2012 NFL Free Agency: Who Will Prove to Be the Best Acquisition for the 49ers?

In 2011, the 49ers began the rebuilding process under the guidance of savior and now head coach Jim Harbaugh. San Francisco brought in some curious free agents, which had fans hesitant at first. But sure enough, Harbaugh and the front office hit on 90 percent of their acquisitions to some degree or another.

Last season, the newbies acquired through free agency were Donte Whitner, Carlos Rogers, Braylon Edwards and Jonathan Goodwin.

And because of his potential in the league and the 49ers need for a big wide receiver, Edwards was arguably the expected prize of that particular haul of free agents. But like a lot of things in the NFL, things didn't quite work out the way people thought they would.

Edwards didn't work out for San Francisco due to injury and finding his niche in the offensive system. Meanwhile, Carlos Rogers surprised all of us with a terrific 2011 campaign, which earned him his very first Pro Bowl selection in a seven-year career.

Going into 2012, San Francisco attacked free agency in a similar fashion and it could yield similar results. At this point we are left wondering, who will prove to be the best free-agent acquisition for the 49ers in 2012?

The candidates: Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, Brandon Jacobs, Perrish Cox and Josh Johnson.

Moss, 35, is the biggest sign when you look at these five names—he leaps out at you. And according to everything that's come out of the Bay, Moss is on track to being a factor for San Francisco in 2012. But nevertheless, it's still very early to make such assumptions.

Manningham, 25, is in a position to be under the radar—like Rogers—and take the league by surprise by thriving in a new situation. For most of his career, he's been a No. 2 and No. 3 wide receiver—heavily utilized as a glorified slot receiver. However, Manningham believes he's got starting potential and he's finally been given an opportunity to prove it.

The receiving corps needs a boost, and not just short-term.

Randy Moss and Ted Ginn Jr. are on one-year deals and Michael Crabtree is coming to the end of his rookie contract. Manningham signed a two-year deal with San Francisco, giving him plenty of time to adjust, prove himself and earn a new deal.

We know Manningham can provide the underneath threat, but if he can develop his abilities as an overall receiver, as well as building a rapport with Smith, he could be the best acquisition this offseason. One could even argue that Manningham is a better suited receiver for Alex Smith's skill set.

Manningham has also produced at a high level, showing the potential to be a very capable starting wideout in the league. In 2010, he finished 56 yards short of a 1,000-yard season and nine touchdowns to go with.

He even had a long of 92 yards that year.

In 2011, his stats took a hit because of the coming out of Victor Cruz in New York. It wasn't that Manningham wasn't capable, it was just the direction of the front office, and they couldn't afford or persuade him to stay on as a No. 3.

Mario Manningham could very well prove to be the steal of this year's free-agent crop. He has a chance to secure a permanent place with the 49ers if he performs, unlike Moss who is playing under a Super-Bowl-or-Bust situation. Rogers played under similar circumstances as Manningham will be—he had something to prove. 

It's going to be exciting to see how this year's additions pan out in the regular season—which ones flop and which ones get hot. If San Francisco has the same batting average in free agency they had last year, there's more than enough talent here to win a Super Bowl in 2012. 

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