49ers, Cardinals predicted to battle for key trade pickup

Billy Heyen

49ers, Cardinals predicted to battle for key trade pickup image

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals both have franchise quarterbacks in place and want to compete for an NFC West title.

To do so, they might need a bit more help.

Bleacher Report's Matt Holder actually thinks they need the same one piece to push themselves over the top: a veteran wide receiver.

In a limited market out there, the 49ers and Cardinals could wind up competing for the same guy (maybe a free agent like Keenan Allen, or a trade later in camp).

"The Cardinals enter the 2025 season as a sneaky team that could surprise some people," Holder writes. "However, the offense could afford to add some depth at wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. That might be just what Arizona needs to be a contender in the NFC West this year."

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The 49ers are a bit more up in the air, just because of Brandon Aiyuk's injury uncertainty and Jauan Jennings' contract uncertainty.

"The 49ers are in an interesting spot with their wide receivers," Holder writes. "Brandon Aiyuk will start training camp on the PUP list and may not be ready for Week 1, while Jauan Jennings recently gave the club an ultimatum for a new contract or a trade. That could force San Francisco to lean on the position group's depth at the beginning of the 2025 season, so adding another wideout should be on the table for John Lynch."

The Rams and Seahawks should both be competitive as well. This should be a fun division.

It could take one move to make all the difference.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle