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San Francisco's wide receiver depth has been ravaged by injuries just three weeks into the season, creating a dire situation for head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to miss up to 10 weeks due to an ankle injury, while Demarcus Robinson suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 that could keep him out for an extended period. Ricky Pearsall is already lost for the year after undergoing knee surgery, and Christian Kirk remains on injured reserve with a calf strain. To compound matters, Mike Evans, the team's marquee free-agent acquisition, exited Sunday's victory with a hip injury.
This is not an unfamiliar predicament for Shanahan's offense, as star players George Kittle and Deebo Samuel have also dealt with injuries in recent seasons. However, this year the position lacks any remaining depth. Behind Evans and Samuel, the depth chart drops off sharply, with unproven options like Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins next in line.
That's why Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently floated a name that should capture San Francisco's attention: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. With a lengthy list of injuries at the position, the 49ers are in need of a long-term solution at wideout. Moton believes that Shanahan's play-calling could help revive Jeudy's career.
During the offseason, Browns general manager Andrew Berry labeled Jeudy the 'bell cow' of the team's receiving corps, but the seventh-year pro has managed just two catches for 26 yards in two games. He failed to record a reception in Cleveland's 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
Jeudy is only two years removed from a Pro Bowl campaign in which he hauled in 90 passes for 1,229 yards and four touchdowns. At 27 years old and still in his prime, he could be a valuable asset for the 49ers' injury-plagued receiver unit.
Selected 15th overall out of Alabama in 2020 by the Denver Broncos, Jeudy was traded to the Browns in 2024 for a fifth- and sixth-round pick. He signed a three-year, $52.5 million extension with Cleveland that same month, but according to Over the Cap, none of the remaining guarantees on that deal are left after the 2026 season.
Given Jeudy's slow start and Cleveland's lack of financial commitment, San Francisco could potentially acquire him for a late Day 3 pick—a low-risk gamble on a talented receiver who might simply need a change of scenery. He would immediately bolster the receiver room for quarterback Brock Purdy and provide the 49ers' offense with additional experience while they await the return of healthier options.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst suggest 49ers trade for former 1st-round WR.
Originally reported by yahoo.