San Francisco 49ers' Top Free-Agency Targets at Wide Receiver
The San Francisco 49ers are not likely going to make any splashy free-agent signings this offseason.
San Francisco is pressed up against the NFL salary cap. According to Over the Cap, the 49ers' top 51 contracts in 2015 will amount to $146,863,694. This does not include contracts for pending free agents or account for potential contract restructures that could take place in coming months.
The 49ers will benefit from a likely increase to the cap next season, and they will carry over a small amount of 2014 cap space into 2015. But this gives general manager Trent Baalke only a little wiggle room in free agency.
But the 49ers are going to have a substantial need this offseason: an upgrade at the wide receiver position. San Francisco's passing offense ranked No. 30 in the NFL in 2014 with just 3,063 yards.
Additionally, the 49ers will likely part ways with wideout Michael Crabtree this offseason. The former No. 1 target for quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to hit the open market, and San Francisco's cap restraints will likely force the team to not re-sign the veteran.
Speculation would suggest that Baalke solves this need via the draft. But what if the 49ers looked to the free-agent market as a means to upgrade this position?
The ideal candidate would have playmaking ability and come at the right cost. On top of those attributes, a wide receiver would have the one element missing from San Francisco's passing game in recent seasons: speed.
Those are difficult criteria in targeting a potential free-agent acquisition.
But the 49ers could feasibly strike gold with a player who could provide a boost to a position needing sufficient help.
Brandon Lloyd
1 of 5
Let's start our list with a player who is already familiar with the 49ers offense.
Veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd might not be the splashiest of free-agent signings this offseason, but he would benefit from one year working with members of San Francisco's offense and quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The 33-year-old wideout posted just 14 receptions for 294 yards and one touchdown in 2014. But with the yearlong struggles of tight end Vernon Davis, Lloyd was essentially the lone deep threat the 49ers offense had over the course of the season.
"Colin @Kaepernick7's longest TD passes of the season: 80 yards to @mrblloyd 76 yards to @AnquanBoldin
— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) December 28, 2014"
Lloyd made $1.005 million in 2014 after sitting out from football the year prior. Considering his age, it's unlikely he would make much more than what he got this season.
A return to the 49ers would also depend on the new scheme implemented by whoever takes over as offensive coordinator.
But if the 49ers want a veteran presence who still has some athletic prowess on the cheap, they could do worse than re-sign Lloyd.
Torrey Smith
2 of 5
If the 49ers wanted an established player with speed to burn, they could target Baltimore Ravens wideout Torrey Smith this offseason.
The cost may prevent this, given that Smith is about to cash in on his first contract after his rookie deal, but the former 2011 second-round draft pick does possess that speed element which the 49ers are coveting.
"WATCH: @TorreySmithWR turns on the afterburners & shows off his speed during practice. http://t.co/yZufqG76ZJ pic.twitter.com/SxlxNWB16F
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 11, 2014"
Smith posted 767 receiving yards on 49 receptions in 2014, which doesn't suggest he'll be a top-paid wideout. But his 11 receiving touchdowns will likely increase this figure. Would the 49ers be able to afford that?
The 26-year-old veteran counted for $1,078,392 against the cap last season, but his 2015 contract will be much higher.
If the 49ers could figure out a way to make this work, the offense would have that deep threat that it needs.
Brandon Tate
3 of 5
A cheaper version of Torrey Smith would be Cincinnati Bengals wideout Brandon Tate.
Like Smith, Tate has speed to burn and could help take pressure off other 49ers receiving targets such as Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson.
He also wouldn't come with a high price tag.
Tate made just $730,000 in 2014 and posted 193 yards on 17 receptions for the Bengals. But the 27-year-old former third-round pick might be able to contribute in a different offense with some different weapons.
The veteran has never posted more than 500 receiving yards, which keeps his cost low.
The 49ers need inexpensive options.
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Cecil Shorts
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Another strategy the 49ers might explore is targeting a solid playmaking wideout who has spent the majority of his career on a bad team.
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts fits the bill.
Shorts posted just 53 receptions for 557 yards and one touchdown for the lackluster Jaguars in 2014. The lack of talent surrounding him means that his numbers took a substantial hit. That hit means his price tag won't be that high during the offseason.
The four-year veteran counted for $1,541,845 against the Jaguars' cap this year, and his numbers probably won't inflate that much. But the talent and speed are both there.
"Just perusing the list of prospective NFL FAs to be, @49ers need to take a long look at Jags' WR Cecil Shorts and Den's TE Virgil Green.
— Larry Krueger (@sportslarryknbr) January 3, 2015"
Shorts would have the chance to make some plays on an offense that has far more weapons than what he experienced in Jacksonville. That alone could provide some motivation for him to make some big plays when needed.
Kenny Britt
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Another player who hasn't had the luxury of consistently good quarterbacking is St. Louis Rams wideout Kenny Britt.
At 6'3" and 215 pounds, Britt has the combination of size and speed that would make him a legitimate deep threat and a target in the red zone—another area in which San Francisco needs help.
The 26-year-old veteran has flashed plenty of talent, albeit for a Rams team that has not had much consistency under center. In 2014, Britt posted 48 receptions for 748 yards and three touchdowns. One of those came against San Francisco.
"Rams WR Kenny Britt left wide open by #49ers defense, and he turns it into a 21-yard TD reception. Game is tied at 10.
— Steve Corkran (@CorkOnTheNFL) November 2, 2014"
Britt counted for $1.375 million against the Rams cap in 2014. He'll likely receive a raise to a certain extent next season, but it shouldn't be something the 49ers wouldn't be able to work into their plans.
With him, San Francisco would have an established wideout who could help take the top off opposing defenses. It would also be a surefire way to avoid another first-round draft debacle like the one that beset general manager Trent Baalke in 2012 when the 49ers selected wide receiver A.J. Jenkins.
Even though some of these targets are enticing, the 49ers are still likely to pursue a wideout early in the 2015 draft.
But finding another NFL-ready option at the right price in free agency wouldn't hurt. The only question is how such a player would fit into the 49ers' financial situation moving forward.
All records, statistics and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Spotrac.com unless noted.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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