The San Francisco 49ers are set to trade away star wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and an intriguing internal replacement is gaining traction: Terique Owens, son of NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens. Though Owens went undrafted, he impressed during training camp and has spent most of the 2024 season on the practice squad. Columnist Tim Kawakami highlights that the Niners may not feel the need for a veteran receiver, suggesting confidence in several young talents, with Owens being a notable name.

Despite not having targets in the preseason, Owens has reportedly shown promise in practice, making him a potential candidate to step up in Samuel's absence. The team appears to believe Samuel's best days are behind him, citing his struggles with weight and his performance last season. Kawakami implies that the loss of Samuel may not be as significant as expected, as he did not contribute much in the previous year.