game from the 49ers? Again, it’s a a great example of a banged up football team. Uh, you lose your first round defensive lineman and u I think the scoreboard didn’t even tell the entire story about how the 49ers were just like in control of that football game against the New York Jets aside from that early drive. And I loved seeing Sal’s defense turn it around. And I don’t know uh who got chewed out or how that worked, but that was a good sign. What did you think about the the New York Giants game for the 49ers? Yeah, it was fun to watch after, you know, that a week where you watched the Texans game, and as a fan, you hate every second of it, right? So, it’s, you know, night and day those two games. It was it was solid offense, solid defense, even solid special teams. Earlier, you you you said Frell when you’re talking about the defense, and my mind immediately went to Luke Ferrell because of how well he played on special teams. I was like, “Oh, yeah, man. remember Luke Ferrell out there just making tackles just looking like a stud on kick coverage and you know because I love my special teams Morstead out there doing his thing. No, nobody does remember that because everyone’s going pee getting something to drink and come back. Hope nothing bad happened while that kick was going on. What happened this week on on Wednesday? Yeah, stick around. I always got you guys on. That’s how I knew Gendo was working on kick coverage. The only thing he’s actually doing out there right now. Uh but yeah, Morstead solid one at two inside the 20 again. He’s right around 50% for the year. We got uh Eddie Pinero. I mean, have you ever felt more confident in a kicker? Like guy with Robbie Gold. I felt like he was going to make everything, but he didn’t. Pinto was making everything. It’s just incredible to watch. I wasn’t thinking about this, Croc, but maybe that’s why the 49ers didn’t do anything. The tread deadline. The uh the front office was too busy working out that Eddie Panero extension. Yeah, there you go. Five years. Hey, he’s been he has been so clutch for the 49ers. So clutch. Isn’t he like, if I’m not mistaken, like the longest amount of cons uh consecutive kicks made by a a new kicker. Yes. Yeah. To the start your career. Start season. Start your career. Yeah. Either way. Yeah. He bypassed start your career with the theme. Yeah. Yeah. He bypassed Robbie Gold a couple of weeks ago. He’s one of the most accurate kickers in the history of football and he was just on the street available. miss around pink on the kicker. Yeah. And look and and you start looking at EPA uh uh EPA per play and and rankings for special teams. The Niners were not good and they started out bad, too. And they’ve gotten better. So, the new special teams coordinator, Brent Boyer, Wink, I think we got got to give him some props because all of a sudden the 49ers are starting to climate and climate climate and start playing a lot better on special teams. And by the way, Isaac Grando’s not getting his kick return back job from job back from Brian Robinson either. No, not after that 40 plus yard return. That was that was fun to watch. You never see that for the 49ers. You just never see good kick return. So that was exciting. That got me out of my chair, too. Everybody that was out there going to the bathroom, you missed it. Stick around. All right. Don’t don’t miss out on special teams. It’s big part of the game. Important. Very important. Um should we talk R real quick? You mentioned you mentioned guys coming back, right? guys, you know, that that can come back and help this football team. There’s a guy who’s already back who’s helping in one aspect of the game, but there’s a whole another part of it that we’ve barely unlocked. I’m talking about George KD. I mean, once they get his receiving locked in, as we know George KD can do, that’s just a whole another weapon that the 49ers are going to have on offense. And so, it’s just another thing to look forward to as a 49er fan, right? We know it’s going to come. He just needs to get his legs under him. He missed what, five weeks, six weeks. He was out for a long time. He needs to get his number called as well a little bit more often. We talked about that and we talk about a lot here on the show. Would mind seeing some more targets go 85’s way and I think they might down the stretch. And yeah, and and two look since George Field’s come back two out of the three games they’ve just completely run the other team off the field in the ground too which is which is wonderful to watch. It’s just so much fun play. Yeah. Right. And look, I think McCaffrey was only 3.8 eight yards per carry in this game. But it was like they Yeah, it didn’t matter at that point. It was like, you know, we’ll we’re we’ll tell you what’s coming. It doesn’t matter. We’re just getting this game. We’re shortening this game up. Uh don’t love the number of carries, 28 for for Christian McCaffrey, but uh we’ll digress away from that because I think all the listeners already know how I feel about the overusage of Christian McCaffrey. And you knock on wood there. Um Los Angeles Rams 6 and2 Rams. The Niners are going to be in a dog fight the rest of the way with the Rams and the Seahawks. It’s not going to be an easy run. And uh I was blown away how well the 49ers played coming out of the the short week after the big injury to that was post Bosa injury, right? Where they go on the short week Thursday nighter to LA and win that game and they sweep the Rams wink. They definitely can. I mean, if anybody owns Shawn McVey, it’s Kyle Shanahan. I mean, it’s been it’s been fun to watch them play the Rams. Puka is a little bit banged up. He’s got this rib thing going on. I mean, Devonte Adams is playing out of his mind right now. Matt Stafford