2012 NFL Free Agents: San Francisco 49ers Should Sign WR DeSean Jackson

The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the best turnaround seasons in recent memory. 

They are heading in to the postseason currently as the No. 2 seed in the NFC and have one of the best defenses in the league. While their 2011 run has been impressive, they still have flaws on their roster.

The 49ers are one of the worst passing teams in the league by yardage. They are currently ranked 29th, averaging only 181.7 yards per game through the air. In a league where teams are turning to the pass first, this number is disastrously low.

The only teams that have less include the St. Louis Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars who rank among the worst teams in the league. The only other team worse than the 49ers is the Broncos who run their option offense based around Tim Tebow.

For a team that is 12-3, that is some poor company to be associated with.

While it is too late to make a huge impact on that passing game this year, it is something that the 49ers will need to address this offseason. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has at least publicly committed to Alex Smith as their starting quarterback, so there won't be major change there.

The next best option is to give Smith as many weapons as possible.

Who better than the explosive DeSean Jackson?

Jackson has had no issues making his displeasure with his contract public as he held out from training camp to start the year and has continued to voice his opinion on the matter. It is appearing less and less likely that Jackson will be in an Eagles' uniform come the start of the 2012 season.

With Santonio Holmes setting the market for wideouts last offseason, Jackson could be looking for a contract that would offer about $10 million per year. That is the easy part. 

Jackson will certainly want a contract that provides him with substantial guaranteed money and one that is short enough for him to score another pay day. With Jackson's build and an injury history a cause for concern, I'm not sure that the Eagles will be willing to lay that much money down on the line.

This then takes us to free agency.

The San Francisco 49ers have some nice building blocks already in their passing game. Michael Crabtree is an excellent, physical wideout who is only going to continue to get better. Tight end Vernon Davis is an athletic freak with a skill set that gives any defenses issues. The addition of a deep threat like Jackson makes for one very scary passing attack.

The 49ers whiffed with the signing of Braylon Edwards this offseason. Their next best option is Ted Ginn Jr. who certainly has the speed to be a deep threat, but he is better suited for kick and punt returning. 

The 49ers current offense is built around Frank Gore and pounding the ball right at opposing defenses. Gore has been fantastic this year, but the 49ers will only be able to get away with this offense for so long. They need to make defenses respect both parts of their offense.

Alex Smith is having one of the best years of his career in 2011, but he has been turned into a game manager. San Francisco's offense is not designed to put the pressure on Smith's shoulders to drive them down the field. 

Defenses are going to continue to stack more and more defenders in the box until the 49ers can show a consistent passing threat. DeSean Jackson is the perfect fit for this situation.

Even with his injury history and down year in 2011, Jackson still has the elite speed and playmaking ability to turn any catch into a touchdown. He is the kind of player that defenses can't afford to let get behind them. 

With Jackson lining up with Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, you will see an offense that can attack you on any part of the field. It will allow Jim Harbaugh to open up the playbook for Alex Smith and take some shots downfield. Not only will this lead to more scores through the passing game, it will keep up the effectiveness of the rushing attack.

Teams won't be able to put eight men in the box to stop Frank Gore if they don't have a secondary that can cover that trio. 

Obviously, any team that plans on taking a run at Jackson this offseason will have the same concerns as the Eagles. Jackson is a very small wideout who has taken his fair share of bumps and bruises over his brief career. His history of concussions raises even more concerns as the NFL continues to toughen their rules on playing with them. 

However, there comes a time where teams need to take a shot. 

The 49ers have a great team that is still improving. They have so much young talent on both sides of the ball that they should be at the top of the NFC West for the foreseeable future. Adding a 25-year-old wideout like Jackson only pushes the chips further all in.

San Francisco knows better than anyone how quickly things can change in the NFL. You can never assume that the success you have this year will translate over to the next. As an NFL team, you need to always be looking two or three steps ahead if you want to stay on top. 

For the San Francisco 49ers, DeSean Jackson is that step.