REPORT: 5 veteran receivers the 49ers could target in free agency…

When it comes to the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver is the most buzzing topic at the moment, namely the recent trade request of former All-Pro Deebo Samuel, which was publicized on Super Bowl Sunday.

Samuel, drafted by the 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has been a staple in Kyle Shanahan’s offense since his arrival in the Bay Area, but his production has waned over the past few seasons, reaching some career-lows in 2024.

The 49ers seemingly prepared for a parting with Samuel this offseason, having extended Brandon Aiyuk on a major four-year, $120 million deal and drafting Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft last offseason.

However, as San Francisco navigates what a post-Samuel era may look like, the wide receiver position could still be of significant prevalence this offseason. Aiyuk is still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL sustained in October. Pearsall is entering his first true offseason with the team. And Jauan Jennings is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2025 season.

With Aiyuk’s uncertainty, the 49ers could look to target wide receivers in free agency this offseason, be it via the draft, free agency, or both. But, as they attempt to allocate their resources efficiently, San Francisco may need to find more budget-friendly options to fill out their roster for the position.

So, who are five veteran receivers that the 49ers could target in free agency?

Josh Palmer

Playing in 15 games this season for the Los Angeles Chargers, Josh Palmer caught 39 passes for 584 yards and one touchdown as a vertical threat in offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s offense.

A bigger-bodied 6’1, 210-pound wideout, Palmer is entering his age-26 season and is coming off his third straight season of at least 500 yards. He was used almost exclusively as a deep threat this season, as his average depth of target was over 15 yards, making him a solid short-term fit in the Brandon Aiyuk role.

Still young, Palmer should be on the cheaper side and has an upside role in San Francisco as an outside receiver.

Darius Slayton

Perhaps the most expensive receiver on this list, Slayton has spent the first six seasons of his career with the New York Giants and is coming off a year where he caught 39 passes for 573 yards and two touchdowns.

Playing with sub-optimal quarterback play for essentially his entire New York tenure, Slayton has never eclipsed 800 yards in a season, but has also been almost exclusively a deep threat, averaging 15 yards per catch in his career.

He’s wrapping up a two-year, $12 million extension with the Giants and may price himself out of San Francisco’s budget at wide receiver. But, he’d fit what they’d need on the outside and is still relatively young entering his age-28 season.

Zay Jones

An eight-year NFL veteran, Jones is on the downside of his career now, coming off a season where he caught just eight passes for 84 yards for the Arizona Cardinals.

Jones peaked back in 2022 as a featured receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars where he caught 82 passes for 823 yards and five touchdowns as the team’s second-leading receiver.

He’s another bigger-bodied outside receiver at 6’2, 200-pound, and has faced some ups and downs over the last few years, dealing with a suspension and injuries while with the Cardinals last year.

But, Jones can move well on the outside and could be used in a fourth receiver role after Aiyuk returns from injury at some point next season.

KhaDarel Hodge

The 49ers have dabbled with receivers who contribute primarily on special teams, while also having some receiving upside. Insert in KhaDarel Hodge, who has been a returner for the Atlanta Falcons, earning Pro Bowl honors this past year.