Owens joined 95.7 The Game on Tuesday morning and stated his case to return to the team that drafted him into the NFL, and his willingness to do so for the veteran minimum. Owens felt the 49ers offense, other than tight end George Kittle, lacked receiving targets with playmaking ability and experience.
Of course, that was before Sanders was shipped from Denver to Santa Clara.
"I would love the opportunity to try out or work out for the 49ers because I know I would be able to help them," Owens said on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "Like I said, to come in and play 50, 60 snaps is unrealistic, but when you think about third-down situations, three- and four-wide packages, you think about red-zone situations, that's where I would be definitely advantageous."
Owens clarified that he didn't believe the 49ers wideouts can't play but that they just lack the experience he possesses. Sanders, a 10-year veteran, immediately becomes the team's most experienced receiver.
RELATED
"As the season progresses, Jimmy (Garoppolo) is going to need some of those guys to really take the top off the defense. You're not going to be able to rely on George Kittle to bail you out every time because, as the season tightens up, and the division tightens up, and you start to get in the playoffs, they know who their bread and butter is, and that's number 85. So they're going to defensive scheme, going into these games, to take him out."
Owens has not played in an NFL game since 2010, but he didn't sound too concerned about the possibility of retaking in-game hits after being away for so long. He also felt he would serve as a good mentor for the 49ers' young group of receivers.
Owens was asked what he would have expected as far as salary, had the 49ers been interested.
"I wouldn't be expensive," he responded. "Just give me the veteran minimum. I don't need anything more than that."
In 2018, Owens campaigned via Twitter for general manager John Lynch to bring him in. That obviously did not happen. The former NFL receiver has since been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and, this past September, was inducted into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame at Levi's Stadium.
Owens said that each time he runs into Lynch, including in September, the former receiver tells him, "I'm ready."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Owens below.
Note: This article was nearly complete when news of the Sanders trade broke. It has been edited to reflect the deal between the 49ers and Broncos.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Rams had eyes on De'Zhaun Stribling before 49ers drafted him
Many questioned the San Francisco 49ers' decision to use their first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft—No. 33 overall—on former Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, with some viewing the pick as a reach. However, the 49ers believed Stribling's combination of speed,... -
49ers floated as 'team to watch' for blockbuster QB trade—but the logic has one major flaw
A feature from longtime sports journalist Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post generated plenty of buzz on Friday—not because of his evaluation of Brock Purdy, but because of one intriguing claim involving the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe... -
Is 49ers QB Mac Jones too valuable to trade?
The San Francisco 49ers arguably have one of the NFL's strongest quarterback rooms, with Brock Purdy entrenched as the starter and Mac Jones serving as one of the league's most proven backups. In fact, without Jones, the 49ers might not have reached the playoffs last... -
Only three 49ers would fetch a first-round pick in trade, says ESPN analyst
The San Francisco 49ers are widely regarded as one of the NFL's most talented teams. However, questions remain about the aging core of the roster and the team's recent injury history. Despite losing several key contributors to injuries last season, the 49ers still reached the...