During their Week 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the San Francisco 49ers lost linebacker Fred Warner, a four-time All-Pro, to a season-ending ankle injury.

Warner’s absence leaves San Francisco with a massive void on defense. It creates an intriguing opportunity for the New York Jets to explore the trade market, potentially leveraging their depth to assist a 49ers team suddenly needing leadership and production at linebacker.

The 49ers are the perfect trade destination for Quincy Williams

In the final year of his contract, New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams has emerged as a potential trade candidate ahead of the NFL’s November 3 deadline.

Through three games this season, Williams has logged 166 defensive snaps, recording two sacks, 12 tackles, and nine run stops. In coverage, he has allowed nine completions on 11 targets for 58 yards and one touchdown.

Following the Jets’ Week 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 29-year-old was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and is expected to return soon after missing the required minimum of four games. That would put him on track to return in Week 8 at the earliest.

An All-Pro in 2023, Williams represents an ideal trade target for San Francisco given Warner’s injury. Williams is a quality player who can hold the spot down for a contending 49ers team, and he has a connection to San Francisco’s coaching staff, too.

Williams first established himself under Robert Saleh, the former Jets head coach and current 49ers defensive coordinator, who played a key role in his development into an All-Pro performer.

For New York, trading Williams has little to do with his ability. He was outstanding in 2023, earning All-Pro honors while serving as a high-character presence in the locker room. The 29-year-old has proven he can still perform at a high level.

However, his timeline no longer aligns with New York’s direction. With numerous roster holes and several young players eligible for extensions in the coming years, investing in a second long-term deal at the linebacker position (with Jamien Sherwood already under contract for three years and $45 million) would be a questionable move. This is especially true with Williams turning 30 next year.

In a season that has already slipped away, the Jets would be wise to capitalize on Williams’ value, potentially securing mid- to late-round draft capital rather than losing him in free agency.

A trade involving Williams would open the door for fifth-round rookie linebacker Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa to take over as a starter for the rest of the season — a smart move for a team with little left to lose. It would give the rookie valuable experience and a chance to prove he can replace Williams as the Jets’ Week 1 starter in 2026.

Throughout three starts this season, Maugioa has shown signs of promise while continuing to improve each week.

“It’s all about preparation,” Mauigoa told Jets X-Factor exclusively on a phone call Tuesday morning. “You’ve got to prepare a certain way, and being able to trust your coaches that they are able to put you in the right position to play well, and the same with your teammates. You have to be willing to trust your teammates to do their job and trust yourself to execute yours.

“It all comes down to locking in on those little details, because those little details in this league can be the good or the bad, so being able to prepare myself as a professional has helped me a lot throughout the process of being a starting linebacker in this league.”

A Williams trade could give the 49ers the leadership they lost, and the Jets the fresh start they desperately need.