Young wide receiver’s emergence could ease 49ers’ needs ahead of trade deadline

Jordan Watkins has made a strong case to fill a need in the 49ers’ depleted receiving group, raising the possibility that the team may look elsewhere before the trade deadline. In San Francisco’s 38-17 win over the Raiders, the second-year receiver scored his first career touchdown and showed he could handle a bigger role.

The 2025 fourth-round pick caught four passes for 86 yards, including a contested 37-yard touchdown. Over the past two games, quarterback Brock Purdy has targeted him 10 times and Watkins has made seven catches; previously, Purdy had thrown to him only six times across eight games. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Watkins had taken a “huge step forward”, while stressing the team would still consider upgrades.