got to be mentioned in the MVP category. And their defense has been looking solid, too. So, I’m expecting just a a solid just beat him up game or just back and forth just tough nose football. Like I I’m really looking forward to this game. Got the the A team calling it. You mentioned Brady’s going to be out there and yeah, it’s going to be it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch this football game. Real quick though, the the wink watch from the game. Uh, something I saw in the second quarter, I don’t know if you guys talked about it or people saw it, but there was a play to Christian McCaffrey up the middle and guys were kind of standing him up and M. Jones ran in there and started pushing the pile and I was just like, that’s what I’m talking about. I love like I hate it at the same time because I don’t want him to get hurt. I’m like maybe don’t go in and talk about but that’s the kind of guy he is and that’s why I think he’s done so well on this football team and fans have really embraced it is because he just wants to win no matter what it takes. It’s it’s a lot of fun to watch him play football. Do you think it’s a difficult dynamic for the offensive guys to have a like take a liking to M. Jones the same way they do Brock Py because they love Brock shoots I mean even going back that like Jimmy Garoppolo. Uh I don’t know how much they were friends with Jimmy G, but they definitely respected the kind of leader he was on the field. Brock, it seems like man they just love everything about Brock. everything he brings to practice, his tenacity, his preparation, uh, his maturity, and then you have M. Jones come in and it feels like he’s giving you some of those same things that like that play, that’s a great way to become enamored by your teammates, like just to make them like love you and everything that you bring. So, it’s been awesome just watching him and his contributions to the wins. Uh the 49ers gave up a decent amount of points against the Giants, but when you score that many points, hey, you’re still going to walk away with a W. So, he’s doing a really good job there. But I think it’s the little things like that where your teammates probably look and say, you know, we kind of don’t want to lose this guy this off season. Just the like last week, I think George KD was asked about Brock Pretty and and Kyle Shanahan’s made it clear, too. It’s like, you know, when Brock’s healthy, it’s Brock’s team. And I I think M. Mac. Jones done a ton of for himself and I think the team is they love Mack and uh he’s shown toughness. He’s rejuvenated his career. Uh I feel bad for him because he’s going to have to go be quarterback for the Jets after he gets traded to New York in the offseason. So that’s a bummer for him. Hope he gets a lot of money to do that. Uh no, but um I think he might go somewhere else because it is still Brock’s team. And when uh George KD was asked about this stuff and he he said quote, “I love playing football with Ricky.” He was talking about Ricky. He was talking about Brock. He was asking about the guys who weren’t around and and some of the replacements that have come in. He said, quote, “I love playing football with Ricky because he’s like KB, just full of energy and love the game.” I’ve said a thousand nice things about Brock. You know how I feel about him. He’s the best operator of offense that I’ve ever seen. And I we paid him $30 million for a reason. That’s how good he is. So he was talking about getting Piery Aayuke back and the difference those guys make. But it kind of stuck out to me with the way he said that about Brock Pury because it’s like as good as these other guys are playing, don’t forget Brock is the he called him the best operator of offense that I’ve ever seen. And he played with Jimmy, he played with Mack, he’s played with some other guys. Uh and so that I think it’s pretty high praise for Brock P. Brock is their guy still as much as I think they’ve all bought into Mac and he’s played awesome for the 49ers. Not not trying to have any kind of like, you know, quarterback battle conversations or anything like that in the comics, but this version of Mac, right, man, I’m not even going to talk about the Patriots version or the Jacksonville version, but this version of M. Jones, what we’ve seen, how great of an operator would he look like if he had the best version of Trent Williams, the best version of CMC, Debo Samuel, the best version of Brandon Au, the best version of George KD, Jawan Jennings, healthy Debo, will we see a better version or right, does he play well right now? because like ah there’s not really pressure of having to be good and right now I’m kind of playing with house money. Yeah. Not a lot of pressure. Yeah. No, I I I would love to see it. I hope these guys get healthy, you know, as soon as possible and uh and we can test that theory out, right? We can test out, oh, let’s get Aayuk back. Let’s get Paw back. Let’s give Mack these guys if they as long as they keep winning. Don’t rush Brock back. Like, I don’t see the reason to do that. I get it. This is Brock’s football team. Wonderful. But don’t rush him back like you did in the Jacksonville game, lose a football game, then lose your quarterback for six, seven, eight weeks longer. You know, Mac’s playing well enough where you don’t have to do that. It’s gonna be funny when like I would love to see the the look on M. Jones face too in like two weeks like, “Hey, all right, Ricky Pierce’s back in practice. We’re going to open the practice window for Brandon Aayuk.” And and Brock’s like, “Oh, my toes starting to feel really good, guys. Great.” Hey, one thing is clear. uh watching watching Sam Darmmo just got to watch him. There’s still a different like like Mac. Jones has played very well for the Niners, especially considering the circumstances and whatever you think that looks like. I feel like when I watch Sam Bradford, I’m like it just looks a little better. It looks a It just looks a little different. It looks a little different. Oh, Darnold. Yeah. The way Darnold’s got a good deep ball. He’s got He was He was picked where he was in the draft for a reason. And right people were shocked that he wasn’t the number one pick that year uh with with how he played at USC. Sam Bradford. You call him Sam Bradford. Everyone knows you’re talking about Sam Darnold. