Back in March, the San Francisco 49ers traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. While Samuel's production has declined in recent seasons, Washington gained a versatile offensive weapon who could see a resurgence catching passes from reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jayden Daniels. And for a fifth-rounder, the risk was minimal.
Meanwhile, the 49ers find themselves navigating their own wide receiver uncertainties. With Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from ACL and MCL tears sustained in October 2024, the team is expected to enter Week 1 with Jauan Jennings and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall as the starting duo.
One writer believes that the situation could prompt a familiar face to lend a hand. Commanders general manager Adam Peters, formerly a top executive with the 49ers, might return the favor.
Washington has its own wide receiver issue. Star pass catcher Terry McLaurin is holding out due to a contract dispute, and it's unclear when the two sides will reach an agreement. If negotiations continue to stall, a trade could be on the table.
Could the 49ers be a landing spot?
Mike Kadlick of Sports Illustrated recently listed five NFL teams as potential trade destinations for McLaurin. They are the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots—and, of course, the 49ers.
"San Francisco enters 2025 with star Brandon Aiyuk returning from ACL surgery and former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall hopeful to make a year-two jump—but could use some additional help for their newly extended quarterback in Brock Purdy," Kadlick explained.
The 49ers selected Pearsall in the first round of last year's draft. His NFL debut was delayed after he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt. However, once on the field, Pearsall showed flashes of the talent that made him a first-rounder, finishing the season strong with 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns over the final two games.
While tight end George Kittle racked up 1,106 receiving yards in 2024, the 49ers didn't have a single wide receiver eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Jennings came close, but fell 25 yards short after being ejected during the regular-season finale.
McLaurin, meanwhile, has topped 1,000 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons and would instantly elevate any NFL receiving corps with his route-running and consistency.
49ers have the cap space to make a move
Kadlick also pointed out that San Francisco has the financial flexibility to take on a contract for McLaurin. Despite signing Purdy, Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner to extensions this offseason, the 49ers still hold an estimated $45.7 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap.
"Long story short, there's quite the gap between the two sides (McLaurin and the Commanders), and given the impasse, perhaps a trade—to a team that will actually pay McLaurin—is an option for both parties to consider," Kadlick added.
Of course, the 49ers already have a high-priced wideout in Aiyuk, who signed a contract extension ahead of last season. It's unclear if the team would be willing to pay top-of-the-market money to another receiver.
Additionally, much of the 49ers' cap surplus is earmarked for the future, particularly with rising costs associated with their core veterans. With Purdy now commanding a larger portion of the salary cap, San Francisco is expected to lean more heavily on the NFL Draft in the coming years.
H/t to Mike Masala of Niners Wire for the find.