The San Francisco 49ers are hurting at the wide receiver position. Being down to Mike Evans and Brandin Cooks as your top two targets sounds better in 2018, but the 49ers found a way to survive in Seattle with the two veterans. Evans is still a top-end receiver. However, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins will have to take significant snaps at receiver, and that feels very uncomfortable. The injuries to Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, and De’Zhaun Stribling aren’t season-ending, and the trio will be back
sometime in the near future. Still, the 49ers should look to add more firepower at the position.
In the grand scheme, having too many weapons is never a bad idea. Seattle will have revenge on their minds when the two teams meet again, and the 49ers will still need more options to go downfield against their secondary.
Let’s have some fun with three targets, which I will list as most realistic, the best fit, and a home run/pipe dream swing from the 49ers front office.
Realistic: Jauan Jennings
Has anyone in recent memory overvalued their market more than Jennings and his agent? Turning down a multi-year deal with big bucks turned into a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings for $6,130,000 in guaranteed money. The Vikings’ offense is a mess, and Jennings is clearly frustrated with his role. Minnesota is on bye this week, and Jennings has a total of two receptions for nine yards on five targets in five games. Mind you, Justin Jefferson missed a week, as did Jordan Addison.
Financially, the 49ers will be on the hook for his guaranteed money of just over a million dollars. It can be viewed as a step backwards given the need for speed, but his reliability, connection with Purdy, familiarity with the playbook, and nose for run blocking would be welcome. His mean streak is needed, and he can hit the ground running and step in immediately for the 49ers.
It would take a seventh-round pick to bring Jennings back. A six-man receiver group of Evans, Deebo, Robinson, Jennings, Stribling, and Cowing (a special teams member, but that role is in jeopardy) feels better heading into January than any other group.
Best fit: Demario Douglas
This one is tough considering the New England Patriots still believe they can compete for a Super Bowl berth in the AFC. A.J. Brown is returning soon, the Patriots paid Romeo Doubs (that hasn’t gone well), and the team has a bit of a logjam for the receiver spot behind the two top targets, with Douglas and Kyle Williams in the mix. Why is Douglas the best fit? He is a natural separator from the slot and can shake tight coverages in small spaces.
Pop can be anything from a short area target to someone who can create explosives down the field. The issue is the Patriots may not be in the business of moving targets from their offense, even if Douglas is unlikely to get an extension from the team. Would they want to move Pop for picks? That would be the question. A three-receiver set of Evans and Stribling outside with Pop in the slot could be deadly for Purdy and the 49ers offense.
Home run/pipe dream: Terry McLaurin/Josh Downs
Now, let’s start dreaming big. The Washington Commanders are a sinking ship, and the 49ers have a chance to continue that with a win over the Commanders on Monday night. The NFC East is yucky and wide open, but Washington has the worst chance of winning that division, and you have to wonder if the team would look to unload McLaurin’s contract for picks after a contentious negotiation period. The 49ers could write their wrongs of passing on Terry for Jalen Hurd in the 2019 NFL Draft. That’s a big swing.
Indianapolis paid Alec Pierce. The receiver hasn’t returned anything on his huge contract, and the Colts aren’t likely to pay Downs either. The Colts need to keep losing, but Downs would be a huge addition given his route-running acumen and versatility at all three receiver positions. Downs can attack all three levels of the field and can shake free independently of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme. Still, this feels like a pipe dream, but his fit with the offense would make this offense a nightmare to game plan for.
