2012 NFL Free Agents: Does Randy Moss to the San Francisco 49ers Make Sense?

Randy Moss rockin’ the Red and Gold, huh.

It’s safe to say I hear the boo birds of incredulity loud and clear.

49er fans recall all too well the failed experiment that was the corpse of Braylon Edwards. A one-year, incentive-laden deal for a wide receiver with delusions of grandeur, looking to showcase his self-purported viability as an elite NFL playmaker.

And, not so much.

I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt regarding his knee issues, but the lack of effort and attitude problems he displayed were inexcusable. Case in point: he got straight up cut by the team with the least amount of depth at the receiver position in the league. (Brett Swain may have endorsed the move.)

Back to Randy Moss.

The former All-Pro wideout desires a return to the NFL, evidently to a “winning team.” 

He uttered that desire in September of last year, and reiterated as much on a recent Ustream feed. Well, in the form of a, “Hopefully I [just] get on a team” sort of way. 

And regarding said team, why not the San Francisco 49ers?

Let’s lay out the five-faceted scenario.

Chiefs Place the Franchise Tag on Dwayne Bowe

With the signing of ex-Raider Stanford Routt, Kansas City will likely allow Brandon Carr to walk in free agency.

That, in turn, deems Bowe—arguably the team’s highest priority this offseason—as the franchise player.

He stays in KC. Take Bowe off the list of possible free-agent wide receivers for the 49ers.

Ramifications of this move include…

Raises the Price on Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace and Marques Colston

Even before Bowe will ostensibly receive the franchise tag by March 5, Jackson would have commanded a top-dollar contract.

Those familiar with his situation are keenly aware of his propensity for holding out for the lucrative deal. Now, it’s almost certain the asking price for Jackson rises substantially.

The same applies to Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace.

Rumors are already circulating that the Steelers will place a first-round tender on their restricted free agent. Knowing the way Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh approach free agency, parting with the 30th pick in the draft seems rather dubious.

As for Colston, expect his stock to inflate substantially. His numbers while playing for the Saints are rather staggering, Drew Brees or not. Expect Colston’s agent to demand top-dollars for his client as well.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee sees Baalke and Harbaugh passing on any receiver when the price tag exceeds their preliminary valuation, as had occurred with the free-agent pool of cornerbacks last year and signing of Carlos Rogers. 

I see this happening with a wide receiver as well.

Stevie Johnson, Bills Bridge the “Far Apart” Gap

Johnson and the Bills are currently in disagreement over a suitable contract.

The consecutive 1,000-yard wideout might ask for upwards of $10 million per, while the team has allegedly scoffed at the idea of using a franchise tag on him, one that would cost them nearly the same amount ($9.4 million).

So, why would I consider the possibility of Johnson staying in Buffalo?

Stated simply, the Bills cannot afford to lose such a productive receiver when their lone strength is the passing game in the absence of running back Fred Jackson.

Do you think QB-WR hybrid Brad Smith qualifies as a No. 1? David Nelson? Naaman Roosevelt??

Johnson stays put in Buffalo.

DeSean Re-Ups in Philadelphia

Despite being one of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL, DeSean Jackson also is one of the most disreputable of characters (on the field, that is).

Even Harbaugh would lose patience.

And the Eagles have set in motion a certain contract restructuring that frees up cap space for signing the disgruntled star.

He remains in Philly.

49ers Take a Flyer on Moss, Sign/Draft WRs

The 49ers blatantly lacked a legitimate deep threat at the receiver position in 2011.

In his heyday, Moss was arguably one of the best to have ever played the game. He was patently terrifying to defend and without equal at his position. Taller, faster, stronger—you name it. Catching touchdown passes were his forte.

Then there’s the other side of Randy, the man who indulges his fancy for taking plays off. Many say he quit on the Raiders in 2006, Vikings and Titans in 2010, and overtly broke the team rules in New England in the same year.

I just don’t see this happening at this stage of his career, especially in San Francisco. Harbaugh and the hard-nosed 49ers will keep him in line, punch him in the mouth if he cuts off a route or alligator-arms an over-the-middle-pass, and mold him into their blue-collar mentality.

I foresee Frank Gore and Patrick Willis really having a positive impact. And the guy simply wants to play, 4.3 40 or not. (It also doesn’t hurt that the Niners are Super Bowl contenders.)

Baalke could sign Moss to a low-risk, one-year deal based primarily on incentives, and turn around and sign another second-tier free agent not demanding an exorbitant multi-year deal. Reggie Wayne (Colts), Laurent Robinson (Cowboys), Jerome Simpson (Bengals) and Robert Meachem come to mind (just to name a few).

The Niners GM could then draft a receiver in the first round (Mohamed Sanu), second round (Marvin Jones, Stephen Hill), third round (Dwight Jones, Joe Adams) or even one of the later rounds (Marvin McNutt perhaps).

Signing Moss, avoiding the highest-profile free agents—thereby being able to afford multiple talented WRs—and selecting wideouts in the draft makes sense financially and allows the team to veritably stockpile players at the position.

Who knows, maybe this leads to the possible signing of prized free-agent right guard Carl Nicks.

Moss catching lobs in the end zone and Nicks giving time for Alex Smith to throw it up.

This possible dream scenario is giving the inner Niner fan in me butterflies. I wonder how the rest of 49er fandom feels about the possibility…