San Francisco 49ers bring back one of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's first draft selections

The San Francisco 49ers are just over a week out from the eighth draft of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era, but on Tuesday they brought back one of the first selections made by their head coach and general manager.

San Francisco has re-signed wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, which was confirmed after first being reported by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

Taylor was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round of their first draft under Shanahan and Lynch in 2017. He spent four seasons with the team before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. Taylor spent last season with the Chicago Bears.

A significant part of the offense in the early seasons of Shanahan's tenure, Taylor missed the 49ers' Super Bowl run of 2019 having been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. He did, however, get to play in a Super Bowl at the end of his first year with the Bengals, suffering defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Since leaving the 49ers, Taylor has served primarily as a punt returner, and that is likely the role for which he will compete as he reunites with fellow 2017 fifth-round pick George Kittle, the San Francisco tight end with whom he has remained close friends.

The 49ers have an opening for a new return man having seen Ray-Ray McCloud leave for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

San Francisco ranked 24th in punt return average last year with eight yards per return. Taylor averaged 8.2 last year but has a career average of 9.4 and averaged 10.3 as recently as 2022 with the Bengals.