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Talking about Sam Bradford uh reference early. Yeah. Can you guys Hey, real quick. Imagine a world where the 49ers took M. Jones at three, right? Like how how different is everything right now? Like crazy. Well, he would have clearly been better and he might have been really good and he would just been starter for the 49ers. But it’s also like cuz I I’ve heard people talk about that. It’s like, “Oh, Kyle finally got his guy, you know, should have drafted him anyway.” It’s like no, still shouldn’t have drafted him number three or at 15 or in the first round at all, right? Like that was kind of uh that was kind of the whole point of all is like screwed the whole thing up. It turned out okay. You found Brock, you got Mack back. Got yourself a couple quarterbacks. They’re gonna have to develop another backup for Brock and probably trade away M. Jones. I I think for M. Jones sake that’s going to be a big topic in the in the offseason too guys and you know hopefully for playing um playoff games and so we don’t talk about this too much until late January or February but the conversation around Matt Jones who’s still under contract is going to be huge with you know do you trade him do you just not trade him because of how important it was to have a backup um and he’s cheap he’s not gonna be expensive and Mac himself might be like well I I rehab my image I might have an I might not get this opportunity next offseason to go be a starter somewhere. So maybe I want to be traded. How that whole thing is going to play out in the off off seasonason is going to be fascinating. And by the way, problem to have Curtis Ror, by the way, speaking of help is on the way. Curtis Ror, I think he’s going to usurp Adrien Martinez at some point because he’s got to come off IR if his practice window was Wasn’t his practice window already open or was it not and be like almost open? I can’t remember. But anyway, British work, don’t forget about him. He’s kind of been red shirting so far this year. He might get at least some practice time late in the year and uh could be in the mix for the number three job. And who knows if you trade away M. Jones, maybe he’s the number two next year for the 49ers if he has a big spring. So, um there you go. No trade, no trades at the deadline, but you got Curtis Ror, the exhooer coming back from injury. It’s going to be interesting this second half. Uh and uh and the Rams are a good football team. Real quick note on the Rams game, guys. I know we got out of here, we’re going a little bit long, is uh a lot had to go right for the 49ers in that Rams game. There was the big punch out from uh from Alfred Collins at the goal line preventing a touchdown. There was like a big drop and a fumble from Kairen Williams. They’re gonna have to just play better and not with potentially not being as lucky to go win that football game against the Rams again, too. So, uh, just because they beat the Rams the first time doesn’t mean it’s going to be super easy for them to beat the Rams this time in week 10. Wink, appreciate you jumping on with us as always. And, uh, we’ll talk Rams and uh, and and turn the page to week 11 when we chat next Winky Wednesday. Appreciate all the listeners as well, all the everydayers. And uh we get it’s time for a little crossover already on the Thursday show getting ready for the Rams and then uh it’s on the keys to victory. The the the league moves fast. I cannot believe we’re at week 10 already in the NFL season. And uh thanks for sticking with us. Make sure you are subscribed on YouTube and everywhere you get your podcast. Check out the new NFL six-pack show. Myself and Matt Williamson, formerly known as the Peacock and Williamson NFL show, breaking down the league daily. So, subscribe there as well. And Crock and I back tomorrow right here. Locked on 49ers. Can’t believe it. I don’t buy it.

San Francisco 49ers navigate trade deadline inactivity while young defensive stars emerge under Robert Saleh’s guidance. Can Mac Jones sustain his resurgence as the team awaits Brock Purdy’s return?

Brian Peacock and Eric Crocker break down why the 49ers avoided overpaying at the deadline, banking instead on returning players like Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and Ricky Pearsall to bolster their playoff push. Nick Winkler joins for “Winky Wednesday” to analyze the dominant victory over the New York Giants and preview the crucial NFC West showdown against the 6-2 Los Angeles Rams.

Key discussions include the development of young defensive backs Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Malik Mustafa, Eddie Pinero’s perfect kicking streak, and Mac Jones proving himself as a legitimate backup quarterback. The crew examines Kyle Shanahan’s offensive adjustments, special teams transformation under Brant Boyer, and whether George Kittle’s praise of Purdy as “the best operator of offense” signals Jones’ ceiling with the team.

San Francisco 49ers fans are treated to daily news and analysis with Locked On 49ers, hosted by football analyst Brian Peacock and former NFL/AFL cornerback Eric Crocker.

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