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Where the 49ers are on the list of potential suitors – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

Where the 49ers are on the list of potential suitors – NBC Sports Bay Area and California

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It's possible that Davante Adams has played his last game with the Raiders.

It seems far less likely that he will play his next game as a member of the 49ers.

Whenever there is a possibility of a high-profile player moving, fans of every team want to know if that player is potentially coming to their city.

The Raiders have informed teams across the league that they are open to a trade for Adams, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday, citing sources, after Adams reportedly requested a trade.

So naturally, some 49ers fans want to know if there's a chance the Palo Alto High grad, a six-time Pro Bowl player, will return to the Bay Area.

Let's be honest: The 49ers rank low on the list of teams in need of a shakeup at wide receiver.

After all, the club recently signed Brandon Aiyuk to a five-year, $134.1 million contract that included a $23 million signing bonus already paid out. The deal is structured so that it does not affect the 49ers' salary cap through the 2027 season.

Meanwhile, Adams' contract calls for salaries of more than $17 million this year, $36 million next year and $37 million in 2026. These numbers can of course be restructured, but it doesn't seem worth the effort.

After all, the 49ers have many other ways to use future money.

Quarterback Brock Purdy in particular is entitled to a new contract in the offseason. He is currently the team's 46th highest-paid player. With his next contract, Purdy will become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.

The 49ers also have a list of scheduled free agents looking to cash in: cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and guard Aaron Banks.

The 49ers have no need for a wide receiver.

Even though Aiyuk's performance in the first four games of the season has fallen short of expectations, the 49ers need to feel like they are in good shape at wide receiver without giving a 31-year-old player even more salary cap space.

Deebo Samuel is under contract until the 2025 season. With running back Christian McCaffrey out indefinitely with Achilles tendonitis in both legs, Samuel offers even more value to the 49ers as he can also operate in the backfield.

The team's third receiver, Jauan Jennings, is off to a fantastic start. His 364 yards receiving ranks fourth in the NFL. He has 21 receptions on 27 targets from Purdy.

Additionally, the 49ers hope to get first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall on the field soon.

The 49ers selected Pearsall 31st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft due to his polished route-running skills and ability to beat man coverage. He spent the first four weeks of the regular season on the reserve/non-football injured list after suffering a gunshot wound on August 31.

Incredibly, Pearsall could begin practicing again soon, with the intention of entering the team's rotation as the No. 4 wide receiver.

So it seems obvious that adding a high-priced, veteran wide receiver new to Kyle Shanahan's system isn't exactly high on 49ers general manager John Lynch's priority list.

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