The San Francisco 49ers' offseason roster overhaul has left the defense far more gutted than the offense. So, regardless of how many wins the team ends up with next season (a case can be made for a wide range of possibilities right now), it's fair to assume they will have to score a lot of points to compete week-in and week-out.
In his notes column posted on Monday, Albert Breer of SI.com devoted a section to what largely comes off as PR puff for Stefon Diggs. The veteran wide receiver is working his way back from a torn ACL and remains a free agent as the month of March winds down.
Diggs appears to be making great progress after suffering that injury while playing for the Houston Texans last October.
Mentioning a couple teams who could be a fit was a natural part of Breer's notes about the four-time Pro Bowler.
"Is that place out there for him? San Francisco would make sense, at the right price," Breer suggested. "Dallas might, too, with his brother already there."
49ers should have zero interest in Stefon Diggs
Over and above any questions about if he's past his prime or how "mercurial" he can be, which Breer devoted a lot of space to dismissing, Diggs is coming off a major knee injury. The 49ers already have, at least for now, a receiver like that in Brandon Aiyuk. Trading Aiyuk, if they do, and signing Diggs would be an odd pivot.
Before dropping the 49ers as a team who could make sense for Diggs, Breer practically pushed them down the list of potential suitors.:
"The best place for him, it seems, would be with a contender where he wouldn’t have to be the guy, which would mitigate potential issues with his desire for the ball and also alleviate the frustration that losing can bring a guy with his sort of makeup."
Where the 49ers sit on the contender spectrum for next season can be debated. Diggs having to be the be "the guy" for them, as in the No. 1 receiver he once was, is foggier even if it's unlikely.
But if they aren't winning and he's not getting what he feels is sufficient target volume...
What isn't in question is Diggs' age, entering his age-32 season, and how he will turn on his quarterback if he thinks he isn't getting the ball enough. He has regularly crossed the line between reasonable discourse and being a headache on that front, essentially forcing two trades because the Vikings and Bills wanted to rid themselves of a headache.
It didn't work out due to his injury, but the Texans did it right when they restructured Diggs' contract to make it a one-year deal after acquiring him. Any team that signs him this offseason would be doing the same, betting on his motivation via a one-year deal while not inviting the extra stuff that always comes eventually.
Breer may have some intel that points him to the Niners as a suitor for Diggs. But all things considered, up to and including wide receiver not being a big need, it's hard to make it makes sense.
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