Chosen Returns! 49ers Bet on Veteran WR Amid Youth Movement

On Sunday August 3, 2025 the San Francisco 49ers announced they signed free agent WR Robbie Chosen. 

Chosen, 32, was previously known as Robbie Anderson and briefly as Chosen Anderson. He joins a 49ers wide receiver room that has dealt with a lot of tumult and a lot of turnover in recent weeks. 

In a corresponding move, the 49ers cut WR Marquez Callaway, who they just signed on Thursday July 31, 2025. 

Chosen is the latest of several wideouts that the 49ers have brought in recently. Equanimeous St. Brown, Quintez Cephus, and now Callaway have all been signed and cut in a matter of days. The 49ers also signed WR Andy Isabella on Thursday July 31, 2025. 

Robbie Chosen Is A Former NFL Superstar 

The 49ers may have brought in several wide receivers in recent days, but clearly none of them are more accomplished or more experienced than Robbie Chosen. 

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Temple University, Chosen is a 9 year NFL veteran. Those nine years include several star years with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. 

His best NFL season was with Carolina in 2020. That year, Chosen hauled in 95 catches for 1,096 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Only very good NFL receivers ever make the 1000-yard club, so with that distinction, it’s clear Chosen was one of the top pass catchers in the NFL, even if it was for a short while. 

In total, Chosen has accumulated 5,087 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his career. 

But since 2022, his last season with Carolina, Chosen has struggled to find a permanent home or role. The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins both have given him a shot, but he didn’t carve out consistent playing time in either place.

Chosen has actually also been with the 49ers once before. On August 12, 2025, Chosen signed with the 49ers during the preseason. The 49ers cut him just a little over two weeks later, on August 27, 2024, when they set their 53-man roster. 

What Does Chosen Bring to San Francisco? 

Even if Robbie Chosen may not be the same receiver he once was, he still brings valuable experience to the 49ers. 

Fans have clamored all offseason for the 49ers to sign a player like Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper. Yes, because both of them are great receivers, but also because the 49ers wide receiver room is young and in desperate need of veteran leadership. 

Second year players Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing and rookie Jordan Watkins are all expected to have a massive role for the 49ers at the WR position this season. 

Plus, one of the 49ers’ veterans, Jauan Jennings, is dealing with a contract dispute and reportedly an injury. 

Brandon Aiyuk has reportedly done a great job helping out the young 49ers wide receivers during training camp, but as an injured player himself, he can’t do it all on his own. Having a veteran wideout, who knows that it takes to have a 1,000 yard season, taking reps with the young guns in the lead up to the season could prove very valuable. 

Chosen can provide that veteran leadership at a price cheaper than someone like Allen or Cooper, which is admittedly a consideration for the 49ers after their salary cap crunch this offseason.

What do you think of the Robbie Chosen signing, 49ers fans? Are you glad the 49ers are giving him another shot in the NFL?