It might not be the most ideal time for the Las Vegas Raiders, but reports from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport saying wide receiver Jakobi Meyers wants to be traded might actually be wonderful music to the San Francisco 49ers' collective ears.
With league-wide roster cuts scheduled to be executed by Tuesday, Aug. 26, Meyers' request is at an odd time, although it's not hard to see why Vegas might want to move on after declining inquiries about the 28-year-old veteran who had a career-best 1,027 yards on 87 receptions a year ago, all with a very shoddy quarterbacking situation out in the desert in 2024.
Rookie Jack Bech is Las Vegas' long-term replacement for Meyers, so it's easy to see why the latter might want out if he knows he's not going to get an extension done.
According to Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Niners poked around an offseason ago about Meyers' services in light of their own extension drama with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but the Raiders declined. Aiyuk got his extension, and that was that.
However, the context entering 2025 is vastly different for both teams. And that could segway into the 49ers getting their hands on a talented (and much-needed) receiver for the right price.
Jakobi Meyers would be an ideal trade target for 49ers
All one has to do is quickly glance at the Niners' wide receiver room as it is now and realize help is needed.
Aiyuk is likely to miss the first six weeks, or so, as he continues rehabbing from last year's ACL and MCL tears, while Jauan Jennings is dealing with a calf injury that could shelve him on short-term injured reserve. Second-year pro Jacob Cowing, too, is an IR candidate, and rookie Jordan Watkins dealing with a high-ankle sprain.
Unless head coach Kyle Shanahan is content with a starting receiver trio of Ricky Pearsall, Robbie Chosen and perhaps Terique Owens, it's not hard to admit adding Meyers would help.
A lot.
Coupled with Jennings' own contractual situation, a free agent to be in 2026 who has also requested an extension, Niners Nation's Kyle Posey explored how Shanahan might actually view Meyers as a better overall fit:
"Meyers is automatic on throws underneath ten yards. Last season, Meyers caught 81.5 percent of his passes on 65 targets. Honestly, he excelled at every level. Best of all, he’s as reliable a wideout as it gets. Meyers knows where to be and catches everything.
There are quite a few similarities between Meyers and Jennings. I’d argue that Meyers is better near the goal line and after the catch. You can probably trust Meyers down the field more than you can with Jennings, too.
From separation to creating after the catch and coming up with difficult catches, it’s easy to see why the Niners would be intrigued by a player like Meyers. He’s the type of wideout that would thrive in Shanahan’s offense with Brock Purdy under center."
There is a caveat, though, and it's the fact Meyers' contract is up after 2025, putting him in the same boat as Jennings.
Should San Francisco trade for the former, it'd pretty much signify Jennings' time in the Bay Area is coming to an end.
But, could the 49ers even afford Meyers' services?
Can 49ers pay Jakobi Meyers what he wants?
In short, yes.
According to Over the Cap, Meyers would cost the 49ers $10.9 million in salary for 2025, assuming the Raiders wouldn't eat any of the money as part of the deal (and there's a good chance they'd be willing to do so if he becomes available). OTC also valued his 2024 campaign at $17.159 million, which easily fits into the $44-plus million the Niners currently have in cap space.
The only question becomes whether or not San Francisco would be willing to extend Meyers beyond this year.
Now, that's a bit trickier considering the big money ponied out to Aiyuk already, plus the maturation process the 49ers are expecting from Pearsall, and to a lesser extent, Watkins. A hefty extension for a second receiver right after begrudgingly giving Aiyuk his deal doesn't seem like something the Niners are too interested in doing. And the standoff with Jennings is a perfect example.
That said, should Shanahan be wholly enamored with what Meyers could do within his system, it wouldn't be a complete shock to see an extension offered post trade.
And if San Francisco is capable of pulling it off, it should. All one needs to do is look at the 49ers' current wide receiver situation to conclude that.