T
he 2025 NFL season is nearly here. By the end of July, all 32 teams will have begun training camp– with preseason set to begin not long after that. For some teams, 2025 will be all about staying among the elite and proving that they have what it takes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. But for other teams, such as the San Francisco 49ers, this season will be about returning to prominence after a rough go-around in 2024.
But in order for the 49ers to return to the playoffs– and possibly the Super Bowl– they will need to make sure that they put together the best team possible so that they have a shot. Revamping their wide receiver core, the franchise will go into the season with a lot of questions regarding that group– hoping that players such as Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings can step up and shine. But could the 49ers add some more help before Week One?
Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen Could Fit with the 49ers
CBS Sports writer, Cody Benjamin, believes that with the 49ers shorthanded at wide receiver– with Brandon Aiyuk expected to miss the start of the season as he rehabs from a torn ACL, they could benefit from adding a veteran player like Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper and not have it cost too much. Both players have been superstars during their careers and after down seasons in ’24, they could look to revive their careers on cheap contracts.
“The 49ers used the first waves of free agency to purge rather than collect big names, but neither Allen nor Cooper would likely cost a ton at this point of the offseason,” Benjamin said. “Yes, San Francisco’s wide receiver corps is theoretically set for the long term with both Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall in tow, but the former is still recovering from a serious injury, and Pearsall only has 11 NFL games under his belt. After securing Brock Purdy for the long haul, it’s not hard to envision Kyle Shanahan wanting to give his young quarterback added insurance out wide, especially in the form of a proven route-running possession target like Allen or Cooper.”
Allen, who is 33-years-old, is coming off of one season with the Chicago Bears where he caught 70 passes for 744 yards and six touchdowns. Cooper, who spent 2024 with both the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills, finished the campaign with 44 catches for 547 yards and two touchdowns.
How Allen and Cooper Could Help
Allen and Cooper are both on the older side for wide receivers, but they have proven that they can be impact players when needed. Despite slipping to the No. 3 role towards the end of last season in Chicago, Allen still was a valuable for rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, and was vital in helping rookie Rome Odunze adapt to the NFL. Allen could be that guy in San Francisco for guys like Pearsall and Jennings who are looking to become the No. 1 pass catching options for the 49ers.
Cooper had more of a down season, but a large part of that was due to being traded midseason. In his last full season with one team in 2023, he caught 72 passes for a career high of 1,250 yards and five touchdowns. While he is on the opposite side of 30, heading into his age-31 season, Cooper is still young enough where he can put together a good season and if the 49ers sign him, he could help make up for the lost production of Aiyuk early on.
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