Golden Nuggets: Big names available at WR

The NFL combine is officially over and free agency is coming up. The 49ers have needs on both sides of the ball and it is expected that the 49ers will use their #9 overall pick in the draft to either draft a defensive player or offensive lineman. A pass rusher continues to be an area of need and there are good options available in the draft. It is looking like the 49ers will fix their secondary in free agency with Trumaine Johnson, Kyle Fuller, and Malcolm Butler available.

Wide receiver may not be one of the 49ers’ top needs, but it is a spot the 49ers would like to upgrade. They may just be in luck with the news that the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Allen Robinson and LA Rams’ Sammy Watkins will not be franchise tagged by their teams. Both would immediately upgrade the receiver corps and are only 24 years old. Allen Robinson has health issues after tearing his ACL in the 2017 opener and missing the season, but he has been productive when he is on the field.

The 49ers will take a look at both receivers. Getting either man would help Jimmy Garoppolo. The offense had some struggles in the red zone and having a go-to target could alleviate some of those problems, but not all the problems. Signing Sammy Watkins would have the added benefit of weakening a division rival. Watkins and Robinson will be the preferred targets with Donte Moncrief, Taylor Gabriel, and Paul Richardson as other available options to upgrade the wideouts.

49ers links

Looking at pass rushers, OL, or corners with #9 | Good combine for positions the 49ers are looking for (Wagoner)

PFF mock draft (Palazzolo)

2nd biggest need behind cornerback | Upgrading the pass rush (Barrows)

Can’t be outbid by their East Bay rivals | 49ers and Raiders both in on Trumaine Johnson (Williams)

All in on Allen | Allen Robinson (Branch)

49ers will give Allen a hard look (Biderman)

Didn’t have a great season last season, but would be a huge upgrade for Jimmy G | Sammy Watkins could be in the mix (Biderman)

Quite a few good options | Good receiver options available through free agency (Barrows)

Free agency preview (Inman)

Combine quotes (Asher)

And he had a good rookie season | Ahkello helped himself out the most in last year’s combine (Fann)

Aldon Smith turns himself in to police (Alper)

Potential picks (Cohn)

Perfect offseason (Biderman)

Would be a good decision | OL with the #9th pick (Biderman)

49ers audio

Insider podcast (Maiocco)