The 49ers are already acting like buyers with the Nov. 10 trade deadline looming, and after landing DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts for a fourth-round pick, they may not be done. If San Francisco wants to swing another deal, one possible piece in the conversation is wide receiver Jordan Watkins.
Watkins has been pushed into a bigger role as injuries have piled up around him, and Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons was easily his best outing of the season. He caught three passes for 56 yards and nearly had a touchdown, but the score was wiped out after officials ruled he did not control the ball.
That sort of flash is part of what could make him appealing to another team. Watkins did not produce much as a rookie and was viewed as something close to a borderline player entering 2026, but there is still upside here. He also would not be a pure rental, since his rookie contract runs through the 2028 season.
The numbers are modest - eight catches for 164 yards in nine career regular-season games - and that is not the kind of production that sends teams racing to the phone. But Watkins has shown that when he gets steadier chances, he can take advantage of them. For a rebuilding team with room to give him more snaps, the appeal is obvious enough.
He could also be a useful chip if the 49ers decide to chase a bigger swing at receiver. As an example, if San Francisco were to pursue New York Jets wideout Garrett Wilson and give up a first-round pick plus additional selections, Watkins might be the kind of player that helps grease the wheels while saving the Niners an extra draft asset.
There is also a practical angle from San Francisco’s side. Watkins may not have much of a path to playing time after the bye week if Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, and eventually De'Zhaun Stribling are available again.
At the same time, moving him would carry some risk. The 49ers have already been stretched thin at receiver this season, and with several older names in the room, the depth chart could get tested again.
Still, if Watkins is the piece that gets a deal over the line, San Francisco may have to make that call. It is not clear he has a long-term place in the picture anyway.
In Other News...
49ers Keep Seeing Former Players Come Back For One Telling Reason
The 49ers have developed a familiar pattern over the years: a player leaves in free agency or via trade, spends time elsewhere, then eventually finds his way back to San Francisco. Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne and DeForest Buckner are among the notable names in that group, a list that says as much about the organizations appeal as it does about the realities of roster building in the NFL.
Some of those exits were driven by contract questions or role concerns, and the return trips have only reinforced how strong the pull can be once a player has experienced life outside the building. For the 49ers, it is a reminder that relationships matter, that not every departure is permanent, and that the franchise still carries enough weight for former players to circle back when the opportunity comes. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Decision On De'Zhaun Stribling Could Reveal A Lot
The 49ers are weighing whether to add another wide receiver before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, and the answer could say plenty about how they view De'Zhaun Striblings place in the offense. The rookie has been working his way back from a Week 1 injury, leaving San Francisco with a decision point as it tries to sort out its depth and plan for the stretch run.
Stribling is expected to return in December, but he has yet to appear in a regular-season game, so the team still has limited evidence on how quickly he can handle a meaningful workload. If the 49ers make a move for a receiver, it would be a strong hint they are not counting on him to step into a major role immediately, which would make his eventual return even more interesting to watch. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Trade Deadline Focus May Be Changing In A Big Way
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the 49ers appear to be shifting their attention away from the receiver market and toward the trenches. San Francisco has already stretched its mid-round draft inventory thin, which makes another swing for a pass-catcher a tougher sell, especially with help at wideout expected to be on the way as injuries heal.
The more realistic path now looks like adding support on defense off the edge or shoring up the offensive line if the right deal surfaces. For a team trying to balance immediate needs with draft-pick preservation, that kind of pivot makes sense, even if it means the loudest deadline buzz around another receiver may never get much traction. [Read more 🡒]