dpThe 49ers are hitting a hard reset this week.
San Francisco fell 29-20 to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season, dropping to 6-1 heading into its bye week. The week off comes right before the league’s Nov. 10 trade deadline, which the team could use to add some talent to a roster that is looking Super Bowl worthy.
Several players for the team to target have been thrown around, such as reuniting with DeForest Buckner, but ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed an intriguing player that could fit in San Francisco. That player is none other than Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle, Grover Stewart.
Barnwell proposed that the 49ers give up a 2027 sixth-round pick for Stewart and a 2027 seventh-round pick, bolstering their defensive line without needing to give up a major haul. Dealing with multiple injuries at that spot, most notably Nick Bosa, adding players like Stewart would improve depth and give the franchise more options.
“Adding Stewart to the defensive line rotation would go a long way in helping San Francisco plug up those run game woes. The 33-year-old is a useful player and in the final year of his deal, but his contract is also expensive; he’s owed $8.2 million in cash over the remainder of the season,” Barnwell wrote. “The 49ers don’t have cap concerns after restructuring some of their more significant deals, but that’s a big cash outlay.
“They could encourage the Colts to absorb more of the money by offering a better draft pick, but with the 49ers still undefeated and fielding one of the oldest cores in football, I’d push ownership to spend now to try to build a team that can win a title. Stewart isn’t the most exciting addition, but he’s the sort of player the Niners need.”
The 49ers improved their defensive line over the offseason, bringing in players such as Osa Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton and Romello Height, while getting players such as Mykel Williams back from injury. The results have been promising, with the team recording 15 sacks through six games compared to 20 for all of last season.
But Stewart is known for his run-stopping, which could add another layer to San Francisco’s defense. The 49ers are near the bottom of the league in run defense, and in order for them to make a Super Bowl run, stopping the run is key.
The trade deadline is on Nov. 10, immediately following Week 9, giving San Francisco some time to figure out how it wants to proceed. But with a tough three-game stretch coming out of the bye, facing the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers need to act fast if they want to truly separate themselves from the rest of the NFL.
