SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ The hot topic of the 49ers offseason figures to get hotter: which star wide receiver will come in this year to help Jimmy Garoppolo?
Pierre Garcon won't be returning after two injury-shortened seasons, the NFL Network reported Thursday about an unsurprising move to not pick up his 2019 option. That will save the 49ers from paying him some $6 million this year.
The 49ers don't need the salary cap room as much as they simply need a productive, play-making receiver, which is why trade rumors _ none floated via the 49ers brass _ have connected them to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown and the New York Giants' Odell Beckham Jr.
Brown has declared his affection for a 49ers deal and a Steelers exodus, but his destination is up to his jaded Pittsburgh employers. Even though the Giants have stated they won't move Beckham, speculation to the contrary resurfaced Wednesday when The Athletic's Jay Glazer predicted Beckham would get dealt, somewhere.
The 49ers are the odds-on favorite to land Beckam if he's dealt, and only the Arizona Cardinals have better odds of trading for Brown, according to online sportsbook BetOnline.ag.
Free agency doesn't open for another month, when negotiations can start March 11 and signings can ensue two days later.
If the 49ers want to try rehabilitating a former star from a torn Achilles like they did last year with cornerback Richard Sherman, then Demaryius Thomas is available after his Wednesday release from the Houston Texans.
Kendrick Bourne filled in for Garcon much of last season in a rotation that also included Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis.
With Wes Welker brought in to coach receivers, the obvious correlation is he will most benefit slot receivers Trent Taylor and Richie James Jr., but another big beneficiary will be Pettis in terms of refined route running.
Two years ago, the 49ers splurged in coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first offseason and brought in Garcon on a five-year, $47.5 million deal. The 49ers will incur a $7.2 million hit to the salary cap by cutting ties.
Garcon, 32, scored only one touchdown and played in just 16-of-32 games, the result of neck and knee injuries. He totaled 64 receptions for 786 yards. In 2013, he totaled a Washington-record 113 receptions playing under Shanahan and his father, Mike.
