Rapoport: Why the 49ers might look to trade for a pass rusher

The primary goal of the preseason is to emerge as healthy as possible. However, the San Francisco 49ers got a scare on Friday night in their preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders when defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos suffered injuries.

Both players were acquired in free agency with the hope of solidifying a pass rush on the edge opposite Nick Bosa, a key area that was inconsistent last season.

After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan informed reporters that initial examinations revealed knee sprains for both players. They underwent MRIs today, but the results have yet to be disclosed as of this post.

Quarterback Brock Purdy expressed optimism about Floyd's condition, saying, "The word is good, just around that. He's feeling better. Hopefully, he's good to go, but, like I said, third preseason game, and seeing one of our starters go down like that is always scary."

NFL insider Ian Rapoport suggested that these injuries might prompt the 49ers to explore trade options for an edge rusher.

"The timing is never good," Rapoport said during a segment on NFL Network. "You never want this to happen. But the cut-down day, which comes Tuesday, sometimes triggers trades. There are plenty of teams with excess edge help, so if the 49ers need it, still plenty of time to swing a trade."

Even if the injuries aren't severe, the 49ers may want to explore trade options to ensure their defensive front is as strong as possible when they host the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium on Monday, September 9.

If a cut candidate is likely to attract interest from other teams, San Francisco might be willing to trade a late-round pick to avoid the waiver claim process. According to Over The Cap, the 49ers currently have nearly $52 million in salary cap space, the most in the NFL.