Wide receiver has become a significant area of need for the 49ers, who are widely expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings, while Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore could also depart in free agency.
That scenario would leave third-year wideout Ricky Pearsall, who struggled with injuries in 2025, and veteran Demarcus Robinson, who caught just 22 passes in his first season with San Francisco, as the team's most experienced receivers.
As a result, the 49ers are expected to pursue help through both free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently projected landing spots for several top free agents and predicted that the 49ers will sign Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce to a hefty three-year, $79 million deal—an average of over $26 million per year.
"After logging 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career and leading the league in yards per reception for the second straight season, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is hitting free agency at the ideal time," Davenport wrote. "While speaking to reporters, Pierce said that in addition to a nice pay bump, Pierce is looking for a home with stability at quarterback."
San Francisco offers exactly that after making quarterback Brock Purdy one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
Pierce has also expressed interest in joining a franchise with stability and a winning culture—two qualities the 49ers have consistently demonstrated in recent years.
"The Niners are one of the most stable teams in the league," Davenport wrote. "The team has an established starting quarterback in Brock Purdy. And the 49ers also just so happen to have both a glaring need at wide receiver and $37.5 million in cap space with which to address that need."
One potential concern surrounding Pierce is that he did not record his first 1,000-yard season until 2025, his fourth year in the NFL. Last season, he finished with 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns, suggesting interested teams would be betting on a higher ceiling within their offenses.
Still, Pierce could provide exactly what head coach Kyle Shanahan needs. The 25-year-old wide receiver averaged 22.3 yards per reception in 2024 and 21.3 in 2025—both marks leading the NFL in their respective seasons.
"Pierce won't be cheap," Davenport added. "And there's risk involved with giving a player with one big season a lucrative, multi-year contract. But signing Pierce would offer both more financial flexibility in the short-term (kick the can, anyone) and a deep threat the San Francisco offense was sorely lacking in 2025."
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