The San Francisco 49ers are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers after a tough 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. A season that once held Super Bowl aspirations ended in a lopsided defeat, and now the focus shifts to what comes next for a roster that still has plenty of talent-but also some clear areas for improvement.
One former Niner who isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts is Richard Sherman. The All-Pro cornerback turned analyst weighed in on what San Francisco should prioritize this offseason, and his answer might surprise some fans: wide receiver.
Sherman believes the 49ers need to get more dynamic at the receiver position and floated an aggressive idea-targeting New York Jets star Garrett Wilson in a trade. And he didn’t stop there. Sherman suggested that quarterback Mac Jones, who joined the team last March on a two-year deal, could be the key piece in making that move happen.
“I think the offensive and defensive line is where championships are won,” Sherman said. “But I think you can find receivers-and maybe they use Mac Jones to find their number one receiver in some way.”
It’s a bold proposal, but it’s rooted in logic. There are several quarterback-needy teams around the league, and Sherman pointed to the Jets as a potential trade partner. With the Jets having already moved on from key defensive pieces like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, Sherman floated the idea of San Francisco making a call to see if Wilson might be available.
“Hey, is Wilson available?” Sherman posed.
“Can we get Mac Jones and a pick for Wilson? That’s the conversation you’re gonna have to ask.”
Jones, for his part, had a solid if unspectacular debut season in the Bay Area. He went 5-3 in 11 appearances, showing flashes of competence but not quite locking down the starting job long-term. If the 49ers believe they can upgrade their receiving corps by moving him, it’s a conversation worth having.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ plans for Wilson remain a bit murky. NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah recently projected New York to add another wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, predicting they’ll select Ohio State standout Carnell Tate in the first round.
The idea? Pair Wilson with another Buckeye and give the offense a much-needed spark.
“This would be a value pick,” Jeremiah noted, pointing to a trend of talented receivers going in that range of the draft-names like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Emeka Egbuka, and Justin Jefferson come to mind.
But if the Jets are thinking about doubling down at wideout, it also raises the question: is Garrett Wilson still part of their long-term plan? Head coach Aaron Glenn already made waves earlier this season by moving on from Sauce Gardner, a cornerstone of the defense. Could Wilson be next?
For the 49ers, the offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal one. They’ve got a strong foundation, but if they want to get back to Super Bowl contention, they’ll need to make strategic moves-whether that’s reinforcing the trenches, as Sherman emphasized, or swinging big for a game-changing receiver.
One thing’s clear: San Francisco isn’t shying away from tough decisions. And if Richard Sherman’s suggestion gains traction, this could be one of the more intriguing offseasons in recent memory.