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The San Francisco 49ers need to bolster their receiving group this offseason. Jauan Jennings could leave the Niners in free agency while the team is likely cutting ties with Brandon Aiyuk. Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall is young and talented but injury-prone.
Moreover, with free agency not having wideouts who could be considered a No. 1 receiver, the 49ers could turn to the draft and use their first-round pick on a pass-catcher who has the potential to turn into one.
During a Feb. 16 appearance on CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards projects Washington Huskies wideout Denzel Boston.
“[Boston is] somebody that has a little bit of size that they can add to that room,” Edwards said. “Jauan Jennings is currently slated to hit free agency. Whether he actually reaches that point remains to be seen, but a couple of years ago, it was funny because the 49ers took Ricky Pearsall on draft night. Everybody was thinking, ‘Why would they take a wide receiver when they are so talented and deep at the wide receiver position?’
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen the fallout with Deebo Samuel being traded to Washington, and the ongoing circumstances with Brandon Aiyuk playing out there now as well. If Jennings is gone, then the cupboard looks very bare. You bring back Pearsall, and now you’ve got Denzel Boston, who allows you to have some of that size.”
San Francisco Told to Stay Away From Alec Pierce
Although there are no No. 1 wideouts in free agency, there are some options who could be a No. 2 target.
One potential target in free agency is Indianapolis Colts wideout Alec Pierce. The Colts’ standout posted 47 catches for 1,003 yards and scored six touchdowns in 15 games during the 2025 season, per StatMuse.
Nonetheless, On SI’s and 49ers beat reporter Grant Cohn is warning the Niners to stay away from Pierce in free agency as he won’t fill the need of a No. 1 wideout.
“Unlike Jennings, Pierce is fast and young,” Cohn wrote in his article published on Feb. 16. “He’s only 25. Last season, he averaged 21.3 yards per catch. He’s one of the best deep threats in the NFL, and he’s going to cost roughly $20 million per season. And the 49ers shouldn’t give it to him.
“The 49ers need a No. 1 receiver, not an expensive No. 2. If they could get AJ Brown or Justin Jefferson, great. Pierce isn’t those guys. He averaged a career-high 3.1 catches per game last season. He’s limited.
“Instead of spending all that money on a complementary player who will spend most of his time running clear-out routes, the 49ers should invest that money in the trenches.”
49ers Insider Believes Niners Should Pursue Alec Pierce
However, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco has the opposition take from Cohn and believes that Pierce is an ideal target for the 49ers in free agency.
“The player that I would keep an eye on from the free‑agent market is scheduled to hit the market and probably will not be designated as a franchise player by his team, and that is Alec Pierce from the Indianapolis Colts,” Maiocco said in a YouTube video on Feb. 13. “When I look at Pierce, this is a guy who has good size — 6‑foot‑3 and 215 pounds.
“He’s very fast. He’s not a slot receiver, so he’d be playing on the outside. But the one thing that really separates him is just his ability to make big plays, and that is something that the San Francisco 49ers offense was severely lacking in 2025.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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