John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
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The San Francisco 49ers need to bolster their offense after seeing the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl and even the Los Angeles Rams reach the NFC title game. With the wide receiver position rife with question marks, the Niners need to revamp it.
Last offseason, Deebo Samuel left, and this offseason, Brandon Aiyuk will be gone, while Jauan Jennings looks to be at least testing the open market. As a result, wide receiver is a major need for San Francisco, and they received a compelling take on two potential free-agent targets who could help them.
In an in-depth analysis on the 49ers from The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, he noted Seattle Seahawks‘ Rashid Shaheed and Minnesota Vikings‘ Jalen Nailor as intriguing names that the Niners should be interested in as landing one of those two wideouts would fill a major need.
“It seems as if the 49ers will let Jennings test the market, as we projected his contract to be somewhere close to three years for $42 million,”Tafur wrote in his article published on Feb. 23. “Mike Evans and Alec Pierce are free-agent receivers ranked above Jennings, and though Pierce would be a great, young fit, his price might be close to $100 million.
“Deebo Samuel would be a popular signing with his former 49ers teammates, but he wouldn’t really address the need for speed. We’re assuming Rashid Shaheed re-signs with the Seahawks or follows Klint Kubiak to the Raiders, but he or Jalen Nailor would help stretch the field.”
Could the Niners Draft a Wide Receiver Instead?
Nonetheless, with free agency not having wideouts who could be considered a No. 1 receiver, the 49ers could turn to the draft and use their first-round pick on a pass-catcher who has the potential to turn into one.
During a Feb. 16 appearance on CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards projectsWashington Huskies wideout Denzel Boston.
“[Boston is] somebody that has a little bit of size that they can add to that room,” Edwards said. “Jauan Jennings is currently slated to hit free agency. Whether he actually reaches that point remains to be seen, but a couple of years ago, it was funny because the 49ers took Ricky Pearsall on draft night. Everybody was thinking, ‘Why would they take a wide receiver when they are so talented and deep at the wide receiver position?’
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen the fallout with Deebo Samuel being traded to Washington, and the ongoing circumstances with Brandon Aiyuk playing out there now as well. If Jennings is gone, then the cupboard looks very bare. You bring back Pearsall, and now you’ve got Denzel Boston, who allows you to have some of that size.”
49ers Urged to Stay Away From Alec Pierce
Although there are no No. 1 wideouts in free agency, there are some options who could be a No. 2 target.
One potentialtarget in free agency isIndianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce. The Colts’ standout posted 47 catches for 1,003 yards and scored six touchdowns in 15 games during the 2025 season,per StatMuse.
Nonetheless,On SI’s and 49ers beat reporter Grant Cohn is warning the Niners to stay away from Pierce in free agency as he won’t fill the need of a No. 1 wideout.
“Unlike Jennings, Pierce is fast and young,”Cohn wrote in his article published on Feb. 16. “He’s only 25. Last season, he averaged 21.3 yards per catch. He’s one of the best deep threats in the NFL, and he’s going to cost roughly $20 million per season. And the 49ers shouldn’t give it to him.
“The 49ers need a No. 1 receiver, not an expensive No. 2. If they could get AJ Brown or Justin Jefferson, great. Pierce isn’t those guys. He averaged a career-high 3.1 catches per game last season. He’s limited.Instead of spending all that money on a complementary player who will spend most of his time running clear-out routes, the 49ers should invest that money in the trenches.”