Sportsnaut
After trading Deebo Samuel, the San Francisco 49ers‘ wide receiver corps looks a bit different entering the 2025 NFL season. Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall are expected to be the team’s leading receivers this year, of course, with tight end George Kittle snagging a large share of Brock Purdy‘s targets too.
Yet, the 49ers also have some immediate injury concerns as they come closer to the start of Week 1. For one, Aiyuk is still recovering from last year’s ACL/MCL tear. Coach Kyle Shanahan says Aiyuk may not be ready to return until “around Week 6.”
Meanwhile, Jennings is nursing a calf injury, and he’s even requested a trade out of San Francisco. Aiyuk’s injury, combined with Jennings’ odd situation, sent the 49ers hunting for a new receiver to join the team.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 49ers were trying to trade for John Metchie III. The 49ers even made an offer to the Houston Texans for the former second-round pick, but the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in with an even better offer, sending tight end Harrison Bryant plus a fifth-round pick in exchange for Metchie plus a sixth.
Now there’s no hiding it. Everyone now knows that the 49ers are in the hunt for another receiver. That could make it tougher for them to land one via the waiver wire when roster cuts are made. Or perhaps they have another trade idea up their sleeves. Either way, 49ers GM John Lynch is apparently combing through other teams’ rosters in search of an upgrade.
Related: Predicting NFL Playoff Teams and Super Bowl 2026 Winner
More must-reads:
