The San Francisco 49ers have been in the news a lot in recent weeks as trade rumors have been swirling around the franchise. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel requested a trade before the 2022 NFL Draft and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been shopped throughout the offseason but had to undergo surgery.
As of now, both remain on the roster. The 49ers don’t want to trade Samuel, but Garoppolo is someone they would like to move as they are ready to give the starting quarterback job to Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Outside of those trade talks, this is a roster that is pretty much set and ready to get things going for the upcoming season. However, they could look to add a few more veteran additions throughout the summer as depth.
One position that they could consider making a move at is tight end. They have one of the best in the business in George Kittle, but adding another veteran behind him would make a lot of sense.
Jared Cook is someone that could appeal to the 49ers. Cook had a productive season with 48 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He is entering his age-35 season, but he showed last season that he still has plenty left in the tank, appearing in 16 games.
Adding some insurance behind Kittle is never a bad thing, as the addition of Cook would also help diversify the formations that Kyle Shanahan can use offensively. Last season, the 49ers used 12 personnel, one running back and two tight ends, the least of any team in the league, using it only 10 percent of the time.
Part of that can be attributed to having a versatile fullback in Kyle Juszcyzk, who the team loves. It is also because Ross Dwelley isn’t much of a threat as a pass-catcher, reeling in only four passes for 51 yards. When he is on the field, it is most likely to be used as a blocker.
Cook would provide a little more variety given his pass-catching ability. Kittle has also missed at least two games in the last three seasons, so Cook would provide a capable replacement compared to someone like Dwelley as he can be a factor in the passing game.
