The San Francisco 49ers were one of the more active teams ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which passed on Nov. 10. Sitting in first place of a tough NFC West division with a 7-1 record, the 49ers struck two deals.

The first was sending a fourth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for former 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Then, on deadline day, 49ers general manager John Lynch turned back to Indianapolis to send them a sixth-round pick in exchange for some receiver help, landing six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. While both former Pro Bowlers are expected to play a key role for a 49ers team hit by injuries, it sounds like Allen was not San Francisco’s original target.

San Francisco 49ers Zeroed in on Josh Downs Trade First

While Allen is on an expiring contract, the belief is that the 14-year-pro will be able to make a difference for the 49ers down the stretch. If not, all the 49ers would have lost is a sixth-round pick in the process. Though, they initially were checking in on a trade that would have cost even more.

According to John Lynch, the 49ers had their eyes set on trading for Josh Downs, who like Allen, was also playing on an expiring contract with the Colts. But after turning on the film, it was 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan who took note of Allen instead, wondering what it would take to pry him out of Indianapolis.

“We kind of focused on Josh Downs as an option that we’d have some interest. And Kyle and I are kind of watching Josh, and in the process, Kyle’s like, ‘Man, what about Keenan?’ And I was like, ‘You know, we hadn’t given much thought to that, but let me ask about that.’ And so, there started a conversation about two and a half weeks ago, really, when the DeForest talks [happened]. ‘Would he?’ And it’s always fluid, and at a certain time, they didn’t want to give up Keenan. It kind of wasn’t going to be on the table, but we kept communicating, and ultimately we got him.”

John Lynch on Keenan Allen Trade

Did the asking price for Downs scare the 49ers away? After all, the Kansas City Chiefs had to ship a fourth and fifth-round pick to the Colts to get the job done. Knowing that Downs may only be a rental for the rest of the season, and that reinforcements are on the way, the 49ers simply may have felt more comfortable taking a chance on Allen, who’s proven more effective throughout his career.

Whether that move pays off in the long run remains to be seen. Downs may very well take off in Kansas City, whereas Allen’s production has been trailing off for several seasons now, which is why he was available for such a low cost.