The San Francisco 49ers have been linked to a potential blockbuster trade for one of the league’s top defensive players as training camp approaches.

In March, the Jets acquired Haason Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2026 that can be upgraded to a second-rounder, depending on Reddick’s playing time and production.

Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year deal he signed with Philadelphia in the 2022 offseason. The 29-year-old skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp as he seeks a new deal.

The Jets obviously didn’t trade for Reddick with the idea of flipping him to another team, but crazier things have happened. What if Reddick demanded a trade, or what if GM Joe Douglas got an offer he couldn’t refuse?

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as a possible landing spot for Haason Reddick if the Jets end up trading him:

“The list of interested teams should include those who believe they can win in the near future and who have the cap space to sign Reddick long-term. The Lions, for example, could use another complement to Aidan Hutchinson and have the second-most cap space in the league.

The San Francisco 49ers have a strong pass-rushing tandem after adding Leonard Floyd in free agency to complement Nick Bosa. However, a team with Super Bowl aspirations—which the 49ers clearly have—cannot have too many good pass-rushers, and San Francisco remains $30.4 million below the cap.”

The 49ers have one of the league’s best front sevens led by Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Javon Hargrave plus newcomers Leonard Floyd and De’Vondre Campbell.

So adding a player like Haason Reddick to the group could be the final piece needed to get the 49ers over the top. This is a player who has recorded double-digit sacks in four straight seasons, after all.

Haason Reddick & Jets Open Season vs. 49ers

Assuming he isn’t traded and returns to the team ahead of Week 1, Reddick will make his New York debut on Sept. 9 in a “Monday Night Football” contest against the San Francisco 49ers.

Barring a meeting in the Super Bowl, the Week 1 tilt will also mark the final chapter of the Aaron Rodgers rivalry with his boyhood team, the San Francisco 49ers. Rodgers and San Fran had many epic bouts over the years, including four playoff appearances (all won by the 49ers).