The San Francisco 49ers face multiple roster needs heading into the 2026 offseason. Kevin Patra of NFL.com recently highlighted one key move every NFC team should make, and for the 49ers, he believes the focus should be on adding depth to the wide receiver room.
"Anyone else fatigued discussing the 49ers' pass-rush needs for the past four months?" Patra wrote. "In this exercise, let's flip to the other side of the ball, where things are looking rather thin in the wideout room heading into the offseason.
"Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are all headed to free agency. Brandon Aiyuk is sayonara. That leaves Ricky Pearsall, who has missed 14 games in two seasons, Demarcus Robinson, and little-used Jordan Watkins atop the receiver depth chart."
General manager John Lynch confirmed the 49ers do not expect Aiyuk to return after the drama caused by the unhappy wideout. Aiyuk largely distanced himself from the team, cutting off communication, while the organization clung to the hope that he might eventually return during the 2025 season.
Unfortunately, that never happened.
"I think it's safe to say that he's played his last snap with the Niners," Lynch said in January. "It's unfortunate—a situation that just went awry."
Jennings could command more than the 49ers are willing to spend on a player they may not see as a true WR1. Bourne and Moore, meanwhile, may be more cost-effective options.
But as the 2025 season showed, the solution isn't simply holding onto the current talent set to hit free agency.
"Bringing back one or more of their free agents feels likely, but adding another wideout to the mix is a must after the Aiyuk debacle," Patra added.