Will the 49ers Bring In Free Agent Wide Receiver Help?
It’s only August 12th…
It’s hard to believe this is where the receiving room stands in the second week of preseason football, but here we are. Cluster injuries have struck the 49ers yet again, and moves now have to be made.
As of the moment, it looks like second-year burner Jacob Cowing will return from his July hamstring strain this week. Time will tell if that injury lingers — they have a tendency to do so. It was announced Monday that their alpha, Brandon Aiyuk, is expected back around Week 6. Jauan Jennings is on ice with what is now a two-year-running calf injury, and Ricky Pearsall has yet to be healthy enough to take a preseason snap.
The lone receiving bright spot of August for Niners fans was fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins, now sidelined with a four-week high ankle sprain. An injury that tends to linger into the regular season and could affect the entirety of his 2025. A trade for a premium target would be ideal (see our previous piece on who to target if they go that route):
But for now, it appears the free-agent pool is where they’ll be fishing.
Here are four available wideouts John Lynch should call:
Amari Cooper
In 2024, Cooper posted 44 catches for 547 yards and 4 touchdowns during a rocky season that saw him adrift in Cleveland Browns weirdness and sparsely used after being traded to Buffalo. It feels like he’s over the hill at this point. He only had 6 catches for 41 yards in the Bills’ three playoff games. Still, in 2023, in one of the worst environments imaginable, Cooper posted 77/1,250/5. For what is likely the veteran’s minimum at this point, Lynch should absolutely kick the tires.
Gabe Davis
This connection isn’t hard to imagine. Davis already visited San Francisco and followed it up with a glowing Kay Adams interview about his love for the 49ers’ football culture. His 2024 season was, to be frank, abysmal. Just 20 receptions for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns in 10 games. This followed a 2023 campaign of 45/746/7. We know what Davis is at this point: he’ll give you 25 perimeter routes a game and maybe 2 to 3 grabs per game, with an occasional splash play. The ceiling isn’t high, but neither is the one for the currently rostered used-car salesmen slotted to take Week 1 snaps out wide.
Tyler Boyd
Boyd was nothing special last season, but on a dumpy offensive unit for the Tennessee Titans, he still managed 390 yards on 39 receptions. Once again, the seasoned-veteran adage applies here. He’s played a ton of football, can line up inside or outside, and can provide much-needed stability at a time when it’s sorely lacking.
River Cracraft
Yes, an upsetting name to be mentioning in 2025 — but here we are. Originally drafted by the Niners, Cracraft has spent plenty of time in the Shanahan coaching tree with Mike McDaniel in Miami. He posted a measly 7 receptions for 66 yards in 2024. The only real function this signing would serve is providing usable depth from a player who’s a scheme fit and familiar with the playbook. If it happens, blame Zach (@zgrier24) for mentioning it first in our group chat.