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Adam Peters is entering a bidding war to get Jayden Daniels more help, and he'll have to beat out a familiar face to do so

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Josh Taylor | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 7:23 AM ET

The season is right around the corner, but GM Adam Peters isn't done making moves yet , and the writing was on the wall. After roster cuts, the Washington Commanders only kept five wide receivers, and we all knew a move was coming, but we weren't sure exactly what it was, and we do now.

Getting your franchise QB Jayden Daniels one more weapon before the season would be huge, but it won't be easy thanks to one familiar face trying to outbid Peters for one of the best WRs left available on the market.

Let the bids begin

The Commanders are officially bidding for WR Kendrick Bourne, who is visiting Ashburn, Virginia, on Tuesday with a deal already in place after being released by the New England Patriots this past Wednesday. The San Francisco 49ers will also be hosting their former WR for a visit on Monday before he travels to Commanders Park, though. The 49ers have a deal in place as well, according to reports, and they are going to be ready to spend if they have to because they desperately need him.

This can all come down to money and the right situation, which could favor the 49ers over the Commanders because of their current situation at the position.

Free agent WR Kendrick Bourne is visiting the #49ers on Monday and #Commanders on Tuesday, source said. The framework of a deal is in place for both -- just in case.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2025

Brock Purdy needs all the help he can get with the 49ers extremely thin at WR, due to Brandon Aiyuk being out for a while, and Jauan Jennings dealing with a contract dispute and a calf injury. Their depth has a lot of injuries as well, and a familiar face in Bourne can help them start hot, so there's no doubt they can likely give him more money if they get desperate. The Commanders can keep him from leaving the facility without a deal when he visits them on Tuesday, though.

Why the Commanders need him

The biggest concern for the Commanders' roster while Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown were out for a long time was how bad the depth was behind Deebo Samuel and Jaylin Lane. McLaurin is back at practice, and Brown is as well, but he has been dealing with an injury for a while. The Commanders need another reliable option in case somebody goes down, and the youth won't be relied on as heavily during the season.

Peters knows Bourne from his time with the 49ers, and he became a solid weapon on offense as an undrafted rookie. Bourne has averaged around 460 receiving yards per year throughout his eight seasons and has 22 touchdowns through the air. He wouldn't be a lead option for the Commanders, but he would be the WR4 or WR5, depending on Lane's impact in his rookie season. Samuel played with Bourne for two seasons, so you also have that connection on day one.

Oct 27, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) celebrates with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) in the game against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports© Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The Commanders need to finish building out their depth in the WR room, and Bourne can play on the outside or in the slot at 6-foot-1 and 205lbs. Having an experienced depth player that can still produce will help, as we saw many times last season with Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown in certain situations. This would be the final piece for a complete team, top to bottom, and the run at a Super Bowl starts next Sunday.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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