Three wide receivers Steelers could look to add through free agency

Kendrick Bourne

A fan-favorite in the Bay, San Francisco’s own Kendrick Bourne will be a bit more difficult in retaining, but still possible. Currently, an RFA, meaning a team has the option to put a first, second, or original round tender or a right of first refusal (the original team has to match the new offer, but receive no compensation if they opt-out), Steelers will have to come with an offer convincing enough to the 49ers.

The good thing for any team that has kept a close eye on Bourne, is that he went undrafted & yet to perform up to the level worth giving up a first or second for. Could the Niners still place that tender? For sure, but expect no suitors and that could be the reason why they do it if it happened.

WR Emmanuel Sanders was a nice pickup for Kyle Shanahan’s offense that only opened the game for Deebo Samuel & Bourne, but is set to become to UFA. What should be a beneficial market for Sanders, the 49ers are currently at $12 million in available cap space with DE Arik Armstead in need of a new contract as well.

Possibly hard to compete with what the league offers, they could do the same in keeping Bourne who proved to be a viable option heading forth. Much didn’t change between the last two years in Bourne’s stats other than that he reeled in more catches and had less receiving yards in 2019, which would attribute to the additions of Samuel & Sanders.

On the plus side, he increased his catch percentage by 6% and of his 6 targets in the red zone, 5 resulted in TDs. An emerging player in the NFL who’s role should only increase as time moves on, Bourne’s reliability & work-ethic on & off-the-field is more than enough to bet on.

Although, Bourne will find himself in a battle even with a likely Sanders departure as the 49ers are set for the returns of Jalen Hurd & Trent Taylor. So, how much do the 49ers exactly value KB?