The San Francisco 49ers are lacking big-time playmakers in the wide receiver group. Brandon Aiyuk was supposed to be the WR1, but that didn’t go as planned, and he is now on the way out.
As a result, the Niners need to figure out a way to improve their wideout group with Aiyuk done in the Bay Area and Jauan Jennings being a free agent in mid-March.
On Jan. 21, On SI’s 49ers beat reporter Grant Cohn shared his report of San Francisco pursuing Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison. The USC Trojans product had a challenging 2025 season, recording 42 receptions for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games, per StatMuse.
“According to a source, the 49ers intend to be quite aggressive this offseason in terms of trades,” Cohn said in a video posted on X. “They want to trade up in the draft, and they want to trade for a wide receiver. And the wide receiver they’re initially targeting in a trade is Jordan Addison of the Minnesota Vikings. Jordan Addison is entering year four in the NFL, and the Vikings apparently don’t want to pick up his fifth-year option.”
Vikings Want to Keep Jalen Nailor
Moreover, Cohn notes that the Vikings want to hold onto Jalen Nailor, who will be a free agent in mid-March, opening the door for Minnesota to trade Addison.
“They like Jalen Nailor, who’s a free wide receiver or going to be a free agent wide receiver on their team,” Cohn added. “They’d like to keep him. And since they’re not going to pick up Jordan Addison’s fifth‑year option, they would be open to trading him. Now, he has been arrested three times, but most recently, the charges were dropped.
“So apparently, from what I heard, there have already been initial discussions between the two teams on a trade. I don’t know if the Niners have made an offer. I don’t know if they’ll ultimately get him because other teams are probably going to want him…
“Keep an eye on the 49ers making a play for Jordan Addison. He’s 23 years old. He was a first-round pick. He’s two years younger than Ricky Pearsall. He’s really, really, really, really, really good. And they probably could get him for maybe a second, maybe a third, maybe Ricky Pearsall, maybe Ricky Pearsall on a fourth.”
49ers QB Brock Purdy Talks Jauan Jennings
In mid-March, Jennings can hit the open market as a free agent and secure a hefty payday, so the Niners will need to decide whether to let him walk or make an effort to keep him. Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and scored nine touchdowns in 15 games for the 49ers this season, per StatMuse.
On Jan. 19, 49ers QB Brock Purdy made his feelings known that he wants Jennings back in San Francisco next season.
“I’m extremely hopeful,” Purdy told reporters (h/t 95.7 The Game). “He’s my guy and [I] love playing with him and everything that we’ve been through. He’s a war daddy that every time you step out on that field, man, you know you’re going to get your best and get everything from JJ. Obviously, I want my guy back.”
49ers Insider Floats Big Message on Vikings’ Jordan Addison