SF 49ers: Ranking the Available Free-Agent Wide Receivers

It’s not a secret that the 49ers have a solid core of players in key areas such as defensive front and secondary, linebacking, kicking and offensive line. And going into the offseason there will be some assessments and changes, but nothing major save for one position — receiver.

The general consensus is that an upgrade at this position would add a dimension that lifts them to the league’s elite.

But due to their 13-3 regular season record and their playoff win, they won’t draft in the top 30 so getting a spectacular athlete like Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon seems out of the question. Expecting other collegiate players to step in and provide that game-breaking, big-play capability seems a stretch in that they are not an A.J. Green or Calvin Johnson, that big (as in 6’5”) fast, sure-handed talent.

Thus the Niners have to look elsewhere around the league. The good news is that there’s cap room. The bad news is that offerings range from too expensive to too moody to too something. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 free-agent receivers available come March 13.

Vincent Jackson

The lead dog in this race is the 6’5” veteran who averaged an eye-opening 18.4 ypc and tacked on nine TDs. The former Pro Bowler has said he prefers to stay in San Diego. Well he should. He’s got Phillip Rivers throwing to him and Malcolm Floyd on the other side. It’s a grass stadium, good weather (which means you can throw in December and January) and the division seems ready for the taking.

Nonetheless, there’s the chance that someone could offer $38 million over four years (though the real deal would be three years with guaranteed money being about $24 million). A team like Cleveland, who should be drafting a quarterback like Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden in the second round, might want to sync him with a big-name player like Jackson.

Though he has the size, he turns 30 next year and doesn’t bring the type of explosiveness found in elite receivers such as Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green and Larry Fitzgerald.

Verdict: He’d be an upgrade but most likely will be too expensive.

Stevie Johnson

The four-year vet really came into his own in Buffalo. He has started 28 of the last 32 games and averaged 13.1 yards per catch in that span for a total of 170 receptions (six receptions per game). He looks small but he’s 6’2” and 210 pounds, so he can fight press coverage.

Of note, the former Kentucky star went against Darrell Revis twice this year. Revis allowed only 24 receptions through most of the 2011 season and Johnson had 11 of them. That’s what you get when you’re one of the best route runners in the game.

Johnson may be seeking something in the neighborhood of four years $36 million and Buffalo, thinking he’s not top-notch receiver stuff, might offer something like $7 million per year. There’s a good chance that the Bills could franchise him, but that doesn’t mean he’s not willing to listen. That’s where the 49ers come in.

For a team with decent cap money, this is the player they might want to take a long, hard look at if they can convince him to leave his Plaxico Burress dance in Buffalo.

Verdict: For the right deal ($22 million for three years?), the 49ers might want to lure him on basis of high Super Bowl hopes.

Dwayne Bowe

The five-year vet out of LSU has been the Chiefs’ offensive threat and the totals for his career (352 receptions in 75 games) average out to just under five receptions per game. His career ypc is 13.8, but he spiked in 2010 at 16.1 when he had 15 TDs, good for a trip to Honolulu.

His size (6’2”, 221) makes him more of an intermediate receiver, and he doesn’t have that back-back-back speed that you find in someone like DeSean Jackson of the Eagles. Dependable, sure-handed but not a game-breaker.

Verdict: Worth a look at the right price. ($17 million for three years?)

Marques Colston

The six-year man seems to be a product of having played with one of the great quarterbacks of the era, Drew Brees. At 6’4” and 221 pounds, he has the height and the hands for Brees to find him at any spot on the field. It’s a credit to Colston that he developed as he did, but his emergence into one of the game’s best receivers dovetails with Brees’ development of Sean Payton’s offense.

In other words, it would seem stupid for Colston to leave. From the 49ers' perspective, it seems unwise to spend $25 million over three years on a player who wouldn’t be as effective in their system.

But then again, Brees is a free agent as well. He has said he is sure he’ll sign with the Saints, which seems only the best thing he could do. But if he leaves, Colston should pack himself into Brees’ suitcase and go with him.

Verdict: No.

Plaxico Burress

At first glance, it seems laughable in light of the team structure that Harbaugh put together. (Consider this, as high-profile as NFL players are, no 49er until Aldon Smith has had an off-field incident that made headlines. Smith broke the barrier with his apparent DUI-arrest last week.)

That’s why Plax and Harbaugh’s blue shirts seem so wrong. But then, the Niners sniffed last year and made him an offer, but he went to the Jets. Good thing, too. Because as his legs went dead, so did his numbers.

Drafted in 2000, he’s had 10 years in the league (and two in jail) and has been impressive. At 6’5” he’s an easy red-zone target. He averaged 13 yards for the Jets in 2011 but his career average is 15.4. He also had 16 TDs for the Giants in 2007, the year they won the Super Bowl.  Eli Manning went to him for the game-winning catch in that game.

For all that, he turns 35 in August.

Verdict: No.

Pierre Garcon

He had 70 catches for the Colts in 2011, which right there is something that deserves an award. For diligence at least. I mean, he had Jim Somebody throwing to him.

But his numbers in 2009 (47 receptions and a 16.3 ypc) suggest he’s a good third receiver (who benefited by having Peyton Manning throwing to him), compared to his 13.5 ypc and six TDs in 2011.

Verdict: Not even close to what the Niners need.

Michael Spurlock

The Tampa Bay receiver was a former Niner. That’s not enough to warrant attention.

Verdict: No

Eddie Royal

The four-year vet doubled as a receiver and kick returner for the Broncos. It’s a bad year for Denver receivers to enter the free-agent market because they had Tim Tebow throwing to them, hence the low numbers.

He played 12 games in 2011 and averaged 8.2 yards per catch (thanks, Tim!) on 19 catches (thanks again!). He’s 5’10", and thus not a game-breaker but a third-slot guy.

Verdict: Not unless they sign someone else.

Early Doucet

The Cardinal receiver was better with his mouth than his hands against the Niners at Candlestick, but he did rack up 54 catches at 12.8 ypc and five TDs when he had All-World Larry Fitzgerald on the other side. This was all for a team that was, to say the least, less than stellar in the passing game.

He also plays special teams and can return kicks. Not what the Niners need.

Verdict: No.

DeSean Jackson

The other big name on the free-agent list. The numbers suggest a mention earlier, but let’s run them down.

He averaged a league-best 22.5 yards per catch in 2010 on 47 receptions, and also had six TDs. In ’11, he had 58 catches at 16.6 ypc and four TDs, all during a year when he went into a self-inspired sulk about his contract.

He’s an even better return man than Ted Ginn Jr and has four punt returns for TDs. In 2009, he averaged 15.2 yards per punt return and a 10.6 career average. With San Francisco's solid special teams, Jackson’s impact would give them huge field-position advantage.

But he’s a head case with a long history of quitting (see University of California, 2007). And he’s going to want big money. At the same time, he’s only 5’10" and 170 lbs. Fast he is. Electric he is. A threat to score in the red zone? Not so much. Willing to block downfield? Not so much. Willing to go to the media if he doesn’t get the ball? Very much.

 Verdict: Not unless he offers major contract concessions.