After their Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions in 2018, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman told the media, “A win is a win, but it feels like a loss.”
That’s how fans are reacting to the 49ers’ Week 6 win over the one-win Commanders. The 20-3 halftime lead became a distant memory as Washington crossed midfield with under a minute left and a chance to win.
That’s led to overreactions, from trades that’ll upgrade the team to doubts about the defense. Today, we’ll play a fact-or-fiction game
with one hypothetical question on each side of the ball.
Fact or fiction: The 49ers need to trade for a wide receiver ahead of the trade deadline
The most popular thing being talked about surrounding the 49ers is the one I vehemently disagree with. The Niners’ offense didn’t stall in the second half because they were without Mike Evans.
They had an 11-play drive that chewed up over six minutes on the clock on their first drive of the second half. But Brock Purdy’s third-and-three pass was tipped, and the offense settled for a field goal. The throw was intended for Brandin Cooks in the end zone and would’ve likely resulted in a touchdown.
On the same play, Kyle Juszczyk and Christian McCaffrey were open to the left at the top of the screen. Here is the screenshot from when Purdy released the ball:
The idea that the Niners couldn’t create separation without Evans is off base. Three targets were open on this play.
On their next drive, Cooks’ timing was off on a deep crossing route. He ran into George Kittle, resulting in a sack and eventually a punt. Had those two not collided, Cooks would’ve been wide open for an explosive play.
The second-to-last drive stalled on another sack. This time, there was a free rusher, but Purdy didn’t find his outlet receiver out of the backfield. Instead, he attempted to scramble at the last minute.
I’m more inclined to believe the Kyle Shanahan-led offense, with a week of practice to prepare without Mike Evans, will be well-equipped to score. I’d also argue the pass-catching corps heading into Week 7 without Evans is still better than what the offense trotted out on a weekly basis in 2025—not to mention the improved offensive line and quarterback.
The panic centers around Evans and his potential absence. It comes off as a prisoner-of-the-moment move, wanting to trade for a wideout. The team could essentially give Evans close to three weeks off so he can recover ahead of Week 9 against the Raiders.
The thought of adding to a strength makes sense on the surface. It’s part of the reason the Niners should be open to adding to the defensive line. However, the players being floated around don’t move the needle enough to warrant moving draft picks.
They would if the 49ers were going to miss the wideouts currently injured for the rest of the season, but that’s not the case. Christian Kirk practiced in full on Wednesday. He appears set to make his debut.
Let’s use Colts receiver Josh Downs as an example, a player we highlighted as a trade target earlier this month. Downs runs 70% of his routes from the slot. That’s where Kirk figures to line up.
Just last week against the Titans, Downs caught a few underneath throws, couldn’t hold onto a contested catch against Isaiah Oliver- yes, that Isaiah Oliver- and also dropped a wide-open pass. He caught a 23-yarder that was a deep pass over the middle. But nothing about his game suggests Kirk or any of the other wideouts couldn’t do the same with the same opportunity.
Downs currently has a 20.6% target share. He wouldn’t sniff that number on a team that throws the ball to Evans 23.5% of the time, George Kittle 21.7% of the time, and Christian McCaffrey 21.1% of the time. Downs, or any wideout under consideration, isn’t on the same level as those three.
Between Kirk, Demarcus Robinson, and Deebo Samuel—not to mention De’Zhaun Stribling—the 49ers already have a bit of a logjam in their receiver room.
But it is the Niners, and the primary concern, per every year ever, is health. Shanahan can weather the storm without a week of Evans. After all, no offense has generated a higher EPA per pass or success rate through the air than San Francisco.
The receiver room should be as close to healthy coming out of the bye week, making the need for a receiver moot with Robinson and Samuel back. Where would the targets go to Downs, or Brian Thomas, or pick your receiver?
A rental, like Downs, makes less sense. If the 49ers are going to swing, it should look more like Bryce Eldridge than a guy who blends in with the rest of the Triple-A lineup — looking at you, Shay Whitcomb. Like Eldridge, that player needs to be a legitimate impact player.
If you’re looking for a playmaker, call the Saints to see if Chris Olave is for sale. Check with the Jets to see if Garrett Wilson is available. Those are game-changers who complement Evans and will be around beyond this season.
Even then, you’re stunting Stribling’s growth and basically pulling the plug on Ricky Pearsall.
From a team-building perspective, the 49ers have everything they need at receiver in-house. The reason the Niners will win the Super Bowl is already on the roster. We’ve been watching him for six weeks. It’s the receiver who has the highest EPA per target in the league. They already went out and got Brock a WR1. Now, it’s about keeping him healthy and ensuring he’s available late in the season.
Fact or fiction: Fiction, easily.
If the 49ers are calling the Colts, Downs should be third on the list. DeForest Buckner is No. 1, with Quenton Nelson 1b. You know how to improve your offense? Go out and get the left guard with the fifth-most impact blocks of any player this year who hasn’t allowed a sack and has the same pressure percentage as Trent Williams.
Now that’s a rental that makes sense. Downs or a 6-time All-Pro who makes your run game better, gives your quarterback more time to throw, and allows your wideouts more time to get open? Tough choice.
Buckner doesn’t need any explanation. But if the Niners make a trade, it should build on their strength. This season, that’s in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
