The San Francisco 49ers face more uncertainty heading into the 2025 season than they’ve experienced in years. Once accustomed to conference championships and offensive dominance, Kyle Shanahan’s team is rebuilding after key departures and a disappointing 2024 campaign.
However, one potential move could give Brock Purdy and the offense exactly what they need to bounce back.
49ers Selected As Top Landing Spot for WR Terry McLaurin
The contract standoff between Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders has reached a breaking point. After posting his best NFL season, McLaurin entered 2025 hoping to secure a new deal with Washington before becoming a free agent in 2026.
Unfortunately, contract talks have not progressed as hoped. The Commanders now worry McLaurin might hold out when the season begins, with a trade becoming increasingly possible if negotiations stall. According to Sports Illustrated, San Francisco represents the ideal destination for the veteran receiver.
“San Francisco enters 2025 with star Brandon Aiyuk returning from ACL surgery and former first-round pick Ricky Pearsall hopeful to make a year-two jump, but could use some additional help for their newly extended quarterback in Brock Purdy,” Mike Kadlick wrote in his article.
This move makes sense for both sides. McLaurin would join an offense suited to his skill set, while San Francisco would add one of the league’s most reliable targets to Purdy’s arsenal.
The quarterback thrives in Shanahan’s system, which emphasizes anticipation and finding space in zone coverage, areas where McLaurin excels.
10th touchdown in 9 games for Terry McLaurin 👏
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/17P3eo19f1— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
What Would This Trade Mean for Both Teams?
The timing of this potential move adds another layer of intrigue. San Francisco already traded Deebo Samuel to Washington earlier this offseason, making a McLaurin-for-Samuel swap particularly interesting.
From the Commanders’ perspective, keeping Samuel while trading away McLaurin would represent a clear downgrade at the position, a puzzling decision given their current trajectory with Jayden Daniels at quarterback.
Meanwhile, the 49ers possess the financial flexibility to make this happen. Kadlick points out that San Francisco currently holds the third-largest cap space in the NFL, giving them room to sign McLaurin to a mid-term extension.
This financial freedom could also signal that Brandon Aiyuk or Jauan Jennings might become available for trade, especially with Ricky Pearsall still playing on his rookie contract.
Between those two receivers, Aiyuk appears more likely to be moved. The star wideout has experienced recent tension with the franchise, and his serious knee injury in 2024 adds another complication to his future in San Francisco.
If McLaurin does join the 49ers, the impact on team projections would be significant. The offense could return to elite status, giving Purdy another weapon to work with as he continues developing in Shanahan’s system.
From a financial standpoint, McLaurin’s current contract averages $22.8 million per season, ranking him just 16th among NFL wide receivers in pay. Any new deal would likely push him past the $30 million per year threshold, putting his salary in line with what Aiyuk received in his recent extension.