49ers bring back Trent Taylor after 3 years with Bengals, Bears

The man, the myth, the legend, Trent Taylor, is heading back to Santa Clara. The 49ers announced Tuesday that they had signed the former 49ers to a one-year deal.

The following comes from the 49ers:

"The San Francisco 49ers today announced the team has signed WR Trent Taylor to a one-year deal.

"Taylor (5-8, 178) was originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (177th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over his seven-year NFL career with the 49ers (2017-20), Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22) and Chicago Bears (2023), he has appeared in 78 games (three starts) and registered 87 receptions for 834 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor has also appeared in seven postseason games. In 2023, Taylor appeared in 17 games for the Bears.

"A 29-year-old native of Cookeville, TN, Taylor attended Louisiana Tech University where he played 53 games in four seasons (2013-16) and finished with 327 receptions for 4,179 yards and 32 touchdowns. He finished his collegiate career ranked first in school history in career receptions (327) and second in both receiving yards (4,179) and touchdowns (32)."

Taylor, clearly, will be brought in as a camp competitor, and more likely, a familiar face that the 49ers could have interest in keeping on their practice squad. He could have an outside chance to make the roster as a punt returner, given the departure of Ray-Ray McCloud.

Taylor did most of his work as a returner over the past two seasons, returning 56 punts for an average of 9.4 yards per return. His 10.30 punt return average ranked sixth in the NFL in 2022 with the Bengals, before dipping to a 20th-best 8.17 yards per return last season, one spot behind McCloud.