Kyle Shanahan shares candid thoughts on 49ers pursuing D-line help

The loss of star pass rusher Nick Bosa for the remainder of the season has delivered a major blow to the San Francisco 49ers defense. Without their top edge threat, the unit has struggled to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, leading to speculation that the 49ers could explore the trade market for help ahead of the November 4 NFL trade deadline.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't rule out the possibility but also didn't suggest a move was imminent.

"I mean, those guys (the front office) talk every day, all the way up until the deadline, and they'll let us know if anything ever has a possibility," Shanahan told reporters Wednesday.

The 49ers have used the past two games without Bosa to evaluate just how pressing the need is for additional defensive line help. Shanahan emphasized that while the staff is assessing, the long-term implications of any trade must be weighed carefully.

"What increases my interest is who's the guy that can absolutely help us get better this year without hurting us next year?" Shanahan explained. "And you balance both of those out. But there's got to be a guy available. And sometimes it's two different things. Sometimes there's one guy who can only help this year. Sometimes there isn't a guy available who's like that.

"So, we'll see what comes up. Sometimes things come up, but I don't see any [difference] right now than how I felt going into the year."

One reporter referenced the 49ers' 2019 trade for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a midseason move that helped propel the team to the Super Bowl. Shanahan was asked if this season feels similar in terms of being one piece away from doing something similarly special.

"No, I don't feel at all like that," Shanahan said. "I think, at that time, we had a Super Bowl defense that was as good as anyone in the league, and probably had been for like 10 years. And it was pretty obvious.

"And I thought, at the time, some of the receivers we were dependent on weren't there, and we were playing some young rookies, and we thought we needed to add another guy.

"But yeah, I don't totally see it as the same situation as right now."