Do the San Francisco 49ers have a wide receiver problem? One national writer believes they might. Matt Holder, of the Bleacher Report, recently wrote an article highlighting the biggest question every NFL team is facing for the 2025 season. Even though the 49ers have question marks at the offensive line, the defensive line, and the secondary, Holder still listed the 49ers' wide receiver group as the biggest question mark that San Francisco faces.
"The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel this offseason as his production declined while entering a contract year," Holder wrote. "However, the offense's receiving corps now leaves something to be desired, especially since Brandon Aiyuk wasn't present at OTAs, increasing second-year pro Ricky Pearsall's importance to the team.
"Aiyuk is working out as he returns from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee…[Brock] Purdy will look to build chemistry and a connection with Pearsall, whom the 49ers envision as a player who can generate consistent separation against man coverage. Pearsall finished the season strong with 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns in Week 17 and 18 games against Detroit and Arizona. The 49ers' offense needs Pearsall to carry that momentum over to his second season as a pro."
Indeed, Samuel is no longer with the team. And Aiyuk may not return until later in the season because of his ACL injury. That puts more pressure on Pearsall, who has been out during OTAs with a hamstring injury. As a rookie, Pearsall didn't get going until later in the season after dealing with some offseason injuries, as well as being shot during a robbery attempt shortly before the season began. But once he started getting on the field, the rookie showed a lot of promise, as Holder noted.
The 49ers will need Pearsall to start the 2025 season the way he finished the 2024 season, especially since veteran wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is expected to serve a three-game suspension at the start of the season due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Robinson was charged with a DUI last November, after he was clocked driving over 100 mph. With no Samuel, no Aiyuk, and no Robinson to begin the season, that leaves Pearsall and Jauan Jennings as the 49ers' top two wideouts.
Jennings had a breakout season in 2024, catching 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns. 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, speaking with reporters last month, said Jennings believes he's WR1. "Yeah, I think, if you ask Jauan, he says 'I'm number one.' And that's his mindset, and that's why we love Jauan," Kubiak said. "That's how he sees himself. He sees himself as a dominant player. I think you guys all saw last year when he got more chances, he played really, really well. So really fired up about Jauan."
The 49ers will need Jennings to play like that until Robinson and Aiyuk return.
In addition to Jennings and Pearsall, the 49ers will also need second-year wide receiver Jacob Cowing to step up. Last season, Cowing had only one catch for 28 yards. Most of his time on the field was spent as a punt returner. But reports out of OTAs so far say that Cowing looks much better this offseason than he did a year ago. And many believe he will make a bigger impact for the 49ers in 2025.
In addition to the receivers already mentioned, the 49ers hope to have others step up. That group includes Russell Gage, Jr., Isaiah Hodgins, rookie Jordan Watkins, Terique Owens, undrafted rookie Isaiah Neyor, and rookie Junior Bergen. Trent Taylor has been placed on IR (injured reserve), which likely marks an end to his time with the team.
The team also added veteran WR Malik Knowles on June 3. Some are high on Knowles and believe the playmaker out of Kansas State can make the team. But Knowles, who has been with Minnesota and Green Bay, has yet to play in the NFL.
Another big question the 49ers may have to address surrounds Aiyuk's contract. Many believe the team regrets signing Aiyuk to the contract they gave him last year, leaving the door open for a possible trade. And there have been recent rumblings that Aiyuk is unhappy. Last month, Aiyuk's personal wide receiver coach, former NFL wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh, said the 49ers paid Purdy too much. But just because Houshmandzadeh said that doesn't mean Aiyuk feels the same way.
And even though Aiyuk has posted some things to social media that have made fans question where his head is at, 49ers wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson says his star wideout is all-in, even acting like a coach to the younger receivers. "He's been in meetings and catching up on the mental part, as far as seeing it on film," Hankerson said. "He's also been doing a great job in meetings, having an extra set of eyes for myself. I ask him questions and have him coach up the guys."
Do the 49ers have a wide receiver problem? Perhaps. But they also have plenty of time to rectify it, if they do.