But beyond those potential additions, it’s long been known that the 49ers could use more depth at defensive tackle, receiver and safety — and that’s precisely where Davis, Gage, and Gipson fill in.
Most appealingly, the 49ers didn’t have to part with a single selection in the upcoming 2025 draft. Maintaining near-term picks, which come with four years of cost-controlled salaries for new players, is vital for teams like the 49ers who are operating with relatively scarce salary-cap room.
“[The trade deadline] was the same as every year,” Shanahan said. “We don’t just make a huge move just because we want to. If we think it’s something that can help and not hurt for the future, you’ve got to weigh those risks every year. And a few good things have popped up that we thought were worth the risks in past years. We didn’t see anything this year.”
Instead, the 49ers will roll forward with a low-risk proposition in Davis, an undersized yet exceptionally fast and strong defensive tackle who averaged 19 snaps per game for the Texans.
It’s the latest in a long list of trades that the 49ers have made for defensive linemen. In 2020, they traded for Jordan Willis. In 2021, they acquired Charles Omenihu. In 2023, they added Randy Gregory and Chase Young. And in 2024, they picked up Maliek Collins.
All of those linemen ended up contributing to the 49ers, who acquired Omenihu, Collins and Davis from the same team — Houston. Now, they hope for similarly productive results from Davis. A coach who’s previously worked with him said he’s “an active hard worker and stout in the middle.”
Davis might be needed immediately, as rotational defensive tackle Kevin Givens missed another practice Wednesday with a groin injury. That’s just the latest injury to the 49ers’ interior D-line, which is without explosive pass rusher Javon Hargrave, who tore his triceps muscle back in Week 3.