3 WR Trades the 49ers Need to Make to Replace Brandon Aiyuk and Lead the NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers are in urgent need of a wide receiver after… loss of Brandon Aiyuk per season, and Deebo Samuel has been battling multiple injuries throughout the year.

The next wide receivers on the 49ers depth chart are Jauan Jennings. 2024 first round draft pick Ricky PearsallChris Conley and Ronnie Bell. That’s not enough to become a Super Bowl contender as the battle remains just for first place in the NFC West division. They’ve already missed out on a ton of big names by trading this season, including Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and Diontae Johnson. Luckily, there are still some very useful and achievable trading goals.

Kendrick Bourne entered the NFL in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, signing with the San Francisco 49ers out of Eastern Washington. In his first four seasons in San Francisco, Bourne totaled 1,769 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2021, he joined the New England Patriots, where he added 1,669 yards and 10 touchdowns to his career totals.

Recently, Bourne’s name has been discussed as a potential trade candidate.and a return to the 49ers could be an intriguing option. His familiarity with Shanahan’s system would allow him to return to the game with minimal adjustments, potentially giving San Francisco’s receiving corps an all-around boost in the second half of the season.

Mike Williams, the seventh overall pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 NFL Draft, has had an underwhelming draft career. After seven seasons with 4,806 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns, Williams was released by the Chargers. The New York Jets signed him to a one-year contract this offseason, but his future with the team is uncertain.

With recent acquisition of Raiders WR Davante Adams and 2022 first-round pick Garrett Wilson is already on the roster, the Jets’ need for Williams is limited. He rushed for just 160 yards without a single touchdown this season.

Darius Slayton is a reliable veteran receiver who could provide immediate depth to the 49ers’ receiving corps. Drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Slayton has recorded 249 receptions for 3,744 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career. He led the team in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers with four catches for 108 yards. With the Giants struggling to 2-6 this season and drafting rookie Malik Nabers sixth overall, it might make sense for New York to trade Slayton while he still has solid value.