Davante Adams was disrespected by the 49ers' offer to him, but they can still go after a proven Pro Bowl veteran wide receiver who'd likely be cheap.
The San Francisco 49ers were one of several teams that expressed interest in acquiring six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams after the New York Jets let him go earlier this offseason.
Adams ultimately signed with an NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, on a two-year deal worth up to $44 million. Then, speaking with The Athletic's Mike Silver, Adams explained how the Niners were interested in his services but were making a "wholesale" kind of offer, not a "retail" type, which he was seeking.
The apparent disrespect jives with San Francisco's newfound modus operandi this offseason: getting younger and cheaper. And the 49ers would have been ripped apart by both media and fans had they given Adams the kind of money he received from L.A.
But, considering the Niners' wide receiver room remains questionable after trading away Deebo Samuel and in the wake of Brandon Aiyuk's torn ACL and MCL last season, it still wouldn't hurt to explore other free-agent options.
Including one player they'd been tied to, previously.
Amari Cooper makes plenty of (cheap) sense for 49ers
A year ago, back when Aiyuk was undergoing a tense period of extension talks that included serious trade speculation, Cooper's name was tossed in as a potential trade chip that could head over to the Bay Area.
The five-time Pro Bowler even publicly stated he "wouldn't mind" playing for San Francisco, if traded by his then-team, the Cleveland Browns. Instead, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the middle of the 2024 season.
Now a free agent, who has seven 1,000-yard campaigns over his career, the soon-to-be 31 year old is still seeking a new home.
The 49ers should be interested, especially if they felt grabbing Adams would help, although it seems much likelier they'll wait until after the NFL Draft and the subsequent dust to settle before making any serious offers.
According to Spotrac, Cooper's market value is a shade below $19 million per season. But, the longer the offseason moves along, the less likely it is he receives a deal in that range.
Cooper might want to wait things out to see if a better deal arises, but it's certainly beneficial for the Niners to at least explore the possibility of another "wholesale" offer to the veteran if there's little other interest elsewhere.
