April 21, 2026, 6:15 p.m. PT

The San Francisco 49ers maybe be looking at receivers in the 2026 NFL draft, but they could also look at the veteran trade market to find another offensive weapon for head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy.

One name that’s been floated around all offseason is Buffalo Bills receiver Keon Coleman. The young 2024 second-rounder has been a bit underwhelming for the Bills, but he could find new life if the team is interested in trading for him.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay, meanwhile, thinks the 49ers should offer up one of their fourth-round picks for Coleman’s services. San Francisco currently owns the Nos. 127, 133, 138 and 139 picks in the draft.

Despite the marquee pickups, San Francisco would be wise to add an insurance and developmental option to the mix. All three of the team’s top wideouts—Evans, Kirk and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall—are prone to injury and missed significant time last season.

While Coleman has been sidelined for stretches with injuries of his own, he’s an ideal buy-low player who head coach Kyle Shanahan can rehabilitate within his high-octane offense. Coleman has a meager 67/960/8 stat line over his first 26 career games, but still has plenty of unrealized potential at the age of 22.

The Niners are only holding six total picks in the 2026 draft, but giving up one of their three fourth-rounders for an athletic, 6’4″, 215-pound prospect with good hands and the potential to develop into a high-volume X receiver is worth the price of admission.

The combination of Coleman and Pearsall would set a foundation that San Francisco can build its receiving corps around for the foreseeable future.

The whole argument rests on two thoughts: Could the 49ers find a better long-term receiver in the first or second round, or could they find a better overall player in the fourth round? That is up to Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to decide, but the low-risk, high-reward upside for a former second-round pass-catcher might be too good to pass up as the 49ers plan for the season.

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