The San Francisco 49ers have a big problem at the wide receiver position.
What once was arguably the most talented WR room in the NFL has been completely decimated ahead of the 2025 season. The 49ers traded away Deebo Samuel this past offseason. Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall are on the PUP list. Demarcus Robinson is facing a suspension for a DUI case.
The 49ers’ only proven, healthy receiver is Jauan Jennings and he’s in the midst of some serious contract drama with the 49ers and may be traded himself.
Besides George Kittle, who is of course a tight end, 49ers fans and NFL experts are getting really nervous that quarterback Brock Purdy may not have any receivers he can confidently rely on when the 49ers take the field for Week 1.
The next men up for the 49ers are Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins. They’ve both shown flashes of great talent but Watkins is a rookie and Cowing is a second year player who hasn’t carved out a consistent role in San Francisco yet. They’re both young and unproven.
The 49ers need an insurance policy if one or both of them doesn’t work out, especially while Aiyuk gets healthy.
Fortunately, a report from trusted 49ers insider Matt Maiocco suggests that help is on the way for the 49ers at wide receiver. On Monday July 21, 2025, the 49ers reportedly held a tryout for several receivers, which means they should be adding a player to that room soon.
“The 49ers today had tryouts with six wide receivers: Equanimeous St. Brown, Quintez Cephus, Grant DuBose, Ramel Keyton, Stanley Morgan and Brandon Powell,” Maiocco wrote in a post on X.
The Niners Should Target The Veterans In That Group
Equanimeous St. Brown is the name that is going to make the most headlines within that group of receivers that the 49ers held a tryout with.
St. Brown hasn’t had a spectacular career by any means but has made 28 NFL starts. Since his career began in 2018 he has played for three teams, hauled in 63 catches for 928 yards and two touchdowns.
That includes the 2022 season with the Chicago Bears when he made 16 starts.
St. Brown is also noteworthy because he is the brother of Detroit Lions superstar receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The St. Brown brothers have many fans who would love to see Equanimeous get another shot in the NFL with San Francisco.
The most experienced and reliable receiver on this list, who should be the favorite for the 49ers to sign, is Brandon Powell. Powell has played in all 17 games each of the last three seasons as a rotational wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.
His best season was in 2023 when he racked up 324 yards on 11.2 yards per catch and scored 1 touchdown with Minnesota.
That’s exactly what the 49ers need; a reliable, veteran wide receiver who they can trust to be healthy and moderately productive when called upon. Powell fits the bill, with St. Brown being a good second option.
The Wild Card Pick
Admittedly, however, it would be a great story for the 49ers to sign Grant DuBose.
DuBose was a zero star wide receiver out of high school with no offers coming into his senior year. He eventually signed with Division II Miles College, the only school to offer him 10 days before signing day.
He served as a backup receiver who only amassed 104 receiving yards his freshman year in DII.
DuBose then saw his sophomore season canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he worked several part time jobs that year to support himself. He was able to transfer to Division I FBS School Charlotte ahead of the 2021 season.
In 2021, he broke out with 892 yards and 6 touchdowns. He followed it up with a similarly productive year in 2022, with 792 yards and a program record-tying 9 scores.
That was just enough to earn the consideration of NFL teams, and the Green Bay Packers took a chance on DuBose in the seventh round with the 256th pick of the 2023 NFL draft.
DuBose spent one season on the Packers practice squad before Green Bay released him. Ge subsequently signed with the Miami Dolphins. He broke through on the Dolphins active roster during the 2024 season.
But tragedy struck on December 15, 2024 when DuBose suffered a terrifying head injury after a helmet-to-helmet hit by Houston Texans defender Calen Bullock. DuBose had to spend several days in the hospital recovering.
If DuBose is able to find a home with an NFL team this season and has a breakout year, it would be an incredible story for a receiver that has been overlooked and dealt with adversity his whole career.
What do you think, 49ers fans? Should the 49ers sign St. Brown, Powell, DuBose or someone else?
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