San Francisco’s wideout room is in flux as Week 1 nears, with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list and Ricky Pearsall likely stepping into a key role alongside Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and DeMarcus Robinson. The 49ers reportedly tried to land John Metchie III from Houston before he ended up with Philadelphia, a move that would have given Purdy a dynamic upgrade. Metchie’s Alabama pedigree and leukemia comeback add intrigue, but San Francisco will keep scanning the trade block and monitor roster cuts for fresh help. Purdy’s target tree could shift dramatically if Pearsall, Cowing, or Watkins seize increased snaps early, potentially reshaping Week 1 projections against Seattle.

In the Metchie scenario, the 49ers would’ve benefited from a high-upside lottery ticket for 2025, with the Texans’ former second-round pick carrying Alabama-era playmaking potential. Philadelphia’s acquisition of Metchie for a 2026 fifth-round pick and Harrison Bryant underscores how teams value lottery-ticket WR depth, and it highlights how close San Francisco came to adding a player who could have altered Purdy’s ceiling this season. With Aiyuk sidelined initially, the path to competitive WR production for Purdy remains open, contingent on health and on which unproven receivers seize opportunities in practice and early-season games.