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It was never a matter of if the 49ers would take a wide receiver in the NFL draft, but when.
The 49ers selected Ole Miss wide receiver Jordan Watkins in the fourth round at No. 138 overall. Watkins didn't have a college career to boast about.
However, he is coming off his best college season, during which he came close to eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving. Still, there has to be more to him than that. So, why did the 49ers draft Watkins?
“Love his speed," Kyle Shanahan said. "First thing you notice when you see a guy for the first time, you look at his 40 time, then you watch his routes at the Combine. I thought he was one of the better route runners at the Combine, just with natural receiver skills and everything.
"You watch his hands, he was our best graded-out guy going through the gauntlet and stuff with just true natural hands. Watched his one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl and then to how he played at Ole Miss, talking to [Mississippi head coach] Lane [Kiffin], the whole package. We love the guy. Think he’s got a great skillset and needed to add him to the group.”
It seems Watkins is going to be the 49ers' vertical threat. They have never had a legitimate one before. Watkins can be that. He had an average depth of target of 15.8 yards in his final college season.
The 49ers can use him to stretch the field or find those moderate gains like with Brandon Aiyuk. Demarcus Robinson can also be used that way.
But there is no telling how many games he will be suspended for from a DUI charge in January. Watkins is also younger and controlled for longer.
Maybe he is also another contingency for Aiyuk if he takes longer to recover. Robinson and Watkins can be the fillers since they aren't far off in their play styles.
"We're down numbers with losing Deebo and with B.A., might not be ready right away, we'll see how that goes. But we wanted to add a receiver in this draft. We didn't know where it would be and glad we got him.”
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Report: Steelers turned down wild trade from Commanders for Terry McLaurin
The Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver situation has once again stolen attention heading into the season. The team has DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson ready to lead the way, along with tight ends Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington. That is a solid group of pass-catchers for Aaron Rodgers to work with, but many fans remain concerned about depth and the inevitable injuries that occur in the NFL. In a league where it is truly next man up, even one significant injury can dramatically affect a team’s offensive production. On Tuesday, new details emerged revealing that the Washington Commanders reportedly made a wild trade offer to Steelers general manager Omar Khan. Insider Andrew Fillipponi reported on 93.7 The Fan that a former NFL assistant GM said the offer included a second-round draft pick and Freiermuth in exchange for star wide receiver Terry McLaurin. "But one thing that did get thrown out at me from a guy who used to be an assistant general manager in the NFL, was the following trade proposal: He thinks Washington floated this to the Steelers, and it got quickly shut down.... He thinks Washington pushed for this deal and the Steelers were the ones who laughed at it." Such a blockbuster move would have dramatically reshaped Pittsburgh’s offense, but the team ultimately decided to pass. The Steelers would have been unwise to accept it. Trading a young tight end and a second-round pick for a talented but 29-year-old wide receiver who would demand top-tier money at the position would have been financially imprudent for the organization. That is likely why the team quickly dismissed the idea of such a wild trade. Still, it is intriguing to see that Pittsburgh may have been presented with a path to acquire McLaurin, even if it would have been a bad deal. Steelers' 2025 season set to draw tons of extra attention The 2025 season is drawing a lot of attention, largely due to the addition of new faces on offense, such as Rodgers and Metcalf. The two are expected to form a lethal duo, but concerns remain about the depth beyond Metcalf. That is why many Steelers fans feel that adding one more offensive weapon would provide greater comfort heading into the season. If the Steelers see a good deal that makes sense and improves their roster, they will take it. For now, they appear to be staying patient. Khan is as aggressive as they come lately. He has his eyes set on bringing a Super Bowl back to Pittsburgh. Whether it can happen in the 2025 season remains to be seen. However, anything is truly possible in the NFL.
