Report: 49ers' Shanahan is a fan of rumored trader Johnson

Report: 49ers' Shanahan, a fan of rumored trader Johnson, originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If history is any indication, it is that the 49ers could have a deal or two up their sleeve before the NFL trade deadline on November 5th.

What position will they address and what big steps will they take? That remains to be seen, but 49ers President of Football Operations/General Manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have a track record of executing impactful in-season trades.

One position San Francisco could target is wide receiver after star wideout Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 49ers' Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

And one player they could target is Carolina Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson, who Shanahan is a fan of, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday.

“There are some options that make sense (for the 49ers),” Rapoport said. “I know Kyle Shanahan likes Diontae Johnson. But looking at the roster and speaking to sources aware of the situation, I'm not so sure they'll make a trade. Of course they’ll explore, but the 49ers really like the receivers they have on the roster.”

Johnson was traded to Carolina from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason and had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in a miserable Panthers offense in seven games this season.

The 28-year-old receiver had the best season of his career with Pittsburgh in 2021, where he recorded 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns while earning his only Pro Bowl honor.

Speaking on a conference call with local reporters on Monday, Shanahan was asked about the 49ers' injuries at wide receiver and whether the team would look to address the position before next week's trade deadline.

“It’s not necessarily just about addressing certain positions. “You look at what’s available that you think can help your team get better,” Shanahan said. “And if there's something out there that we think can help our team get better immediately without affecting us going forward, then that's something we're always looking at.”

As Rapoport reported, the 49ers like their in-house options at the position, and as Shanahan told reporters on Monday, the team expects injured outside hitter Jauan Jennings to return following the team's bye in Week 9.

San Francisco's offense will also get a huge boost if pass-catching running back Christian McCaffrey is able to return to the field for the Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.

In the meantime, the 49ers will explore their options on the trade market, which could include Johnson.

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