Insider thinks 49ers should wait before making blockbuster trade

The San Francisco 49ers are a team that either could or should be interested in making a huge trade for Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby , but one prominent NFL insider thinks the team should pump the brakes before pulling the trigger.

Sports Illustrated 's Albert Breer addressed the possibility of a Crosby trade to San Francisco in his latest mailbag column, saying he likes the idea in principle. However, Breer noted that timing will matter.

"I love the idea," Breer wrote. "And I think the 49ers are always open to these types of deals. But if I were them, I think I'd wait a bit before diving all-in. Let's see how that core looks over the first month or two of the season. The last thing you'd want, I think, is to see a bunch of guys get old at once right after you sold off assets you'd need to get younger."

The concern centers on San Francisco's aging roster. Star offensive lineman Trent Williams is 37, fullback Kyle Juszczyk is 35, tight end George Kittle and recent acquisition Mike Evans are 32. Running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Fred Warner will also be another year older by the end of November. Edge rusher Nick Bosa , coming off a torn ACL, will turn 29 in the fall. Trading away draft capital now to address the pass rush could leave the 49ers without the resources needed to reload once that core begins to decline.

It doesn't help, either, that Crosby himself will be 29 when the 2026 season starts and he already missed some time in 2025 with an injury.

Breer's suggestion is to let the season play out first. If San Francisco gets off to a hot start and Las Vegas struggles, that's when general manager John Lynch should start making calls.

"But if the Niners are, say, 6–1, and the Raiders are 1–6, and Crosby is balling out, that's where, if I'm Lynch, I'm thinking about picking up the phone," Breer wrote.

What would it cost to acquire Crosby? The Raiders reportedly wanted a Micah Parsons-like package for the veteran, which would mean two first-round picks and a player. The Baltimore Ravens agreed to trade two first-rounders to Las Vegas for Crosby this offseason, but ended up backing out of that deal before it became official.