49ers Sign Former Vikings WR
The San Francisco 49ers fell from grace last year, finishing the 2024 campaign with a lousy 6-11 record, especially by their lofty standards.
A low-key former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver has signed with the San Francisco 49ers, hoping to make the regular season roster later this summer.
So, San Francisco will battle back this summer and fall, hoping to return as a Super Bowl contender as early as this year.
Along the way, Kyle Shanahan and Co. will feature former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Malik Knowles on the 90-man depth chart.
Malik Knowles to the 49ers
Amid a flurry of roster moves, including a Bryce Huff trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco announced the Knowles transaction.
49ers.com published the following: “The San Francisco 49ers today announced that DL Bryce Huff has passed his physical with the team, therefore completing the trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In addition, the team signed WR Malik Knowles to a one-year deal, waived OL Nicholas Petit-Frere and placed WR Trent Taylor on the Injured Reserve List. Knowles (6-2, 196) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2023.”
“He has spent his two-year career with the Vikings (2023-24) and Green Bay Packers (2024). A 24-year-old native of Mansfield, TX, Knowles attended Kansas State University (2018-22) where he appeared in 51 games (39 starts) and totaled 127 receptions for 1,867 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air to go along with 36 carries for 440 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.”
Knowles was a bit of a fan favorite for purple fans in the summers of 2023 and 2024.
San Francisco’s website added, “He earned Second-Team All-Big 12 in 2021. Petit-Frere (6-5, 316) originally signed with the 49ers as a free agent on May 9, 2025, while Taylor (5-8, 178) originally signed a reserve/future contract with the team on January 6, 2025.”
The 49ers’ Complete WR Corps
With Knowles in the house, San Francisco will showcase these pass-catchers at minicamp and training camp:
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Ricky Pearsall
- Jauan Jennings
- Demarcus Robinson
- Jacob Cowing
- Jordan Watkins
- Isaiah Hodgins
- Terique Owens
- Junior Bergen
- Isaiah Neyor
- Russell Gage
- Malik Knowles
It’s worth noting that Aiyuk is currently injured with no concrete return date.
Knowles’ Projection for the Summer
Knowles must fight his way into Cowing and Watkins’ territory to make the cut for the regular season. It may help his cause that Aiyuk is unlikely to be ready for the regular season.
Otherwise, and more realistically, Knowles is probably a practice squad contender in August — his role with the Vikings in 2023.
Other Former Vikings in San Francisco
San Francisco also signed two other former Vikings players this offseason. Kicker Greg Joseph is in the mix to topple once-promising kicker Jake Moody at training camp and in the preseason. Joseph has a puncher’s chance at the post, as Moody has struggled in the NFL, at least by a 3rd-Round kicker’s standards.
Then, last week, general manager John Lynch signed linebacker Chazz Surratt, formerly of the New York Jets. Minnesota drafted Surratt in 2021.
Previous Knowles Takes
At our partner website a couple of years ago, PurplePTSD‘s Kyle Joudry was rather high on Knowles.
Joudry wrote in 2023: “Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 200 pounds, Knowles has a great build for an NFL receiver. During his most recent college season, the receiver put together 48 catches, 725 yards, and a pair of TDs. He also had 8 rushing attempts go for 164 yards — good for a whopping 20.5 yards-per-carry average. Making the rushing numbers even more impressive is that he scored 3 times on the ground.”
“Oh, and one more thing: he was a weapon on special teams, as well. Last season, Knowles had 23 kick returns go for 592 yards (25.7 yard average). Even more impressive are his numbers from 2021. During that season, the receiver had 20 returns go for 662 yards (33.1 yard average) and a pair of touchdowns.”
Knowles will turn 25 this summer.
Joudry concluded two summers ago: “A depth receiver can break into the roster if he impresses both Wes Phillips and Matt Daniels. Having the endorsement from a pair of coordinators is the key. In time, perhaps, Knowles can become that player.”
Mandatory minicamp kicks off for San Francisco in one week.
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