With recent free agent moves, the San Francisco 49ers are adding a familiar face to their wide receiver group. Trent Taylor returns to Kyle Shanahan’s offense after two years in the Midwest. Taylor has not been with the 49ers since the 2020 season, spending two years with the Cincinnati Bengals and one season with the Chicago Bears. However, according to Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz, Taylor plans to return to Santa Clara, California. “Source: #49ers and WR/PR Trent Taylor have agreed to terms on a contract that returns him to the team that drafted him. “A reliable punt returner who spent last year with the Bears and was with the Bengals in 2022,” Schultz wrote in the April 16 edition of X. “Trent Taylor, aka Quality Time, is back in the Bay! The #49ers bring back a fan favorite.” Although Taylor’s playing time was primarily limited to kicks and punt returns, 49ers fans will remember how he played a role on offense during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. However, it remains to be seen what his role will be in San Francisco in 2024.
Trent Taylor’s NFL career In his final two seasons at Louisiana Tech, Taylor became a local sensation. As a junior, he had success with 1,282 receiving yards, but in 2016 he had an impressive 136 catches for 1,803 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Still, Taylor fell in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. As a 6-foot-1, 180-pound player, his size was always a question mark. Seven seasons later, Taylor is still in the league. During his rookie season, Taylor was used relatively frequently on offense. He totaled 430 yards and two touchdowns. However, throughout the 2018 season, he was gradually removed from the 49ers’ offense, and his production was essentially cut in half. Since then, Taylor has had 18 receptions and 189 yards. However, he was always the best returner on the teams he played on. Taylor has returned 112 punts in his career, averaging about 9.4 yards per return.
This could be part of Shanahan’s new plan after the NFL changed its kick return rules. Taylor’s lateral movement and volatility could make him the perfect returner in a new setup.
Brock Purdy talks about 49ers WRs
While San Francisco acquires Taylor, it’s highly unlikely it has anything to do with Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk and the 49ers are in contract negotiations for the final year of his rookie contract, and quarterback Brock Purdy sent a message of support to the receiver. “I just told him I’ll always have his back and support him in everything he does,” Purdy said, according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News. “This is a business matter, so it’s outside my pay grade to comment on it.” That’s probably the right attitude, because there’s not much good to take on either side. But the idea of the 49ers losing Aiyuk, who formed an impressive bond with Purdy last season, should worry 49ers fans.
