One 49ers WR is off the board, but another may be for the Steelers taking following latest NFL News
The San Francisco 49ers locked up WR Jauan Jennings on Wednesday, signing the wideout to a two year contract extension, per Adam Schefter of ESPN: In doing so, all of the trade rumors surrounding their top WRs may have just resurfaced, with the Pittsburgh Steelers still in the market for a proven contributor: Steelers WR […]
The San Francisco 49ers locked up WR Jauan Jennings on Wednesday, signing the wideout to a two year contract extension, per Adam Schefter of ESPN:
In doing so, all of the trade rumors surrounding their top WRs may have just resurfaced, with the Pittsburgh Steelers still in the market for a proven contributor:
Steelers WR Trade with 49ers Back On?
Niners are seemingly planning for a future WR room of: 1. Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel (presumably Aiyuk, but we'll see on the contract) 2. Ricky Pearsall 3. Jauan Jennings
-Mike Clay, ESPN
The key word in what Clay said there was "or." The likelihood of the 49ers keeping both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel past the upcoming season is increasingly low when talking to people around the league and listening to those on the 49ers beat:
Jennings will therefore have even more competition for targets in 2024, but the 49ers have shown how much they value him with his new deal, which further ensures San Francisco will still have significant depth at wideout in 2025 even if the Niners have to part ways with Deebo Samuel in an offseason that will likely see quarterback Brock Purdy receive a lucrative extension.
Though Samuel is obviously a very different player to Jennings, retaining the former Tennessee Volunteer means Purdy will have at least two wide receivers on whom he knows he can rely regardless of what happens with Samuel.
–Nicholas McGee, A to Z Sports San Francisco
Now, as McGee stated, the likeliest player to be traded from the 49ers WR corps is Deebo Samuel, but he's anticipated to be on the team this season, meaning Pittsburgh would likely be without a viable second option for the upcoming year.
But that's assuming that the 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk come to terms on a long-term deal. As of now, Aiyuk has still yet to show face at OTAs. The news of a different 49ers WR, and one with less of an impact on the offense getting paid before him, likely won't help the situation.
And with the post-June 1st designation on the horizon, the phones could soon become active before the league takes its annual hiatus for six weeks prior to the unofficial start of the season in training camp.
We'll see if Pittsburgh gets antsy and makes a move between now and then.
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