The San Francisco 49ers have dealt with a lot of injuries at wide receiver this season. Adding depth would make a lot of sense for the team.
That is why the Niners should trade for ex-49er Kendrick Bourne to bolster their receiving corps.
Brandon Aiyuk was lost for the rest of 2024 (and possibly some of 2025) after a brutal knee injury in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Deebo Samuel has had to deal with injuries as well as pneumonia. Jauan Jennings has been hampered with a hip issue.
All of these injuries have made the receiving corps a bit thin for the Niners this season. Thankfully, they have had Week 9 to recuperate on their bye week, which should mean that they will have Samuel, Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall (who had a strong showing in Week 8) as their top three receivers in Week 10.
Those are a solid top three, but if 2024 has taught us anything about San Francisco, it is that you can never have too much depth.
Beyond those top three receivers, things get a bit dicey. The 49ers have the veteran, Chris Conley, Ronnie Bell, who has struggled in his young career, and rookie Jacob Cowing. As of right now, it seems Cowing has the most promise of that bunch, but it is apparent head coach Kyle Shanahan does not fully trust him in a receiver role yet.
That is why the Niners should trade for Bourne. He is currently with the New England Patriots but was originally drafted by the 49ers where he established himself as a solid receiver. Honestly, Bourne played his way out of a Niners uniform because San Francisco could not afford to bring him back at the contract that he probably deserved.
He has gone on to be a solid contributor with New England. From 2021 to 2023, he had over 1,600 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. 2024 has been a bit more of a struggle for him as he has played in just four games and has only four catches on the year.
That could be good for the Niners, though, because they can get him on the cheap. They could part ways with their 2025 seventh-round draft pick for Bourne and get a valuable depth piece who is familiar with Shanahan's offense. Plus, with the Pats at 2-6 on the season, they will certainly be in the mood to sell.
Bourne would not be a blockbuster trade in the same vein as the one for Christian McCaffrey in 2022 or Chase Young in 2023. Nonetheless, the receiver would be a valuable bit of depth on a 49ers team that could use it coming down the stretch.