Randy Moss: San Francisco 49ers Add Insurance for Enigmatic WR with A.J. Jenkins

When the San Francisco 49ers signed Randy Moss to a one-year deal this offseason, it resembled their signing of Braylon Edwards before last season: Give a talented but enigmatic receiver a short-term deal, and if it doesn't work, cut him.

But unlike last season, the 49ers have a backup plan in place in case Moss tanks. His name is A.J. Jenkins, and he was selected No. 30 overall in the 2012 NFL draft.

The 49ers didn't have a legitimate downfield threat last season. This season, they have two wideouts in Moss and Jenkins who could potentially be just that. 

A lot of people questioned the 49ers drafting Jenkins at No. 30 overall. He was largely regarded as a second-round prospect, plus the 49ers desperately needed a guard. But the selection of Jenkins actually makes a lot of sense when you think about the 49ers needing a downfield threat and Moss being a question mark.

Sure, the 49ers could have drafted speedy Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill, but Jenkins was actually more productive in college, coming off a season in which he racked up 90 catches, 1,302 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Moss, as you may remember, played for three different teams in 2010 after three highly productive seasons with the New England Patriots. He wore out his welcome in Boston, then wore out his welcome in Minnesota, then wore out his welcome in Tennessee. As recently as 2009, he had 83 catches for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns.

With the signing of Jenkins, the 49ers are essentially covering their tracks. All they will really ask Jenkins to do is fly down the sideline, so if Moss bombs, they still have a legitimate option downfield.

Maybe Jenkins wasn't a legit first-round prospect, but he fills a need and provides depth in the receiving corps for the 49ers. In that sense, it was a smart move to draft Jenkins.

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