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No, this is not a story from a previous offseason. Everyone is well aware of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's affinity for Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Kirk Cousins. He intended to pursue Cousins before the opportunity to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo presented itself.
With several fanbases keeping an eye on the happenings in Houston and the deteriorating situation between the Texans and quarterback
Deshaun Watson, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests a more realistic scenario for the 49ers. He feels Shanahan could wait for Cousins to become available to replace Garoppolo, or even trade for the Vikings quarterback this offseason.
"[Cousins] steps right in and runs the offense," Florio said on 95.7 The Game's
The Morning Roast. "He knows the offense. It's a guy that Kyle Shanahan and his dad, Mike Shanahan, drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, at a time when Robert Griffin III was essentially forced upon them by ownership.
"They didn't want RG3. They didn't make that trade to go up to number two. That was an ownership move. ... [Cousins is] a guy that Shanahan believes can run that offense well."
While few might see Cousins as an upgrade over Garoppolo, Florio points out that availability could be a deciding factor. Garoppolo has missed 23 games over the past three seasons, while Cousins has missed one game over the past six seasons. He only missed that game in 2019 because the Vikings' playoff position was set, and coaches opted to sit the quarterback during Week 17.
Added Florio: "I can't see the Vikings demanding a whole lot if they would decide to move on from Kirk Cousins. ... I think that's something that the 49ers should definitely explore, and if the Vikings know what's good for them, frankly, in all due respect to Kirk Cousins and the team, they'll decide to make a move."
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice joined 95.7 The Game on Monday and was asked about Florio saying the 49ers have a more realistic shot at acquiring Cousins this offseason than Watson. What was Rice's response?
It started with a whole lot of laughter, which should tell you everything you need to know about what Rice thinks about such a proposal. Once the laughter ended, Rice did get around to explaining his thinking.
"Do you want the Ferrari or do you want the Mercedes?" Rice said on
The Morning Roast. "I choose the Ferrari, and the Ferrari's going to win you playoff (games), and the Ferrari is going to win you Super Bowls. So, I'm all-in on that."
Rice acknowledged the relationship between Cousins and Shanahan, but still would "take the Ferrari any day, and the Ferrari is Deshaun Watson."
Not everyone laughing along with Rice felt the comparison between Cousins and a Mercedes was accurate, with one host from the radio show saying the Vikings quarterback was more of a minivan.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.
It's not an exaggeration to say that RB Christian McCaffrey is coming off one of the best individual seasons in the history of the San Francisco 49ers.
In his first full year in red and gold, McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459), total yards (2,023) and total touchdowns (21) on his way to becoming Offensive Player of the Year. His yards on the ground were the fourth most ever for a Niners running back and his 21 touchdowns trailed only WR Jerry Rice's team record of 23, which the Hall of Famer accomplished in just 12 games in 1987. McCaffrey was also prolific in the passing game, hauling in 67 receptions and often providing a safety net for QB Brock Purdy.
Because McCaffrey has meant so much to Kyle Shanahan's scheme, it's easy to see why the offense
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
