SF 49ers: 5 offensive free agents Mike LaFleur takes to NY Jets

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Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2: SF 49ers Wide Receiver Kendrick Bourne

Four-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne carved out a nice career with the SF 49ers, even ranking No. 2 on the team in receiving yards last season (667) and continuing to be a reliable third-down weapon out of the slot.

Not bad for an undrafted free agent.

But one of the reasons why Bourne was prolific in 2020 was due to injuries to the Niners’ other top-two wide receivers, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, who never got the chance to play together with any sort of consistency. Their offsetting absences regularly opened up chances for Bourne to make an impact.

San Francisco will shift its focus to Samuel and Aiyuk in 2021, meaning Bourne is likely expendable on the NFL free agency market.

Meanwhile, the Jets could use a lot of supplementary help for their wide receiver room. They have a solid No. 1 option in wide receiver Jamison Crowder. But more talent is needed, and a player like Bourne could be that value add to help boost Mike LaFleur’s offense.

The move would work well for both sides. New York would get a proven wide receiver, and Bourne would get the kind of money he wouldn’t be able to receive with the SF 49ers if re-signed.