With the NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline just three days away, the San Francisco 49ers could find themselves active in the market as injuries continue to ravage their pass-catching corps. The team has been significantly hindered by injuries this season. Brandon Aiyuk has yet to open his practice window in his return from the physically unable to perform list, Ricky Pearsall is set to miss his fifth consecutive game this weekend, and Jauan Jennings has already been absent for two games.
Assuming general manager John Lynch doesn’t want to wait for the situation to improve on its own simply, reinforcements are available.
49ers Urged to Trade for Speedy Deep Threat
It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints have been shopping fourth-year wideout Rashid Shaheed. The 27-year-old has generated some buzz ahead of the trade deadline, and the 49ers are listed as one of his potential landing spots.
Currently, Shaheed is playing on an expiring deal in New Orleans, which positions him to enter unrestricted free agency in the spring. Any team acquiring him would likely aim to sign him to a new extension rather than treating him as a half-season rental.
For Shaheed, the quarterback situation in San Francisco would be much more stable and could boost his value. That feels strange to say, considering starting signal-caller Brock Purdy has been sidelined for much of the season with a turf toe injury. However, Mac Jones has filled in valiantly, proving to be a perfect fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and leading the 49ers to wins in four of his six starts. Jones is set to be under center for the seventh consecutive game on Sunday against the New York Giants.
Meanwhile, Shaheed has caught passes from a revolving door of quarterbacks, including Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Tyler Shough. Shough will log the first start of his career on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite the high turnover rate at the most crucial position on the field, Shaheed has still registered 133 receptions for 1,987 yards and 12 touchdowns in 41 games for the Saints. With 49 catches for 431 yards and a pair of touchdowns through eight games this season, he is on pace to shatter his career highs in all three categories.
How Depleted Is the 49ers’ Receiver Depth Chart?
Once Aiyuk can return to practice, the 49ers will open his 21-day return-to-play window and must activate him to the 53-man roster before it closes. If they fail to do so, he will be sent to season-ending injured reserve.
Pearsall, meanwhile, has been shelved with a PCL injury. The former No. 31 overall pick played in just 11 games as a rookie, and with only four games under his belt this season, he may not even eclipse that number if he isn’t back on the field soon.
The offense has become so thin at receiver that its top pass-catcher this season has been running back Christian McCaffrey, who leads the team in receptions and yards. He is second in touchdowns to tight end Jake Tonges. To address the need, the team recently reunited with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers after signing as an undrafted free agent.
As a potential trade target, Shaheed has a PFSN WR Impact score of 76.7, which is just a notch below the 77.3 score of Deebo Samuel Sr. Samuel was traded from the 49ers to the Washington Commanders during the offseason.