Significant speculation has centered on New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who would be an intriguing addition alongside Mike Evans. However, ESPN's Seth Walder has another Jets receiver in mind as a potential trade target for San Francisco: Adonai Mitchell.
"It's no secret that the 49ers are down bad at wide receiver," Walder wrote. "Mitchell has long flashed more promise than results, though we saw that promise Sunday when he recorded seven receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown. The Jets might be reluctant to part with Mitchell. But because they have Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., and Kenyon Sadiq, it's worth making a call."
Mitchell (6-2, 205) is in his third NFL season after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Indianapolis traded him to the Jets in November 2025 as part of a package that brought cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts.
Mitchell has recorded 72 receptions for 1,030 yards and three touchdowns over his NFL career.
Other 49ers receiver options
CBS Sports' JP Acosta has identified a couple of additional wide receiver trade targets for the 49ers. One is admittedly a "pipe dream" involving a player whose name has surfaced repeatedly in trade speculation: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs.
Like Walder, Acosta points to injuries that have depleted San Francisco's receiving corps and the need to add another weapon if the team hopes to remain a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
"Downs' ability to win with his route running and burst from the slot would give the Niners another option against man coverage and complements Evans really well when they'd both be on the field," Acosta wrote. "Adding Downs helps round out the room and gives the Niners another option in a loaded offense, especially once everyone is healthy."
Downs (5-9, 171) has totaled 228 receptions for 2,470 yards and 12 touchdowns over four NFL seasons since the Colts selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Acosta also identified another potential trade target, one he considers more realistic: Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
"Calvin Ridley is a bit of a fascinating trade candidate at this point of his career," Acosta wrote. "He's clearly not what he once was and has also been nursing an injury himself, but the hope is that a change of scenery gets the most out of him. He can win underneath and still has veteran savvy to help him get open."
Ridley (6-1, 190) is an eight-year NFL veteran who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in three seasons. However, he hasn't reached that mark since 2024. Through seven appearances this season, he has managed just six receptions for 91 yards.
With the trade deadline approaching, the 49ers have several options as they look to address their receiving corps. Whether general manager John Lynch pursues a more established target or takes a chance on a player with untapped potential remains to be seen.
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