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49ers Reportedly Interested In Trading For Broncos' Brandon Lloyd

The San Francisco 49ers are 5-1 and in a great place within the confines of the NFC West, but they're very thin at wide receiver, with Michael Crabtree being the only healthy "starter." Reports are coming out saying they are interested in Denver Broncos' wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who is on the trade block. For more on the trade and the team, go to Niners Nation, SB Nation's San Francisco 49ers blog.

By James Brady
Getty Images

Lost in all the excitement about the San Francisco 49ers and their thrilling win over the undefeated Detroit Lions on Sunday was the news reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports that the 49ers were one of the teams interested in Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who is reportedly on the trading block.  The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, but with how thin the 49ers are at wide receiver, it makes a lot of sense. Braylon Edwards has been hurt, and though he looks to return after the bye week, they are still without Josh Morgan, who was recently placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Glazer also noted that the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots are also interested in acquiring Lloyd. SB Nation Bay Area has been hearing rumors about the 49ers interest in Lloyd, including the strong feeling that Lloyd would "love" to return to the Bay Area and the 49ers. This is all unconfirmed, but with Glazer reporting the team's interest, it's worth noting.

As stated, he would be "returning" to San Francisco, as they're the team that drafted him in 2003, with a fourth-round selection. Lloyd under-performed and was shipped off to the Washington Redskins, and hasn't had a big season until last season with the Broncos, where he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,448 off of 77 receptions, with 11 touchdowns. He's currently the leading receiver for Denver for this season.

But the team is in rebuilding mode, and a 30-year-old receiver on the last year of his contract doesn't speak much to the future of the organization, so if they can move him and his modest salary, all the better for them if they can get a draft pick out of it. The 49ers would likely try and extend him sooner rather than later if they acquired him, but it's still too early to even gauge their interest or even Lloyd's.

The 49ers are 5-1 and still have five games to play against the NFC West this season. They have to feel as though they're in a great place to win the division, and it's all about how they consider their position ... do they make the trade to assert their dominance and add another weapon, or do they go with what's working, and bank on a healthy Edwards and a rising Michael Crabtree as the team's primary targets?

We'll just have to see.