Packers Veteran May Need Dominant Preseason Finale Just to Make the Roster
The Packers have built a young and ascending receiving corps around Jordan Love, but one of this offseason’s additions may see his time in Green Bay cut short before he even plays a regular season game. Matthew Golden has a real chance of opening the season atop the depth chart, after being chosen in the first round of April’s NFL Draft, Savion Williams will have a role as a rookie, and the likes of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks should all see meaningful snaps as Christian Watson works his way back from a torn ACL. Mecole Hardman on Packers’ Bubble? Meanwhile, it might take a dominant performance from veteran free agent signing Mecole Hardman in the preseason finale against the Seahawks just to make the team. “Hardman signed with the Packers when they had real questions about where speed would come from at the receiver position following Watson’s injury,” Justis Mosqueda writes for SBNation. “Since then, Green Bay has added Matthew Golden (4.29-second 40-yard dash) and Savion Williams (4.48-second 40-yard dash) as top-100 picks in April’s draft. Based on how the offense has deployed Hardman with the first- and second-team units this summer, the offense’s plan for Hardman seems to be to use him as a reserve slot receiver, a role that Jayden Reed starts at and Golden, Dontayvion Wicks and Heath all receive snaps at.” The Packers receiving corps has the chance to stretch the field with Golden and produce some big plays after the catch with Reed, Wicks, and tight end Tucker Kraft. It may be difficult for Hardman to have a role, or even a spot on the roster.
Projected Brian Robinson Jr. trade to Bears gives Commanders big win
The Washington Commanders could be big winners in a projected trade scenario that ships running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the Chicago Bears. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton laid out a proposal in which Chicago would get Robinson, while Washington would receive a 2026 fourth-round pick and guard Ryan Bates. On paper, it’s the kind of deal that helps both sides, but the Commanders may walk away with the bigger haul. Why the Bears Would Make the Deal “As the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator between 2022 and 2024, Bears head coach Ben Johnson built his offense around a robust ground attack. He inherited a roster with D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson as a backfield duo, but Chicago could make a move for a player who’s familiar with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.” That connection is key. Robinson played under Bieniemy when he was Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2023. While Bieniemy wasn’t known for leaning heavily on the run, he still helped showcase Robinson’s versatility. “In 2023, Bieniemy was the Commanders' offensive coordinator. Though he didn’t make a strong commitment to the run game, his offense allowed Robinson to display his pass-catching ability. The bruising 6’1”, 225-pound tailback logged career highs across multiple receiving categories.” For Chicago, the timing makes sense. Johnson is currently sidelined with a foot injury, and even if it’s minor, the Bears may not feel comfortable relying on him as their No. 2 back. Swift has also battled injuries throughout his career, and while rookie Kyle Monangai has earned praise from GM Ryan Poles, it’s a stretch to expect a seventh-rounder to immediately carry a big role. Robinson gives them insurance and a proven starter who knows Bieniemy’s coaching style. Why the Commanders Win Big From Washington’s perspective, the proposed return is what makes this deal intriguing. The Commanders would add a 2026 fourth-round pick, giving GM Adam Peters more draft flexibility down the road. But perhaps more importantly, they’d also get Ryan Bates, a versatile interior lineman who can start at guard. “In return for Robinson, the Commanders should inquire about Bates, who was acquired by the Bears before they hired Johnson and his coaching staff. The versatile interior offensive lineman could start at left guard over Brandon Coleman, who’s moving inside from left tackle.” That’s a big plus for a team determined to build a sturdy line in front of Jayden Daniels. With Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. on the right side, adding Bates would give Washington even more stability. It’s only a projected deal, but it’s the kind of scenario that feels like a win-win. Chicago would shore up its backfield, and Washington would continue to build around its young quarterback. If a trade like this comes together, the Commanders might end up feeling like the biggest winners.
Micah Parsons’ brother might have reignited hope for Cowboys fans
As we approach the final preseason game, the Dallas Cowboys and star pass rusher Micah Parsons are still at an impasse. Parsons has yet to rescind his trade request,despite the front office being adamant they won’t trade him. That’s led to Parsons sitting out of practices, but there could be some renewed hope. While no one from the franchise, or Parsons’ camp, has suggested that talks have picked back up, Parsons’ brother said the superstar defender wants to be out there. Terrance Parsons even said no one realized how badly his brother wants that. “I don’t think people realize how much Micah wanna be out there man.” Beat writer Clarence Hill gave fans more to cling to as he replied to the comment, saying he not only agrees that No. 11 wants to play, but added that “He does not want a divorce.” It wouldn’t be surprising to know Parsons wants to get back to the negotiating table. He was willing to work things out until Jerry Jones pushed him too far. Jones used the media to gaslight fans and attempt to make Parsons out to be the bad guy. Rather than operate in good faith, he tried to gain favor and use that as leverage. Fans lashed out at Jones for that, which he’s used to. He’s not, however, used to players fighting back which might be why the conversation has come to a complete stop. —
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