The San Francisco 49ers are picking up interior offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson from the Houston Texans. It is the kind of low-key trade that makes zero headlines but tells you a lot about what a good front office does.
Patterson was drafted by the Texans out of Notre Dame and has been a rotational piece his whole career. He is not a star, but he can play center or guard, which is exactly what San Francisco needed after some injuries in camp.
John Lynch has been the best in the business at finding these types of players. He is not usually the guy making the massive splash trade, but he is always adding depth pieces that end up mattering in January.
The 49ers offensive line has been a concern all summer. Trent Williams is a Hall of Famer but he is getting older, and the interior has never been the strength of the unit. Patterson gives them a competent body who can step in if needed.
Houston was clearly ready to move on. They have been building their offensive line differently and Patterson was going to be a fringe roster guy in a room that got deeper this offseason.
The cost was minimal on both sides. Trades like this rarely include high draft capital and the price for a backup lineman is usually a late-round swap. The details are less important than the fact that both teams got what they wanted.
For the 49ers, this is another example of their obsession with roster building. They understand that Super Bowls are won in the trenches and having reliable depth is what separates the champs from the second-tier contenders.
Patterson steps into a competitive room but has a real chance to earn playing time. Brock Purdy has to be protected and George Kittle needs someone opening up run lanes.
The 49ers are locked and loaded for another deep playoff run. This move is not going to be the reason they win a Super Bowl, but it is the kind of transaction that quietly builds championship rosters.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
