The 49ers’ desperation and struggle for a wide receiver started when Deebo Samuel asked for a trade. The former 49ers’ star WR1 took his 49ers jersey off and opted to go out of the city, and eventually landed in Washington. But since his departure, the 49ers are looking for the best suitable weapon for Brock Purdy for the 2025 season and more, if the WR performs well. The search for WR took another turn when Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp slipped from Kyle Shanahan‘s hands. But there is one more option that can be a great fit for Purdy.

This $136 million wide receiver landing in San Francisco is Amari Cooper, who is still in free agency. No NFL team picked him up after his stint ended with the Bills. Josh Allen‘s franchise refused to have Cooper back, and that’s why the Jets and the 49ers are, reportedly, interested in 5-time Pro Bowler. 

The last time Cooper entered into Pro Bowl games was in 2023 when he was in Cleveland. This was the last year he played his finest football. In the 2023 season, Copper played 15 games. In those 14 games, he managed to receive 78 receptions at 128 targets while covering 1,250 yards. That means Cooper averaged 17.4 yards per reception. And he also made 5 touchdowns. After that year, the Browns traded him mid-season, that is, after 6 games, to the Bills. In the past season, he played 14 games and hardly managed to receive 48 passes at 85 targets, averaging at 11.39 only. 

But the wide receiver still has that skill, which he used to showcase during his Dallas days and Cleveland days. The 10,000-yard wide receiver’s New York Giants game on September 22, 2024, was great. He managed to get 7 receptions at 12 targets for 86 yards and also scored two crucial touchdowns to show the world he is in the building despite crossing the  30-YO mark. 

But Cooper wasn’t the first option. The 49ers actually wanted to add either Cooper Kupp or Davante Adams to Brock Purdy’s weaponry. Let’s dive deep know Kyle Shanahan’s two wide receiving failures. 

Davante Adams or Cooper Kupp could have been with Brock Purdy 

On March 10, 2025, Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers were open to trading wideout Brandon Aiyuk for Cooper Kupp. And city was buzzing with the potential entry of a star wide receiver. But with the Rams, he had an average annual salary of $26,700,000. And that’s also with two years remaining on his contract. Multiple sources advised the 49ers to avoid the Kupp trade. However, the Seahawks rushed to sign Kupp, ending his chances with Purdy. 

Before that, Kyle Shanahan had a chance to trade for Davante Adams. In early March 2025, Ian Rapoport reported that if the Jets couldn’t find a trade partner, they were expected to release Adams. However, the 49ers reportedly want to go younger this season, which may explain why they passed on the 32-year-old wideout. The Rams ended up replacing Cooper Kupp with Adams, and just like that, another receiver slipped through the 49ers’ fingers.

Despite missing out on both Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams, the San Francisco 49ers still secured a $136 million receiver to support quarterback Brock Purdy. That said, trade options remain on the table, and Amari Cooper could still be a realistic target. With Cooper’s experience and skill, he could give Purdy a significant boost. Will the 49ers make a move?