There has been some chatter this offseason about the 49ers need to acquire a veteran wide receiver to mix in with the young group of receivers they have. Well, it turns out the 49ers did make at least one effort to add a veteran. According to Ian Rapaport of the Boston Herald, the 49ers had actually asked for and been given permission to try and work out a trade with the Bengals for Chad Ochocinco.
I'll be honest, I did a double-take when I saw that on Twitter. The 49ers were interested in Ochocinco? I'm not saying that's a good or a bad thing, but I certainly didn't see it coming. The Raiders were also granted permission, which was kind of random. Although the Raiders do enjoy their supposedly washed-up veterans.
If the 49ers had acquired Ochocinco, his 2010 numbers would have been good for second behind Vernon Davis. It was last year so that means next to nothing, but it's at least worth a note. The important thing to glean from this information is that the 49ers apparently are actually in the market for a wide receiver. It could have just been a singular interest in Ochocinco, but I'd be more inclined to believe they're in the market for a veteran wide receiver to pair up with Crabtree, Morgan, Williams and the other young receivers on the roster.
Do they try and make a splash with someone like Braylon Edwards, or do they play this a bit more conservatively? I have nothing to indicate they're interested in Edwards, but rather am just throwing out a name. James Jones is also out there and was sort of linked to the 49ers due to his practicing at San Jose State this offseason. Maybe he is on the radar?