Kendrick Bourne has been the sole loss of free agency so far for the San Francisco 49ers, who have otherwise done an excellent job of keeping their key players.
Bourne, who blossomed under Kyle Shanahan from undrafted free agent in 2017 to one of the most dependable targets in San Francisco passing game, elected to sign with the New England Patriots.
He inked a three-year deal worth $22.5 million, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Despite the hugely impressive progress Bourne has made in his career, the Niners were never likely to compete with that price in an offseason where they have made Trent Williams the highest-paid left tackle in NFL history.
They have had to focus their attention on more pressing needs, meaning sourcing a replacement for Bourne will likely be a focus for San Francisco in the 2021 NFL Draft.
What direction could the 49ers take?
While the 49ers could form a devastating trident if a receiver like DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle fell to them with the 12th overall pick in the first round — giving them the opportunity to add an elite talent to a group already featuring Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel — the more probable scenario is that they use one of their day-three picks to fill the void Bourne has left.
And in another deep receiving class, they will find plenty of viable options on the board.
Bourne’s impact came predominantly on third down and in the red zone. When the space got tight or the 49ers had their backs against the wall, Jimmy Garoppolo could count on him to get open or make a contested catch.
It will take somebody who can engineer separation with his route-running and make tough plays at the catch point to replace Bourne, and here we look at three players who fit the bill.