The San Francisco 49ers have had a good deal of success against the Green Bay Packers. In the past 13 meetings (regular season and playoffs), the 49ers have gotten the better of the Packers eight times.
This week, San Francisco could one up Green Bay once again by snagging a pair of players the Packers recently cut to trim their roster down to 53 players.
One Tuesday, Green Bay cut veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman and linebacker Isaiah Simmons. With both players looking for a new team to play for in 2025, the San Francisco 49ers could make a few moves and enlist the services of the two former Packers.
The 49ers should kick the tires on Mecole Hardman and Isaiah Simmons
If 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is not happy with the health and readiness of his wide receiver room, signing the three-time Super Bowl champion receiver adds versatility to San Francisco's offense. With Brandon Aiyuk out for another two months and DeMarcus Robinson (potentially) serving a three-game suspension, the 49ers have a hole at the receiver position.
One of the top pass catchers from last season, Jauan Jennings, is fighting hard and rather vocal about a new contract. He could be a hold out until a new deal is struck.
The 49ers failed to capitalize on trading for another accomplished NFC wideout in Terry McLaurin. The Washington Commanders gave him a new deal, making McLaurin no longer available, for now.
Shanahan may prefer to sign Hardman instead of relying on unproven young targets in Jacob Cowing or rookie Jordan Watkins. Even the 2024 first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall has some question marks about his health and readiness before Week 1.
The 27-year-old wideout has 16 receiving touchdowns in his six-year NFL career. Adding Hardman to the offense for quarterback Brock Purdy helps keep the passing offense an asset, as the 49ers have racked up the fourth-most passing yards in the league the past two seasons.
How does Isaiah Simmons fit into the 49ers' defense?
The former first-rounder from the 2020 NFL Draft is also looking for work. Since breaking into the league, Simmons has not missed a single game. He has played every week in the first three seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and the every one the past two seasons for the New York Giants.
Simmons had a solid preseason as he collected six total tackles for the Packers. The former Clemson Tiger has accumulated 329 total tackles in 84 games, giving him an averge of almost for tackles per contest.
The veteran linebacker has shown that he can disrupt passing lanes, too. Simmons has five career interceptions and 21 passes defended in addition to nine forced fumbles.
If Shanahan is not prepared to trust rookie linebacker Nick Martin to back up Dee Winters, Simmons is a viable option if San Francisco scoops him up.