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It is no secret the 49ers could use help at the wide receiver<\/a> position this offseason.<\/p>\n With Brandon Aiyuk set to be released or traded this spring<\/a>, and second-year pro Ricky Pearsall playing just nine games this season due to a lingering knee injury, plus Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne both hitting unrestricted free agency, San Francisco has plenty of uncertainty at the position heading into the offseason.<\/p>\n So, who should the 49ers target, and should they focus on adding through the draft, free agency, the trade market, or all three? However they go about bolstering the position, legendary 49ers wideout Jerry Rice believes the team needs at least one specific type of receiver.<\/p>\n “We got to have a burner, we got to have someone that can take that layer off the top, because you become predictable, and defensive coordinators, they get a feel for you, and they know that we only throw the ball over the middle or we’re going to throw the ball to the outside,” Rice told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on Thursday at Super Bowl Radio Row. “You’ve got to be able to throw it over the top.<\/p>\n “Back in the day, Bill Walsh said, ‘Hey, look, even if we don’t make this connection, we’re still going to throw it deep to let the opposing defense know that, hey, we’re not afraid to go deep,’ and I think we need to start doing more of that.”<\/p>\n While many 49ers fans and analysts believe the team should swing big and pursue a potential blockbuster trade for Minnesota Vikings superstar wideout Justin Jefferson, the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year doesn’t fit the “burner” archetype Rice believes San Francisco’s offense needs. <\/p>\n But hey, why not both?<\/p>\n Whether it’s through a trade, free agency, or the draft, the 49ers should have options out there to retool an offense that showed great potential this season when healthy.<\/p>\n Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n