49ers tipped for WR reunion to replace Brandon Aiyuk in arms race with formidable Rams

The San Francisco 49ers might not be done adding this offseason.

After an injury-plagued run to the NFC Divisional Round, the offseason was always going to be critical for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan.

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Alongside reinforcing the defensive line, San Francisco’s offseason was headlined by the additions of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Mike Evans and Christian Kirk.

The wide receiver position was always going to be a crucial part of the offseason, with Brandon Aiyuk set for a stunning divorce with the team, and the jury still being out on Ricky Pearsall.

Adding Evans and Kirk certainly boosts the room, but there is still a free agent who could be a valuable option for the Niners.

“I think Deebo [Samuel] would love to come back,” KNBR’s Larry Krueger said.

“Deebo is 30, not 35. He’s 30… I don’t know that he’s ever going to reach that 2021 All-Pro Deebo, when he scored 14 touchdowns and was one of the best players in pro football.

“But according to the people I’ve talked to who are around him, and from some of the pictures I’ve seen, he appears to be in very good shape.”

Samuel, who was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has yet to find a team this offseason.

With the Washington Commanders in 2025, Samuel accumulated 727 yards with five touchdowns, adding one more score on the ground.

While you can never have too much depth, Krueger did point out on reason why San Francisco might not bring the All-Pro in.

“The Niners don’t want to clog up their wide receiver position and block young, ascending players who could break out in training camp,” Krueger added.

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“[When they could] be cheaper and maybe even better than what Deebo was when he was last here.

“The 49ers’ wide receiver position, if you look closer, could be a little like cotton candy.

“It might be a little bit of fool’s gold. There are a lot of names here, but there are also a lot of question marks.

“This looks like it could be a very deep position, but it could instantly become a very thin position as well.”

Krueger would have been talking about Pearsall when referring to the young ascending players, but also at 2026 first-round pick De’Zhuan Stribling.

Stribling was a surprise selection for the 49ers, so much so that Lynch and Shanahan had to defend accusations they were reaching.

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Evans has missed 12-games in the last two campaigns, and is entering his age-33 season.

The front office may prefer to give their younger pass-catchers room to develop, but having a proven playmaker like Samuel on speed dial might be too good to ignore.

If injuries strike during pre-season, a low-cost, late-offseason reunion with their former wideout might just be the ticket they need to stay competitive with the pre-season Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams.

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