The San Francisco 49ers’ efforts to sign a contract extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk are trudging along. They have been for weeks. And with the 2024 Regular Season opener just 18 days away, head coach Kyle Shanahan may be forced to find a replacement.
One avenue the 49ers already broached was trading for another team’s star receiver, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, but that was when trading Aiyuk felt imminent. Now, San Francisco must turn inward and hope an in-house option can fill the shoes of the team’s 2023 and 2024 leading target-getter.
There are ten internal options, but who can hold the fort down while San Francisco urgently tries to appease Brandon Aiyuk’s asking price?
No. 1: Ricky Pearsall:
The 49ers’ highest draft pick since 2021 and the second-highest wide receiver selected by the Kyle Shanahan regime, expectations for Ricky Pearsall are sky-high. He has the skill set to mimic Aiyuk, albeit a less-refined version, but he has yet to play a preseason snap after suffering an off-the-field shoulder injury.
While Pearsall expects to be ready by Week 1, he will not practice this week, leaving his availability questionable. Despite his health concerns, Pearsall possesses the best ability to step in for Aiyuk, at least in the short term.
Another positive note is that if the 49ers trade Aiyuk, Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle believes Pearsall would be in line to start alongside Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings.
No. 2: Jauan Jennings
If Aiyuk is not re-signed or traded, Jauan Jennings would be the de-facto number two receiver. Jennings has three years of experience in the system and is the most proven Aiyuk replacement option on the depth chart.
But would Kyle Shanahan be willing to forfeit Jennings’ advantages in the slot, one that almost saw the receiver take home a Super Bowl MVP award? Unlikely, although Shanahan is smart enough to find any mismatch whether Jennings is lined up outside or in the slot.
No. 3: Chris Conley
Sometimes, the best option is the unexpected. In this case, Chris Conley starting Week 1. vs the New York Jets would be a shock to no one. With nine years under his belt, Conley can be the veteran stop-gap and a bridge to getting Aiyuk back on the field.
Shanahan mentioned Conley in an interview with Tolbert & Copes via KNBR, “That’s what we got everyone competing for right now. We have Jauan [Jennings] who has done a lot of good stuff for us over the years. He’s probably the first we would look to…Chris Conley has had a hell of a camp…Then we got these rookies who are all pushing.”
Currently, Conley does not fill any other spot on the team’s depth chart besides the veteran receiver role. So why not ask him to do exactly what San Francisco signed him for — a trustworthy, proven option that can step in during an emergency?
No. 4: Ronnie Bell:
Ronnie Bell might be on the roster bubble, but if Brandon Aiyuk is not dawning the red and gold, he could be an intriguing starting option.
When Aiyuk suffered an injury during Week 2 vs. the Los Angeles Rams last season, Bell was the next man up. While he did not catch a pass against the Rams, his effort warranted a start the following week vs. the New York Giants.
Against the Giants, Bell snagged his first career touchdown but was relegated to special teams duty once Aiyuk returned the subsequent week.
Could a similar story play out this season? Bell, an odd man out in a crowded receiver room, may be able to find a spot on the 53-man roster due to his willingness to block — a trait Kyle Shanahan demands.
While his catching leaves room for improvement, Bell has the tools to gain Shanahan’s trust in the interim.
No. 5: Jacob Cowing
2024 fourth-round Jacob Cowing is 5 foot 9 inches. The odds he starts on the outside are slim, but if Jennings slides outside, Cowing could become the primary slot receiver.
In his preseason debut vs. the Saints, Cowing touched the ball five times for 70 yards, three third-down conversions, and four first downs. He displayed explosiveness during a 19-yard end around and a 39-yard catch near the right sideline, a skill not many receivers on the roster possess.
Cowing’s dynamic playstyle would give San Francisco’s offense an extra jab that would be missing its right hook if Aiyuk is elsewhere.
No. 6: Trent Taylor
Vibes, vibes, and more vibes are what Trent Taylor brings to the 49ers roster. He fits in with the locker room, is well-liked by George Kittle, and makes Kyle Shanahan comfortable.
Taylor knows the 49ers’ system, having played it from 2017 to 2020, and would mix in at the slot position, barring another receiver moving outside.
Think of him as the Ying to Jacob Cowing’s Yang. Where Cowing is explosive, Taylor is not. Where Taylor has experience, Cowing needs reps.
Taylor will undoubtedly cross Shanahan’s mind to start Week 1 without Brandon Aiyuk. But do not let the Training Camp hype disguise what would be the dullest decision by a man otherwise known as a genius.
No. 7: Tay Martin
Tay Martin is unproven. Tay Martin also has the best ball skills of any wide receiver on the roster bubble, which could propel him higher up Shanahan’s list of potential Aiyuk replacements.
Martin is not good enough to start, but he could be part of a rotation that amplifies his skillset. In San Francisco’s loaded offense, Martin would get consistent one-on-one coverage, setting him up for success. And maybe even his first NFL career catch.
It is a long shot, but Martin has plenty to like as a player. It is just a matter of how much patience Shanahan is willing to show.
No. 8: Danny Gray:
Former third-round pick Danny Gray was supposed to be the deep threat in the offense Kyle Shanahan envisioned for Trey Lance. Lance has since been traded to the Dallas Cowboys, and Danny Gray has been rotting on the practice field.
His speed has not translated to the NFL, and injuries have limited his growth. With Aiyuk potentially out the door, Gray may have one final shot to show he can still be a viable receiving option.
Gray would give the Niners more than just slot potential and could, at least, be a decoy for any defense worried about the deep ball. But is that enough for Kyle Shanahan?
Maybe Gray’s status as a former third-round pick could provide another chance at redemption, or another lackluster offseason gives Shanahan even more reason to cut bait.
No. 9: Robbie Chosen Anderson
Seeing Robbie Chosen Anderson starting in Week 1 would be a disaster and a desperate move by the 49ers. With eight years to his name, Anderson is the only backup to have a 1,000-yard season and the only receiver to eclipse the 900-yard mark twice–both coming before the 2021 season.
Since 2022, Anderson has bounced around the league, playing for three separate teams, totaling 408 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 25 games.
His prime is behind him, and with a history of beefing with coaches, Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse would politely decline a reservation.
No. 10: Jontre Kirklin
Jontre Kirklin will not be making the 49ers roster, but for the sake of argument, the UFL standout did finish second in the league with 614 receiving yards. Kirklin did not catch a pass in the 49ers Preseason Week 2 matchup vs. the Saints, so the odds are not in his favor to even be a spec in Shanahan’s eye.
Maybe there is hope for a practice squad stint, but he will not replace Brandon Aiyuk even if he somehow makes the 53-man roster.
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