Will the 49ers Trade Up for Brian Thomas Jr.?

Shanahan is aggressive when it comes to wide receivers. Remember, he traded up for Aiyuk. So if he sees one he really likes, he'll go get him.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU / Scott Clause / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 49ers need a wide receiver and Kyle Shanahan has high standards for that position. Will they trade up for someone special? Someone such as LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Next year, both Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings will be unrestricted free agents, and Deebo Samuel could get traded if the 49ers want to free up more than $9 million in salary cap space. So they need young wide receivers they can develop into starters, and they currently have none who fit that description.

The upcoming draft will have an outstanding class of wide receivers, so the 49ers could stand pat at pick no. 31 and take a good one. But Shanahan is aggressive when it comes to wide receivers. Remember, he traded up for Aiyuk. So if he sees one he really likes, he'll go get him.

Brian Thomas Jr. seems like a wide receiver Shanahan would really like. He's 6'3", he runs a 4.33 40-yard dash and he's a terrific route runner. In those ways, he's similar to Julio Jones, whom Shanahan coached for two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons. Shanahan often says Jones is the best receiver he's ever coached, so if he finds an opportunity to coach a similar player, I doubt he'd hesitate.

Thomas Jr. currently is projected to get drafted in the top 20, so if the 49ers really want him, they probably will have to trade Aiyuk to get him. But that's a trade the 49ers might welcome, considering Thomas Jr. is bigger, faster, younger and cheaper than Aiyuk.

Stay tuned.