49ers adding Malik Turner suggests they’re done at wide receiver

The 49ers followed signing Marcus Johnson by inking fellow wide receiver Malik Turner, suggesting the team is through with its moves at the position.

The San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to turn a blind eye to potentially taking a high-quality wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft.

But it’s far less a priority now.

Last week, news broke the Niners were signing speedy free-agent wide receiver Marcus Johnson, who has plenty of speed to burn and can also serve as a deep-threat weapon in certain situations. Over the weekend, San Francisco announced it also signed former Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Malik Turner.

One of the first to greet Turner was tight end George Kittle:

The 26-year-old Turner caught 12 receptions for 149 yards and three touchdowns over 17 games with Dallas last season, and he figured to compete with Johnson for one of the back-end spots on the 49ers’ 53-man roster heading into training camp.

Right now, the Niners have nine wide receivers on their offseason depth chart. OK, so things have gotten a bit weird with All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, yes. But assuming San Francisco is able to iron that situation out, it looks as if it’ll have the entire crop of receivers needed entering spring workouts.

Will 49ers pass on wide receivers in 2022 NFL Draft now?

In addition to Turner and Johnson, the 49ers also inked former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud, and it doesn’t seem as if head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. will be overly eager to target even more wideouts via the 2022 NFL Draft.

Sure, it’s always possible. Especially if the Samuel situation turns even sourer. For the time being, though, nine receivers are typically what teams carry during offseason programs.

Samuel, McCloud, Johnson, Turner, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Connor Wedington, Austin Mack and KeeSean Johnson will be battling it out for the rights to land on the regular-season depth chart, and one could make the argument on Samuel, Aiyuk, Jennings and McCloud are effectively guaranteed spots, leaving a pretty notable training camp battle at the position to monitor.

Even if the names aren’t exactly over the top.

Either way, it doesn’t seem as if this position will be a high-point necessity in this year’s draft any longer, leaving the Niners to focus their efforts on other areas of need.