49ers surprisingly trade linebacker Kwon Alexander to Saints

Kwon Alexander was traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the New Orleans Saints on Monday afternoon. 

The San Francisco 49ers might stand at 4-4 and within striking distance of the playoffs, but they could find it tricky to navigate a deep NFC West. Perhaps waiving the white flag after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle in their loss against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the key components of Robert Saleh’s defense has been traded away.

The 49ers agreed to trade linebacker Kwon Alexander to the New Orleans Saints. Tom Pelissero is reporting that the 49ers will get a fifth-round pick and linebacker Kiko Alonso in exchange for him.

Kwon Alexander is a Pro Bowl talent at linebacker who will really help the Saints

Alexander, a former star at LSU, made a Pro Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 and recorded 145 tackles in the prior season. While injuries have limited his availability in San Francisco, he’s recorded 64 tackles in 13 games as a 49er. He even managed to return early from what was thought to be a season-ending injury to play in Super Bowl LIV, making a tackle and batting down a pass.

The Saints did invest a draft pick in rookie Zack Baun, but his development has prevented him from getting on the field consistently. Alonso and Alex Anzalone have seen the bulk of the snaps at that position, and that decision has gone bout as well as one would expect. In Alexander, New Orleans will get a rangy linebacker with a mean streak that can plug up holes in the run game and take away large chunks of the field in coverage.

For a Saints defense that was very thin at linebacker, Alexander returning to Louisiana could be a perfect move for Mickey Loomis’ squad. San Francisco, meanwhile, will get a serviceable linebacker and a draft pick in exchange.