49ers, Buccaneers named possible trade suitors for 22-pressure EDGE with 2.5 sacks

Mike Moraitis

49ers, Buccaneers named possible trade suitors for 22-pressure EDGE with 2.5 sacks image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a massive loss to their pass-rush after star edge rusher Nick Bosa was lost for the season with a torn ACL, which is particularly problematic for a Niners team that is tied for the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need more juice along the edge thanks to the fact that they have just nine sacks through five games, tied for the 13th-fewest in the NFL.

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox has a suggestion for both teams. He named the Niners and Buccaneers as potential trade suitors for New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Knox thinks Thibs could fetch a 2026 second-round pick or a starting wide receiver in return. The fact that Thibodeaux is under contract through 2026 helps soften the blow of giving up that much for the Giants edge rusher.

Thibodeaux is off to a solid start for the Giants this season. He has 22 pressures and 2.5 sacks, showing he can be a difference-maker. Thibs' best season came in 2023, when he posted 11.5 sacks in 17 games.

A few weeks ago, we would've believed the Giants might be inclined to trade the former No. 5 overall pick given the fact that New York looked to be going absolutely nowhere.

However, the emergence of Jaxson Dart has changed things drastically in New York and now the Giants are trending toward being buyers at the deadline rather than sellers.

At the very least, they'll probably stand pat, as general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll won't be keen on trading a key defensive player when their respective jobs are on the line in 2025.

That said, if Thibodeaux does become available at the trade deadline, the Niners and Bucs are realistic landing spots for him with both teams looking like contenders at 4-1 and desperately needing edge rush help.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.