The 49ers’ wide receiver room has turned into a full-blown triage unit, and that’s exactly why the trade chatter has exploded. Deebo Samuel is out with a hamstring issue, Mike Evans is sidelined with an Achilles injury, and the latest wave of concern has only intensified what was already a messy situation at the position.
That reality has pushed fans toward the same obvious conclusion: go get help. But the problem is that a receiver trade sounds cleaner than it actually is.
San Francisco is set to lean on Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing and Brandin Cooks, who signed just the other week, in Week 7. That alone tells you how thin things have gotten. Still, a deal at receiver doesn’t look like the kind of move that would change everything.
Part of the reason is timing. Samuel and Demarcus Robinson, both important pieces, are expected back in the next few weeks. One of those weeks is already going to be spent on the Bye, so the 49ers would be chasing short-term help for a group that should be healthier very soon.
And even if they wanted to make a move anyway, the market doesn’t exactly offer a magic fix.
Jerry Jeudy has been floated as a possibility, but he just led the Cleveland Browns in receiving this week, and after that win over the Baltimore Ravens, it’s hard to see him going anywhere. Jauan Jennings would be a useful fit because the 49ers already know what he brings, and he wouldn’t need much time to settle in. Even so, he’s not the kind of addition that would transform the offense.
Brian Thomas Jr. is the one receiver who could potentially bring a bigger jolt, but that comes with plenty of baggage. The last time he was truly impactful was two years ago, and if the Jacksonville Jaguars believed he was special, they’d be featuring him more. Instead, his limited opportunities have mostly gone to waste.
Maybe he turns it around and becomes the promising player he flashed as a rookie. That’s possible, but it feels like a reach. At this point, this may just be who he is.
The bigger issue for San Francisco is that Thomas would not come cheap. The Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs are among the teams that would also be interested, which would drive the price up fast. The 49ers would have to decide whether they want to get pulled into that kind of bidding war.
The answer here seems pretty clear: probably not. There’s no obvious receiver on the market who would make everyone look back and say the 49ers should have done whatever it took. This isn’t 2019, when they could simply add a veteran like Emmanuel Sanders and feel the whole offense shift.
There are receivers available who could help a little. There just doesn’t appear to be one who would significantly move the needle for the 49ers.
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