The wide receiver position will be one of the top priorities the 49ers will address this offseason. After a postseason of struggling production, the 49ers have to find a way to find a receiver to add an explosive element to the team.
Who can help give some depth to Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams? Joshua Morgan and Ted Ginn are scheduled to hit the free agent market and bringing both of them back may be a possibility. The 49ers have expressed interest in bringing Morgan back and after the special teams miscues in the NFC Championship Game, Ginn's versatility would be needed.
But the team still needs that explosive wide receiver that can change games. Crabtree had started to break out towards the end of the regular season but he has yet to command a huge presence on the field just yet.
With that in the mind, the 49ers will have to get a new receiver this offseason that can be that explosive wide receiver. Here's a list of receiver that will hit the free agent market on March 13 that could potentially be on the 49ers' radar.
(The franchise tag for wide receivers is $9.4 million for next season).
KC- Dwayne Bowe: This has been the name that has linked to the 49ers the most recently. Bowe has the size (6'2", 221 pounds) and background of being the type of receiver the 49ers are looking for. When the ball is thrown his way, he has great concentration, good hands and can challenge the defensive backs. But would he be motivated to be part of an offense that might not allow him to produce the same numbers he had last season? He's still likely the 49ers' top choice and the 49ers could very well pursue him.
SD- Vincent Jackson: With his 6'5" frame, Jackson is in my opinion the best fit for the team. He can stretch the field, outjump the defensive backs and is a great physical presence. Jackson, however, will be looking for a huge contract and the 49ers will not be able to afford one. Plus, it seems likely that the Chargers will be able to retain him.
PHI- DeSean Jackson: Jackson would become the team's punt return specialist and that would take care of that issue. But will his 5'10" frame be what the 49ers are looking for? What Jackson does is stretch the field and that home run factor would be great for the 49ers offense. But is this offense going to suit that kind of play? Especially with the baggage that Jackson carries, he might not be the best fit.
NE- Wes Welker: Not really the kind of receiver the 49ers are looking for. Welker has excelled in the slot and I believe that he'll return to the Patriots.
NE- Deion Branch: Aging receiver could be a nice addition, but probably not that top receiver option 49ers want.
NO- Marques Colston: One of Drew Brees' top targets and would be a tremendous fit for the 49ers. But the Saints will not allow one of their best weapons walk away without a fight.
NO- Robert Meachem: This could be a much more likely possibility for the 49ers. Meachem won't demand a lot of money and still has potential to be a top receiver. Under New Orleans' offense, he was always a secondary option but he still put up solid numbers. If the 49ers aren't going to try to spend too much, Meachem might be a strong option.
BUF- Stevie Johnson: His built is similar to Dwayne Bowe's size. Johnson will be able to stretch the field tremendously and he might be a great choice. The problem with Johnson is that he has had issues with holding onto the ball and his touchdown celebration antics has caused unnecessary attention. Would that be a good fit for the 49ers?
STL- Brandon Lloyd: It would be a nice storyline but it seems unlikely. Lloyd excelled in his short time in St. Louis. But with Josh McDaniels gone, will Lloyd want to stick around? It appears that Lloyd has burned too many bridges in San Francisco to allow a return.
IND- Pierre Garcon: Still young and was on his way to blossoming into a solid receiver with the Colts. He has #1 potential in his arsenal and maybe the 49ers can afford his services. How will the Colts approach Garcon's value? Could they franchise tag him just to give their new quarterback a reliable target to throw to?
IND- Reggie Wayne: The 33-year old may have a couple years left in the tank, but how effective will he be away from Peyton Manning? This past season, he still made 75 receptions but it was clear that Wayne's value has gone down. Would the 49ers want to invest in an aging veteran to be their best receiving option?
NYG- Mario Manningham: If given the chance to be #1 on a roster, he can be just that. He might come cheap in the market and the 49ers could look in that direction. It might be the fact that Manningham has so much untapped potential that the 49ers could try to make him into their top receiver. He's still young and could be worth a serious look.
NYJ- Plaxico Burress: Burress was scheduled to visit the 49ers last offseason before he changed his mind and joined the Jets. He showed this past year that he is back into football shape and can be a top receiver again. But at age 34, is he worth the risk?
DAL- Laurent Robinson: Fantasy owners love this guy and at age 26, he could be a very solid option. But because of his breakout season, some team might overpay him. In fact, the Cowboys might not way to lose one of their best receiving options. I think potentially a franchise tag might be used by the Cowboys. But if they don't, another team might offer some good money his way.
CIN- Jerome Simpson: His off-field incident might be too much for the 49ers to want to take on. He has talent to become a solid receiver, and his size is perfect, but he carries a lot of baggage that may not fit into Trent Baalke's plan.
AZ- Early Doucet: Could the 49ers go with the young, potential route on this one? Doucet might not emerge as a major star receiver in the league but if he tags up with Crabtree, the 49ers offense now has two similar types of weapons to stretch the field. If the 49ers aren't going for the top dogs, then Doucet might be the kind of receiver they're looking for.
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Here's my guess. If the 49ers go with their patient approach like they did last season, Manningham, Doucet and Meachem could be the team's options. But if they want to go big, Bowe seems to be the likely fit for them.
Has this past season convinced these wide receivers that the 49ers are the best fit for them? There will be a lot of negotiations going on to convince these receivers and their agents to come to San Francisco.
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