If fans think the 49ers' wide receiver room is bad, just see what Chris Simms had to say about what's going on with the Seahawks.
For San Francisco 49ers fans who are feeling the proverbial "doom and gloom" about their team's wide receiver situation heading into 2025, it's understandable.
After all, it wasn't easy to watch All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel traded to the Washington Commanders after being a cornerstone piece since 2019. Coupled with fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk not likely to start the year after suffering a torn ACL and MCL last season, it's reasonable to assume the Niners' receiver room is going to start 2025 on a weakish note.
But, at least it's not like that of San Francisco's NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.
The Hawks had an even more tumultuous time with their receiver room, bidding farewell to a longtime 49ers nemesis, Tyler Lockett, which (directly or indirectly) led to shipping fellow wideout D.K. Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite bringing aboard former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, it's safe to question just how difficult it might be for another former Niner, quarterback Sam Darnold, to find reliable pass-catching options after his one-year revival with the Minnesota Vikings a year ago.
One prominent NFL analyst isn't enthusiastic about those prospects.
Chris Simms isn't buying Seahawks' wide receiver room
Speaking with Mike Florio on an episode of Pro Football Talk, Chris Simms tore into Seattle's wide receiver situation and cast plenty of doubts about it.
Sure, the arrival of an aging Kupp and the well-traveled Marquez Valdez-Scantling might help matters slightly, but Simms isn't exactly looking at these two as adequate replacements for Lockett and Metcalf.
"I know Marquez Valdez-Scantling had a good end of the year with the Saints last year and all that. But (the Seahawks shouldn't) be like, 'Oh, we're good. We got Valdez-Scantling, who's been on six different teams,'" Simms said. "I'm embellishing a little bit in the last three or four years, and he had a good five- or six-game run (in 2024)...nor would I want to hang my hat on Cooper Kupp and where he is at in his career, that would scare me a little bit."
You can watch the segment below:
Granted, the Seahawks can pin their hopes on tight end Noah Fant and incumbent receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak should be seen as an upgrade over last year's trial with Ryan Grubb calling plays.
Still, San Francisco can take some comfort knowing a key division rival doesn't exactly boast a lot of prowess at a vitally important spot on offense.
And that'll help tip the balance in the 49ers' favor when the two squads face each other this upcoming season.
Hat tip to Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising for the find and transcription.