San Francisco 49ers helmet shown on field.San Francisco 49ers helmet (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly close to signing a former Washington Commanders star tight end to bolster their depth on offense.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of “finalizing a deal with” ex-Commanders tight end Logan Thomas, who was released in a cap-saving move earlier this offseason.

Thomas will join a San Francisco offense that isn’t short of star power, including offensive tackle Trent Williams, running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle.

A fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2014, Thomas began his career as a quarterback, seeing limited action in two games as a rookie. After bouncing around several teams’ practice squads, he secured a spot on the Buffalo Bills as a tight end, playing in 12 games during the 2017 season.

Thomas really made a name for himself when he had a career year with Washington in 2020 by racking up 72 receptions for 670 yards and six touchdowns.

Unfortunately, injuries limited Thomas to 20 total game appearances over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season, he finished with 55 receptions) 496 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

Now, Logan Thomas gets the chance to pursue a Super Bowl as he tries to help the San Francisco 49ers get over last season’s devastating big game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

A Savvy Pickup By The San Francisco 49ers

You can never have too much offensive depth in the NFL these days, and Logan Thomas can only be an upgrade over the other TEs on San Francisco’s roster.

Thomas won’t see too many touches with the 49ers already boasting four superstar-level skill position guys on offense, but his experience and leadership could be valuable factors in the team’s quest for a Super Bowl title.

Both Aiyuk and Samuel have been widely mentioned in trade rumors this offseason. If one of them gets traded, then a spot could open up for Thomas to enjoy a bigger role in two TE sets.

REPORT: AFC Contender Expected To Land 49ers Superstar WR Deebo Samuel Or Brandon Aiyuk In Blockbuster Trade

Deebo Samuel (left) and Brandon Aiyuk( (right) talk during game.
An AFC contender is reportedly inching closer to completing a trade for one of the San Francisco 49ers’ two superstar wide receivers, Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.

Both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have been widely mentioned in trade rumors throughout the 2025 offseason. Samuel has two years left on his deal, while Aiyuk is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

During his appearance on “The Joe Starkey Show”, Pittsburgh Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the AFC North club “will have a” new wide receiver by September. Fittipaldo opines that it will be either Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk:

“They will have a number two receiver on their roster come September, who is not on their roster now…I think it will be either Aiyuk or Samuel. I think there is another shoe to drop out there in San Francisco, they have too many good receivers.”

The Steelers traded their No. 2 wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, to the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster deal that brought veteran cornerback Donte Jackson over to Steel City.

GM Omar Khan hasn’t made any big WR splashes via trade or free agency this offseason, but he did use the No. 84 pick on promising Michigan product Roman Wilson. But with the 49ers seemingly listening to offers on both Samuel and Aiyuk, the opportunity is there for Khan to find George Pickens’ sidekick and take this offense to another level.

Deebo Samuel Is A More Realistic Trade Candidate Than Brandon Aiyuk

Brandon Aiyuk is the younger and more explosive wide receiver, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where 49ers GM John Lynch prioritizes keeping Samuel over the 2020 first-round pick.

Aiyuk was San Francisco’s top wide receiver last season, and he’s two years younger than the injury-prone Samuel. By trading the 28-year-old, the 49ers would clear $22 million in cap space for 2024 and just over $17.568 million for 2025, per OvertheCap.com.

Regardless, both Samuel and Aiyuk would make significant impacts on a Pittsburgh offense that needs more playmakers. Pickens displayed signs of growing into a superstar last year, but a No. 2 WR is necessary if Pittsburgh is to contend in the crowded AFC.