Injuries have gutted the 49ers' receiver room. Here's why San Francisco should trade for one of these potential offensive game changers.
San Francisco keeps winning, and its receivers keep getting hurt. That's been the pattern through two weeks, and Sunday made it worse.
The 49ers beat Miami by 22 points, but Demarcus Robinson was carted off and diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. Mike Evans also left with a hip problem. Robinson had been one of the early bright spots on offense, and he's likely headed to injured reserve.
Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is already sidelined about 10 weeks after ankle surgery, and Ricky Pearsall is out for the year after knee surgery.
That leaves two receivers Shanahan can fully trust: Evans and Deebo Samuel, and Evans is still dealing with that hip.
Brock Purdy is playing well enough to hide the problem for a while, but eventually, defenses will stop worrying about the outside and crowd the middle of the field.
Shanahan says the team is looking for help, and he immediately shut down any talk of bringing back Brandon Aiyuk.
The free agent pool is thin, which was evident in San Francisco's practice squad signing of Brandin Cooks.
So the answer has to come through a trade, and although we're just two weeks through the season, there are three kinds of deals the 49ers could still try to make.
Bet on talent
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the deal that makes the most sense. Two games into his third season, Harrison has a single catch, and executives around the league are openly wondering if Arizona will move him.
He's under contract through 2027, with a team option for 2028, so he isn't a rental. A division rival is an awkward trade partner, but the Cardinals may have limited time to get a real return for him.
Shanahan has made a career out of unlocking receivers. A former top-five pick looking for a reset is exactly the type of player he could revive.
Go big
Minnesota has shown no interest in trading Justin Jefferson, and the cost would be enormous, but this front office has never been afraid to take a big swing when a title is within reach.
A phone call costs nothing, and with all their recent quarterback issues, perhaps a Mac Jones package featuring several draft picks may entice the Vikings.
Play it safe
Calvin Ridley is no longer the most exciting option, but he has recent production. He topped 1,000 yards in 2024 before a broken leg wrecked his 2025 season.
Tennessee has also invested heavily in the position, committing $70 million to Wan'Dale Robinson and drafting Carnell Tate in the first round.
Ridley would cost far less than Jefferson or Harrison, and he'd give Purdy a reliable veteran option until the injured receivers return.
Waiting would be a mistake. Every week without a third receiver puts more stress on Evans's hip, makes the offense more predictable, and gives other contenders time to target the same players.
Kittle is healthy, McCaffrey is scoring, and Purdy is playing some of the best football of his career. The rest of the roster is ready to compete for a title. The front office needs to give it another playmaker.
