NFL Trade Deadline 2019: 5 Landing spots for A.J. Green

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

3. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are a running team at heart. Jimmy Garoppolo is a decent quarterback, but he’s not what makes the offense run. The 49ers’ ground game ranks second in the NFL, racking up 179.8 yards per game. Only the Ravens, who are running for 205 yards per game, rank higher in that category.

In contrast, the 49ers rank 21st in passing yards per game with 228.2. Part of that is on Garoppolo. He currently has seven touchdowns and five interceptions this season, which isn’t a good ratio and wouldn’t inspire the team to throw the ball more often. However, Garoppolo doesn’t exactly have a lot of receiving options either.

Not surprisingly, George Kittle is leading the 49ers with 338 receiving yards. Kittle, who was a Second-Team All-Pro last season, is the only recognizable threat in San Francisco’s pass attack though. After him, the team’s next best receiving threat is Marquise Godwin, who has 181 receiving yards this season. That’s only an average of 36.2 yards per game.

While San Francisco has been able to live with a mediocre pass attack and solid rushing game, against the best run defenses in the NFL, such as Baltimore, Chicago, New England, and Philadelphia, the team will need a premier wide receiver. Kittle can’t be asked to shoulder the entire burden of the passing game in clutch situations.

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