49ers free agency: Predicting where Jennings, other top WRs on the market will land ...Middle East

SANTA CLARA – The smart money isn’t on the 49ers using free agency to restock their receiver pond.

Still, Brock Purdy needs to throw to someone, and the offense needs an infusion of speed to keep defenses honest from swarming Christian McCaffrey.

This isn’t all about Jauan Jennings and whether the 49ers re-sign him before or after others come courting him March 9, when contract talks can open for free agents.

And this isn’t all about Brandon Aiyuk’s eventual exit, be it in the form of a release, a trade, or perhaps a retirement, which he seemingly did last season by leaving the 49ers midseason.

This is about allocating resources, with greater demands elsewhere, while more likely bargain shopping for a receiver. They can only hope Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing all ball out after injury-riddled starts to their careers, and that Demarcus Robinson’s 111-yard outburst in their wild-card win over the Eagles was a sign of more to come.

While drafting a wide receiver seems a foregone conclusion, that can’t happen for nearly two months. Instead, there’s buzz around free agency — here are 10 wide receivers to watch, whether the 49ers are in line to land them or not:

1. JAUAN JENNINGS

Last training camp’s hiatus didn’t deliver the expensive extension he sought, and a career-high nine touchdown catches might not either. A $28 million franchise tag is steep, even if the 49ers freed up $27 million by nullifying Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees. Jennings’ value shouldn’t be based on quantity (see: 55 catches for 643 yards last season) but rather quality (see: 69 third-down conversions, plus a physical, ornery demeanor that freaks out defensive backs.).

Prediction: Signs elsewhere

2. JUSTIN JEFFERSON

Trading away arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver is not a shrewd way for the Minnesota Vikings to solve their quarterback quandary. Jefferson is two years into a four-year extension, so a $39 million cap hit would be damning. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, ousted as the Vikings’ general manager, has rejoined the 49ers’ front office, which delivers great intrigue into a still-improbable deal. Trade packages in 2021 (to move up to No. 3 for Trey Lance) and 2022 (to swap for McCaffrey) hurt the 49ers’ homegrown talent pool, which they’re trying to replenish.

Prediction: Stays in Minnesota

3. TYREEK HILL

The 49ers shouldn’t be compelled to even take a flier on Hill, and not because of him sparking the 2019 Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl comeback over the 49ers. He’s coming off a major knee injury, and the 49ers already have enough stars in rehabilitation (see: George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner).

Prediction: Signs elsewhere, but during the season

4. MIKE EVANS

Could someone from the Tampa Bay Bucs’ ring of honor (John Lynch, the 49ers general manager) woo a future Bucs honoree? The 6-foot-5 Evans is entering his 13th season and certainly would be a productive fit for the 49ers, or anyone for that matter. Injuries limited him to eight games last season at age 32, which sounds like the opposite of the traits the 49ers seek.

Prediction: Finishes his career in Tampa

5. DEEBO SAMUEL

He’s five years removed from his All-Pro “wide back” role. Kittle, coach Kyle Shanahan and others may vouch for Samuel’s encore but it just seems like his time has expired with the 49ers, unless they’re so desperate to rekindle that bromance.

Prediction: Signs elsewhere, perhaps Atlanta or Carolina near his hometown of Inman, S.C.

6. ALEC PIERCE

The 49ers would love a deep threat, something perhaps they last had with Marquise Goodwin and sought with Danny Gray, among others. Pierce led the NFL in averaging over 21 yards-per-reception each of the last two seasons. After four years on Indianapolis’ quarterback carousel, Pierce should be a hot commodity.

Prediction: $20 million a year or more from some team other than the 49ers

7. GEORGE PICKENS

The Cowboys let top defender Micah Parsons leave last season, and they can’t be foolish enough to ditch Pickens and break up a solid tandem with CeeDee Lamb. So, Friday, they placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens, who can still negotiate with other teams.

Prediction: He plays on the Cowboys’ $28 million franchise tag, rather than the 49ers stealing him away with a multi-year contract on a tag-and-trade move like they did for Dee Ford in 2019.

8. A.J. BROWN

Four years in Philly seem to have maxed out Brown’s time there, after three in Tennessee got him traded. He simply seems too combustible to mesh with Purdy & Co.

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Prediction: Traded, not to the 49ers

9. ROMEO DOUBS

Now that he has played out his rookie contract as a Packers fourth-round pick out of Nevada, Doubs could certainly return to his native California, and the 49ers’ scheme should make for a smooth transition with his versatility. He has 21 touchdown catches in 59 games; Jennings has 22 in 75.

Prediction: 49ers make a run at him but back out when the bidding crests $12 million per year

10. WAN’DALE ROBINSON

He should parlay his first 1,000-yard season into a massive pay raise.

Prediction: John Harbaugh and the Giants pay up to keep his connection with young quarterback Jaxson Dart

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