INDIANAPOLIS — The 49ers insist they haven’t talked to the Pittsburgh Steelers about a trade for wide receiver Antonio Brown, and the reason why might surprise you.
It’s not him.
Rather, it’s the 49ers, who are hellbent on finding other ways to upgrade their receiving corps, from free agency and the draft to demanding their returning players “step it up,” as coach Kyle Shanahan put it.
In particular, they want Dante Pettis to make a massive leap, similar to how tight end George Kittle came off his injury-laden rookie season and produced a record-setting Year 2 after a rigorous offseason.