Green could go from a winless team in the Bengals to an undefeated one in the 49ers.
The undefeated 49ers could use a little wide receiver help, and they’re reportedly looking at some big-name options.
CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Sunday morning that the Niners are “aggressively pursuing several options” at the position, and they’re among several teams interested in A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals. His report also mentioned Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders, Atlanta’s Mohamed Sanu and Chicago’s Taylor Gabriel as options on the wide receiver market, though he didn’t say whether the Niners were specifically interested in them.
What the Niners may offer in exchange for Green is still a mystery, as is the Bengals’ asking price.
Green’s Bengals are going nowhere fast this season at 0-6, so a route out of Cincinnati may be welcome for the star wideout who’s still working his way back from a preseason ankle injury in the final year of his second contract in Cincinnati.
The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 29, so the Niners have just over a week if they do indeed want to beef up their receiver corps.
Tight end George Kittle is far and away Jimmy Garoppolo’s top receiving option with 31 catches. Rookie Deebo Samuel leads the wideout group with just 15 receptions in five games, and he’s out Sunday at Washington.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan worked with Sanu and Gabriel when he was the offensive coordinator during the Falcons’ 2016 run to the Super Bowl before being snatched up by John Lynch and the Niners.
Whether they end up acquiring any of these players, the aggressive stance makes sense for a team with high aspirations but an apparent weak spot on the outside.
It’s also not the first time San Francisco has been linked to a top wideout in 2019 — they pursued a trade with the Giants for Odell Beckham Jr. before he was eventually dealt to the Browns.
Of course, La Canfora has missed on a 49ers-related report before, when he had to backtrack from a report saying Colin Kaepernick would stand for the national anthem if he was signed by an NFL team again.
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