Niners Nation
The Carolina Panthers are likely to be sellers, and a rental at wide receiver isn’t the worst idea for the 49ers.
With Brandon Aiyuk down for the year after tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus, the San Francisco 49ers are a possible buyer in the wide receiver market.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked on Monday whether the team would address wide receiver at the deadline, given the injuries on the team:
“It’s not necessarily just try to address certain positions. You look at what’s available that you think can help your team get better. And if there’s anything out there that’s available that we think can help our team get better in the immediate, without hurting us for the future, that’s something we always look into.”
Ricky Pearsall has shown promise in his two games, and the 49ers spent a fourth-round pick on Jacob Cowing, with Jauan Jennings returning to the fold after the bye week. The 49ers are lacking a proven “X” receiver that can create separation against man coverage.
The Carolina Panthers are looking to be sellers at the trade deadline and sit at 1-7. Joe Person of The Athletic named five players the Panthers could likely be on the move and named Diontae Johnson as a trade piece with the 49ers as a destination.
“It feels like it will be a matter of when, not if Morgan moves on from a player he just traded for in March. The Panthers acquired Johnson from Pittsburgh knowing his history as a shifty receiver who could separate from coverage but one who was not afraid to sound off if he felt like he wasn’t getting enough balls thrown his way. The Panthers chose not to extend Johnson before the last year of his deal, so there was always a chance Johnson would be a rental. Johnson has looked at times like he could be a No. 1 receiver worthy of a big contract, namely his two-game stretch with 15 receptions on 27 targets during Andy Dalton’s first two starts.”
Johnson has been visibly frustrated with his role in the offense, but Dalton’s ascension to starter has shown how valuable he can be.
Person added: “After Johnson was ruled out for the Denver game following a second consecutive week in which he didn’t practice, the feeling around the league is Johnson’s time in Charlotte soon will be coming to a close. The Panthers should be able to land a fifth-round pick for Johnson from a team like Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Washington, or an AFC contender such as Los Angeles or Houston, which saw Stefon Diggs leave with a potentially serious knee injury Sunday.”
A fifth-round pick is small for a receiver who can separate and would easily thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Generally, the 49ers have struck gold in the fifth round, but a rental for a proven separator at the position is an easy decision.
