We spent Tuesday afternoon discussing potential trade targets for the San Francisco 49ers at wide receiver. Getting Mike Evans help feels like a priority. But the team has to balance that with what it would do when everyone is healthy.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer answered the question in his weekly mailbag about the Niners potentially adding a wide receiver. Here’s what he said:
I would say keep an eye on veteran additions, like the ones they made with Brandin Cooks. Certainly, the hope would be
that some of the younger players that they drafted over the last couple of years are able to step up and contribute.
Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing have flashed over the course of the last couple of years and in training camp. Those would be two guys that I think you would hope would be able to step up and play some snaps.
The key here is, to me, is what you’ve already got on the roster, and the fact that De’Zhaun Stribling is not out for the year. The fact that Deebo [Samuel] is not out for the year. The fact that Mike Evans is not out for the year. That to me would prevent you from really going all in on anybody.
Especially when you consider 2027, you’re going to have Ricky Pearsall coming back. So, I know it’s not the sexy answer to say stand pat with what you’ve got, try to make your development work with guys like Cowing and Watkins.
The issue is the amount of roster spots you’re allotting to the position, the logjam that you’ve got there, and the fact that I think when these guys are healthy, they’re a relatively good receiver group, who has Brock Purdy playing at an MVP level. And who has the Niners now 5-0. I wouldn’t be jamming the panic button.
But again, if you can add a veteran body like they did Brandin Cooks, I’m good with that. Go ahead and do it. They’re a team, over the next couple of years, that’s going to need to get younger. At this point, they need draft picks. I don’t see a scenario where they’re gonna go out and spend two first-round picks off somebody else’s roster.
To me, with the looming cap problems, with the looming questions about how you’re going to get younger, you hold on to the assets that you have, so you can go and get young, cost-controlled talent.
There’s no mention of Demarcus Robinson, who might be Purdy’s second-most trustworthy option. It’s worth noting that Robinson and Deebo’s contracts expire after this season.
If the 49ers get through the Commanders and Falcons, Robinson and Samuel will likely be back after the bye week.
Over the past couple of weeks, there have been enough exposures to highlight Purdy’s lack of trust in Cowing and Watkins—especially Watkins.
Washington’s defense is leaky. Atlanta’s is respectable, but it’s been propped up mostly by its run defense. The next couple of games feel like good chances to see whether Purdy can build trust with Cowing, Cooks, and Watkins.
Then, heading into the bye, you can decide whether to add someone. Remember, one of the weeks, Christian Kirk should be available, too.
If the 49ers do make a trade, it should be somebody who complements Evans. The Josh Downs example is perfect. He runs 70.3% of his routes from the slot, has only one drop on the season, and has proven he can win in the NFL. Plus, he’s in the final year of his contract. That is the ideal veteran.
