Brandon Aiyuk’s season-ending knee injury puts the San Francisco 49ers firmly in the front of the line for teams in need of wide receiver help.
They may look to find that help in the trade market, but the best available wide receiver may not be a player they’re able to get.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on Tuesday reported the Los Angeles Rams are open to trading star WR Cooper Kupp, and they may be willing to take on some of his salary to execute the trade.
It’s hard to find a deal that makes more sense for the 49ers from a football and financial standpoint. Kupp, 31, is an outstanding, versatile WR who would fit in any offense, much less one as loaded as San Francisco’s. He’d also give quarterback Brock Purdy a reliable go-to target in the short and intermediate areas of the field.
He’d be affordable too, especially since the Rams are willing to take on some of his salary.
The overarching problem here is the Rams are in the NFC West and intra-division trades rarely happen, especially when they involve a player of Kupp’s caliber.
San Francisco might have a shot if there weren’t other WR-needy teams that might be willing to unload a second-round pick (or more) for Kupp. The Pittsburgh Steelers could use help at WR. So could the Kansas City Chiefs. Both of those clubs are not only not in the division, they’re not even in the conference.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are another club that may now be in need of a top-end WR following injuries to their top two receivers in Week 7.
Fortunately for the 49ers there should be a handful of quality receivers available for trade that can help them make up for Aiyuk’s absence. They’re just unlikely to be in the mix for perhaps the best trade target at the deadline.
