San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday, the morning after reports confirmed that the team had traded for wide receiver Skyy Moore from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Moore adds much-needed depth to a wide receiver room decimated by injuries, with Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and Russell Gage all sidelined.
The 49ers and Chiefs completed a low-cost deal, swapping sixth- and seventh-round draft picks in 2027 for a player who was most likely going to be cut in the coming days.
"I think, the bottom line, Skyy's a talented guy, who probably, a change in environment was needed, and we get a chance to do it this early," Lynch said. "What I like about it, it gives us an opportunity to evaluate him here before the season. A very talented young man, was a second-round pick in the '22 draft. Probably has fallen short of the expectations they had for him, but he brings a lot of value in terms of he's a dual returner, meaning he can do punt return and kickoff return. With Jacob Cowing out, that became valuable and important to us.
"And then, we really believe there's a lot of talent. And sometimes, talent in one spot, expectations of being a second-round pick, and not living up to it, the scrutiny—sometimes a change of scenery is just a needed thing. And from all accounts, he's a great kid. I remember during the draft process, we really liked him, so we're excited.
"He's en route here. He's got to pass his physical for the trade to go through, so I never like talking about it like it's a certainty, but we are excited, if everything goes well, to add him to the mix."
Lynch even hinted that, if all goes well, fans could see Moore suit up in Saturday's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
"The good thing with Skyy is he's been in a camp," Lynch noted. "He just played last week, had a fantastic return, a punt return for a touchdown against the Seahawks. And so, it's not like he's not in shape. He's ready, and we'll make sure he's right. But we'll get him in a good place, and we'll make that decision."
Does the trade send a message to Jauan Jennings?
Jennings has been dealing with his lingering calf issue since the offseason program. The veteran wideout is also seeking a new contract, with his current deal set to expire after this season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this offseason that Jennings could request a trade if no agreement is reached—a situation further complicated by his injury.
When asked if acquiring Moore was meant as a signal to Jennings, Lynch pushed back. After all, some wonder how much the receiver's absence is tied to his injury and how much stems from his contract situation.
"No messages," Lynch affirmed. "We like the player, Skyy. I just talked about that. We love Jauan. We're getting close to this season—players gotta practice. But if they're not healthy enough to do it, they can't. It's kind of where we're at with Jauan right now. But Jauan, we're getting there, where we've got to get out there on that field, and we'll continue to let that thing unfold."
Lynch added, "Like I said, Jauan's a big part of this team, and we're looking forward to the time when he's back out there again, and hopefully, that's soon."