The idea of Garrett Wilson in a 49ers uniform is no longer just a wild deadline thought.
What started as a speculative swing has stayed alive, and the latest chatter keeps pointing toward the same kind of blockbuster San Francisco would have to pay for: a first-round pick plus a fourth-round pick, according to Alex Kay of Bleacher Report. That matches the trade value that was previously outlined, and Kay’s case is tied to Omar Cooper Jr. breaking out while the Jets keep sliding in the standings.
Wilson’s body language has also become part of the conversation. During the Jets’ recent loss to the Miami Dolphins, he was caught in a tense sideline exchange. Wilson said it was not directed at anyone, but also made clear that he is unhappy with the offense right now.
On the field, the numbers have started to shift a little too. Wilson has been New York’s top receiver overall, but Cooper missed the first five weeks because of injury and has now made a real push over the last two games. In that span, Cooper has 11 catches for 218 yards, while Wilson has only six receptions for 70 yards.
That stretch could help explain some of the frustration. Even so, Wilson still has a résumé that makes him hard to ignore.
He has produced three 1,000-yard seasons already, and with 444 yards through the first seven weeks, another 1,000-yard finish is very much in play. In San Francisco, that possibility would look even more likely.
For the 49ers, the decision would not be simple. They have to balance the possibility of players coming back from injury with the risk that those same players get hurt again. Mike Evans is at an age where injuries have to be thought about after every catch.
Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson are veterans, but neither should keep the 49ers from chasing a 26-year-old former first-round pick. De’Zhaun Stribling will eventually return, but he is still an unproven rookie. Wilson could clean up a lot of problems.
In Other News...
49ers Trade Could Already Be Bad News For Jordan Watkins
The 49ers move to bring DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco bolstered one side of the ball, but it also has a ripple effect elsewhere on the roster as the trade deadline approaches. For a team already trying to keep its offense balanced, any new addition can change the math, and that is where Jordan Watkins enters the conversation. The rookie receiver has been part of the mix, but his role is hardly locked in with the 49ers still navigating their passing-game plans.
San Francisco has been connected to more help at wide receiver, and that kind of talk always creates pressure on the players fighting for snaps. Watkins has flashed enough to stay in the picture, but if the 49ers do make another move for a pass catcher, the competition for playing time could get even tighter. For now, he remains one of the names to watch as the front office weighs how aggressive it wants to be before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face An Uncomfortable Mac Jones Reality As Deadline Nears
Mac Jones has become one of the quieter names in the trade chatter around the 49ers as the NFL deadline draws closer, and that silence says plenty. Despite the speculation that always follows a backup quarterback with a recognizable track record, no real market has developed for Jones, leaving San Francisco in the familiar position of carrying a passer whose value around the league has not matched the buzz around him.
With the deadline set for Nov. 10, the most realistic outcome now looks like Jones simply staying put and seeing out his contract in San Francisco. The one thing that could change the picture is a major injury to a playoff contenders starting quarterback, which would suddenly turn a backup into a far more urgent target, but until something like that happens, there is not much reason to expect movement. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Second-Half Decision These Fill-In Standouts Earned
The Week 8 bye should bring a familiar wave of reinforcements back to the 49ers, with key names like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans expected to rejoin the lineup. But the break also handed San Francisco a reminder that some of its depth pieces have done more than merely hold the fort. Jordan Watkins has settled in at wide receiver, Kaelon Black has chipped in as a runner with a touchdown, and Gracen Halton has made his presence felt on defense when the 49ers needed answers.
For Kyle Shanahan, the tricky part now is figuring out how much of that production deserves to stick. Watkins has earned a bigger look after handling a heavy workload before the bye, while Black's burst gives the backfield another option worth keeping active. Halton, meanwhile, has turned momentum plays into real pressure, and with the starters coming back, San Francisco has a second-half rotation decision on its hands that could shape more than just the next game plan. [Read more 🡒]