JUST IN: Will the 49ers trade up to get Brian Thomas Jr.?

The 49ers require a wide receiver, and Kyle Shanahan has big expectations for him. Will they trade up for someone special? Someone like Brian Thomas Jr., an LSU wide receiver.

Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings will be unrestricted free agents next year, and the 49ers might deal Deebo Samuel to open up more than $9 million in salary cap space. So they need young wide receivers who can develop into starters, but they don’t have any right now.

The 2019 draft will feature an amazing class of wide receivers, so the 49ers might stay put at pick 31 and choose a decent one. However, Shanahan is aggressive when it comes to wide receivers. Remember that he traded up for Aiyuk. So if he sees one that he likes, he’ll go get him.

Shanahan appears to have a strong preference for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. He’s 6’3″, runs a 4.33 40-yard dash, and is an excellent route runner. In those aspects, he is akin to Julio Jones, whom Shanahan coached for two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Shanahan frequently claims Jones is the best receiver he’s ever coached, so I doubt he’d pass up an opportunity to train a player like him.

Thomas Jr. is presently anticipated to be chosen in the top 20, so if the 49ers really want him, they will likely have to move Aiyuk to acquire him. However, given that Thomas Jr. is bigger, faster, younger, and less expensive than Aiyuk, the 49ers may be open to the move.

Stay tuned.

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