The San Francisco 49ers already made a splash by bringing in Mike Evans, but the receiver room still looks like it could use another jolt before training camp gets rolling. Evans, Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk are projected to open as the top three, while rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is still battling for snaps.
That’s where Stefon Diggs enters the conversation.
Diggs recently used his YouTube channel to make a pretty direct statement about where he stands among NFL No. 2 receivers.
"My opinion, I can compete with anybody... You can't name a No. 2 better than me."
If Evans is going to be the clear No. 1 in San Francisco, Diggs would fit neatly into the next spot and give the 49ers another proven target in a passing game that could use more punch.
The case gets stronger when you look at the uncertainty behind Evans. Pearsall has yet to play more than 11 games in either of his seasons, and Kirk has not appeared in more than 13 games over the last two years. Counting on both to stay available all season is a gamble, which makes a veteran like Diggs more attractive.
Diggs also has recent production to back up the confidence. In his lone season with the New England Patriots, he came off an ACL tear and still put together a strong year.
Over 17 games, he caught 85 passes on 102 targets for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. He was a key piece for Drake Maye and showed he can still deliver week after week.
And the bigger picture is hard to ignore. Over 11 seasons, Diggs has built a résumé that speaks for itself: 942 catches, 11,504 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns in 161 games. He’s done it in multiple places and has the versatility to line up in different spots and still make an impact.
San Francisco already has its top option in Evans, but adding another veteran weapon is never a bad idea in the NFL. Diggs’ own words suggest he’d be willing to take on the WR2 role, and that only strengthens the argument.
The 49ers are also heading into the season without George Kittle, who is out with a torn Achilles. That leaves another hole in the passing game, and Diggs would help soften the blow.
He could also give Stribling more room to grow instead of forcing the rookie into a bigger role too soon. For Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy, another experienced receiver would be a useful piece to have in place, especially with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams waiting in the division. Making a move now to deepen the roster would make sense.
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