The San Francisco 49ers will open the season with a trip to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7. But with the way the depth chart looks, they might as well be bringing their current preseason roster to Lumen Field.
The 49ers trainers room has been packed with playmakers lately with Isaac Guerendo, Jordan James and Jordan Watson sidelined due to injury. With Brandon Aiyuk rehabbing from a multiligament knee injury suffered last season, San Francisco has been particularly interested in acquiring depth in recent days including a failed attempt to acquire receiver John Metchie III from the Houston Texans.
The bid for Metchie signals the 49ers will want another receiver before the year begins. It could lead to a reunion with a former playmaker that may not draw headlines, but is solid enough to get the job done.
Kendrick Bourne Should Be on 49ers’ Radar Ahead of 2025 Season
Kendrick Bourne departed San Francisco years ago but he brings a reliable skill set that may be what the 49ers are looking for. A UDFA out of Eastern Washington, Bourne broke into the league in 2017 and spent four seasons by The Bay. His final season in 2020 was his best as he caught 49 passes for 667 yards and a pair of touchdowns and he used that to cash in on a three-year, $15 million contract with the New England Patriots the following offseason.
Bourne’s first season in New England went well as he caught 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. But things have tailed off with 100 catches for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns in the past three seasons combined. The decline didn’t stop New England from giving Bourne a three-year, $19.5 million contract when he hit free agency a second time but the addition of Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams hint that the Patriots may have some buyer’s remorse.
With 11 receivers on the roster, Bourne is a good bet to be playing elsewhere when the regular season begins. San Francisco should also be interested as Demarcus Robinson serves a three-game suspension after a DUI arrest last November. But Bourne’s latest contract could be a deterrent with $13 million still owed.
A team like the 49ers, who spent most of the offseason clearing money for Brock Purdy’s new contract, probably isn’t interested in taking that on. There’s also a chance the 49ers could call a team like the Eagles who could make Anias Smith, Johnny Wilson or Terrace Marshall available after acquiring Metchie.
Whoever it is, the 49ers are clearly looking for a receiver after Sunday’s news and it could lead to Bourne or another pass-catcher joining the team soon.