49ers free agency: 5 takeaways after opening moves in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: 49ers still have depth questions at wide receiver
San Francisco lost four-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in NFL free agency to the New England Patriots, leaving a void on the roster for the No. 3 wideout behind the two starters, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
While the 49ers inked former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trent Sherfield to contribute on special teams and potentially replace Bourne as a red-zone weapon, the back end of the depth chart remains an open-ended question.
Richie James could assume more duties as a slot receiver. But head coach Kyle Shanahan has only scantly used James on offense, so that’s no guarantee.
And for those banking on third-year wide receiver Jalen Hurd finally making an impact after being injured the last two years, those hopes are soon turning into a longshot.
The Niners didn’t make too many other overtures, at least none known, for some of the other big-name wide receivers on the free-agent market. Yet the notable depth concerns about this position that still exist suggest Shanahan and John Lynch will use at least one of their nine picks in the NFL Draft this April on one of the many talented wideouts entering league ranks.
Thankfully, it’s a deep class. And one would guess San Francisco is counting on that class’ depth.