The 49ers have been linked to plenty of wide receivers ahead of the NFL trade deadline, but one name that has not gotten nearly as much buzz is Adonai Mitchell.
Seth Walder of ESPN считает Mitchell the receiver San Francisco should pursue, pointing to both the 49ers’ need at the position and the Jets’ crowded group of young pass catchers.
“It's no secret that the 49ers are down bad at wide receiver,” wrote Walder. “Mitchell has long flashed more promise than results, though we saw that promise Sunday when he recorded seven receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.
The Jets might be reluctant to part with Mitchell. But because they have Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., and Kenyon Sadiq, it's worth making a call.”
San Francisco has already been connected to Wilson in trade chatter, but that path looks shaky. The Jets’ asking price and their reluctance to move him have made a deal seem unlikely. If Wilson stays put, though, Mitchell could become the more realistic name to monitor.
Mitchell entered the league with the Colts, then wound up with the Jets as part of the Sauce Gardner trade after a slow start. He was something of a throw-in in that deal, but the production has been there in stretches. He posted 464 yards in 25 games with Indianapolis and has added 566 yards in 12 games with the Jets.
That gives the 49ers a reason to believe there’s still something to work with. Mitchell has shown enough to suggest he can contribute in the NFL, and his situation in New York is changing. With Wilson rising and two rookie pass catchers now in the mix, Mitchell is sliding down the depth chart.
He is also still on his rookie contract, which makes him even more appealing for a team like San Francisco. The 49ers could bring him in for this season and then decide what to do with the final year of his deal next offseason.
There’s also a longer-term angle here. Mitchell could learn behind Evans, and the 49ers could eventually build around Mitchell and De’Zhaun Stribling at wide receiver. So this would not just be a short-term fix - it could set up a future piece of the offense as well.
Mitchell may not be the loudest name in the rumor mill, but he could be one of the cleaner fits. The deadline is November 10.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Face A Brandon Aiyuk Decision They Can't Delay
Brandon Aiyuks path back to the NFL is suddenly pressing on multiple fronts, and the 49ers are right in the middle of it. After nearly two years away because of injury and contract issues, the receiver has met with San Francisco and hired an agent as he works toward reinstatement, leaving the team to sort through a situation that has lingered far too long for comfort.
The 49ers now have to decide whether to release him, trade him or keep him on the roster, with the trade deadline drawing closer and outside interest beginning to surface. For a team that has already dealt with enough uncertainty around Aiyuk, the next move could shape both its receiver room and the way this standoff finally gets resolved. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Raiders Clash Suddenly Has Real Maxx Crosby Stakes
The 49ers come out of their bye week into a Week 9 meeting with the Raiders, and the timing gives the game a little extra edge. San Francisco is dealing with some key injuries while also expecting a few players back, so the focus is naturally on getting healthy and getting right before the stretch run. But this matchup has quietly picked up another layer, because it lands in the middle of trade chatter around Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
For the 49ers, Crosby is the kind of player who can change the conversation around a deadline if the situation ever becomes real. A strong showing by San Francisco against Las Vegas would only sharpen the question of whether the Raiders might be more willing to listen, even if the path to a deal is complicated. For now, it is one of those late-season storylines that sits in the background of a regular-season game, with the result potentially carrying more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Game Day Changes Could Open The Door Against Raiders
The 49ers head into game day with a few moving parts that could matter on both sides of the ball, starting up front where their defensive line has a chance to tilt the matchup in a way the Raiders have struggled to handle. The broader discussion around San Francisco centers on whether that group can create the kind of disruptive, game-wrecking presence that changes protection plans and forces an offense to play on edge.
There is also some roster movement that adds another layer to the afternoon, with the receiving corps getting a boost and depth being adjusted behind it. For a 49ers offense that will be looking to stress a Raiders defense already under the microscope, those changes could shape how the game is attacked early and how much flexibility San Francisco has if the script starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]