The 49ers on Thursday got some bad injury news. Second-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel went down with a fractured foot that is expected to sideline him for 12-to-16 weeks according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Samuel is more optimistic about his timeline and expects to be back within 10 weeks.
San Francisco has some decent depth at receiver, but they could look into adding a veteran free agent in Samuel’s absence, especially since Trent Taylor had a similar injury last season that wound up pushing him out for the season while he dealt with complications after surgery.
The pickings are slim on the free agent market in mid-June, but the 49ers won’t likely need a big-time player. Samuel is on track to return either right before or early on in the regular season. Adding a veteran player to push for a roster spot and possibly contribute might be a worthwhile move.
Here are a few names that stand out among the NFL’s free agent receivers:
Taylor Gabriel
It’s a little surprising the 49ers didn’t make a play for Gabriel earlier in the offseason. He spent 2014 in Kyle Shanahan’s offense with the Browns, and another season in 2016 with the Falcons. Two of Gabriel’s three most productive seasons came in Shanahan’s system, and his familiarity with the offense would make his transition easier whenever the team is allowed to have in-person workouts. In 29 games in Shanahan’s offense, Gabriel had 71 catches, 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns.
Paul Richardson
The former second-round pick of the Seahawks is a good athlete who’s never quite lived up to his second-round billing. He’s played just 17 games over the last two seasons, and his best year came in 2017 when he caught 44 balls for 703 yards and six touchdowns for the Seahawks. He parlayed that into a good free agent contract with Washington, but couldn’t stay healthy there. He’d fit in well with a young 49ers receiving corps that’s waiting for a couple players to break out.
Antonio Brown
It’s difficult to imagine San Francisco deciding now that they’d want Brown’s services. He’s likely facing a suspension from the league if he does get re-signed, he was a nightmare for the Raiders, and off-field accusations of sexual assault forced the Patriots to cut him after one game. Brown is an undeniably talented football player who is available. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro who eclipsed 1,200 receiving yards every year between 2013 and 2018. Whether the 49ers, or any team, is interested in his services is an entirely different question.
Demaryius Thomas
An Achilles injury late in the 2018 season appeared to spell the end of a very strong career. Thomas wound up playing 11 games for the Jets last season and caught 36 passes for 433 yards and a touchdown. 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman saw a marked improvement in his second season back after an Achilles tear, and Thomas is good enough to gamble on a similar jump from him. Even if he’s a shell of his Pro Bowl form, a big-bodied, veteran presence would be helpful.
Jarius Wright
Wright was a good athlete coming out of college and went to the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. He’s never put up eye-popping numbers, but he was consistent across six seasons in Minnesota, and two more seasons in Carolina. His speed makes him a potentially interesting fit for San Francisco who could compete for a roster spot if Samuel misses extended time.
Justin Hardy
Hardy also has experience in Shanahan’s offense. He was a fourth-round pick of the Falcons in 2015 — Shanahan’s first season as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator. He had 21 catches in each of his first two seasons — a number he hasn’t reached since Shanahan left for San Francisco in 2017. He also had four of his nine career touchdowns in his second season. A reunion with Hardy and his former OC could be a good low-risk investment for the 49ers.
