Some much-needed pass rush help is on the way to San Francisco.
The 49ers are acquiring defensive end Keion White and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Patriots in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday.
White, a second-round pick by New England in the 2023 NFL Draft, has 88 tackles, 21 quarterback hits and six sacks in 38 career games played (18 starts) for the Pats. However, the bulk of those starts (13) came during the previous regime, under head coach Jerod Mayo. White had started just one game this season under new coach Mike Vrabel, and against the Browns in Week 8 was a healthy scratch.
That decision by the coaching staff continued to signal his availability ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, and the 49ers pounced to bolster their defensive line.
San Francisco is tied for the second-fewest sacks in the league with nine as a team at the midway point of the season, and had a big hole to fill with Nick Bosa out for the year due to a torn ACL. Bryce Huff and Yetur Gross-Matos have also missed time recently as the 49ers deal with a litany of injuries across their roster.
Reinforcements are coming in the near future, but the Niners made sure to add another boost via trade as they look to build on a 5-3 start.
