SF 49ers: 5 trade targets for John Lynch before 2020 deadline
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Target No. 4: Wide Receiver Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals
Injuries have played a major role in influencing why the SF 49ers could be buyers at the NFL trade deadline regardless of the record.
One of those was suffered by second-year wide receiver Jalen Hurd, whose status to make a dent within the pro ranks after missing all of 2019 with a back injury and 2020 with an ACL tear, is very much in doubt.
Hurd’s size and movement skills made him unique, and the Niners don’t have anyone on their current roster who comes close to his 6-foot-4 size.
Unless they made a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for 6-foot-5, 228-pound wide receiver Auden Tate.
Tate, a seventh-round addition by Cincy in 2018, finds himself buried deep on the depth chart after an impressive 40-catch, 575-yard season a year ago. The Bengals may want to keep him around for depth purposes, but it’s not likely they’d see him surpass wide receivers A.J. Green, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd anytime soon.
Simply put, Tate is a weapon the Bengals no longer need.
Especially if John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan figure out a way to send off some of their offensive line depth, which Cincinnati needs, in exchange for Tate’s services.