What? You didn't hear that one? You're probably not alone.
Apparently, there was an unverified report (I'm not exactly sure where it initiated, but I found this) out there — speculation really — that the Niners inquired about possibly trading for the Pro Bowl receiver. Judy Battista of NFL.com and NFL Network stomped on the flames of that one real quick, shooting down the rumor before it had a chance to turn into a wildfire.
Battista says, according to a "well-placed source," that there is no truth to the rumor that the Steelers might be looking to trade Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster is signed through the 2020 season and scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The 49ers are expected to add a receiver this week, but, according to Battista, it won't be Smith-Schuster. San Francisco owns the No. 13 overall pick in this week's draft and is expected to use the selection on a receiver. If the team doesn't do so at No. 13, it could with its next pick at No. 31 overall.
The 49ers also could use one (or both) of their first-round picks to trade down and acquire more draft equity. The team currently lacks a selection between rounds one and five.
General manager John Lynch confirmed on Monday that San Francisco is open to moving out of one or both of its first-round slots.
As of Wednesday morning, most mock drafts have the 49ers selecting a receiver with the No. 13 overall pick. Henry Ruggs of Alabama is the receiver most often projected to land with San Francisco among 61 mock drafts surveyed.
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