It's no secret that 49ers quarterback Alex Smith could use a little help from his "friends".
Despite signing Darrell Jackson, who led the Seahawks in 2006 with 10 touchdowns and 956 receiving yards, San Francisco coach Mike Nolan watched as the Niners' aerial game sputtered in 2007.
Fifth-year wideout Arnaz Battle led the team with 600 yards—perfectly acceptable production for a second-option receiver in a pedestrian offense, perhaps. Considering the failure of his teammates Jackson and fellow FA addition Ashley Lelie, Battle's numbers weren't enough for a franchise that hoped their two FA signings would form one of the NFC West's speediest tandems.
Jackson, who missed only a single game but suffered all season from nagging hamstring injuries, reached the end zone just three times.
Lelie, who signed a two-year, $4.3-million deal in the offseason and was expected to land a starting job, stumbled to his worst season of his career, with a mere 10 catches for 115 yards.
Nolan won't get a chance to address his team's personnel needs, of course—that job belongs to newly promoted general manager Scot McCloughan, who hopes to reignite San Francisco's offensive fire without shoving any players down the coach's throat.
And though his free-agent options at wide receiver seem woefully thin—once you look past the mercurial Randy Moss, that is—McCloughan needs to bolster his receiving corps with at least one veteran addition.
Here are a few names he might consider...
Bernard Berrian, Chicago Bears
While Berrian, 27, is unlikely to be confused with Moss anytime soon, he remains the second-best wideout in this spring's pool of unrestricted free agents.
He posted career bests in receptions (71) and receiving yards (951) this year, and though he had four fewer catches of 40-plus yards than he did during his '06 campaign, Berrian boasts sure hands to match his blazing speed—a combination that should appeal to pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Drew Carter, Carolina Panthers
A four-year veteran whose rookie season was erased by a knee injury, Carter, 26, has the speed to be an elusive force in the NFL, even if he lacks the physical presence (and, possibly, the desire) to go over the middle.
With four touchdowns in 2007, he outscored Jackson and Lelie combined, and the Niners could do worse than providing Smith with a legitimate deep threat with star potential.
Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints
After posting 745 receiving yards and five touchdowns in '06, Henderson suffered a dramatic regression this past season. Then again, so did the rest of the Saints—especially first-round pick Reggie Bush, who did little to open up the passing game with his lackluster rushing.
It's a little early to give up on the 25-year-old Henderson, who still averaged 20.5 yards per catch during a frustrating year for the boys from the Big Easy.
Andre' Davis, Houston Texans
3 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Dave Nemetz about 1 year ago
What about Chad Johnson to the Niners? Another article today suggest he'll be in Oakland, but previous reports had SF eyeing him.
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Nicholas Freund about 1 year ago
Chad Johnson is more likely than Moss, that's for sure.
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Michael New about 1 year ago
I'd love to see Chad Johnson in a Niners uniform. But first, we need some new offensive lineman! The passing game doesn't exist in San Francisco because their QB is running for his life the second he drops back to pass. It's got to be the most pathetic offensive line I've ever witnessed in my 28 years of being a Niners fan.
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