Kevin Jones of KNBR joined Ray Woodson on the radio to discuss the San Francisco 49ers from the NFL Scouting Combine. So far, Jones has provided numerous tidbits from Indianapolis, including the 49ers' rumored high interest in LSU RB Leonard Fournette. Jones dropped another bombshell during his latest interview.
Over the past week, there has been a lot of talk that the 49ers were among the teams that were interested in soon-to-be free agent Alshon Jeffery. In fact, there was a report that the 49ers would make a "serious run" at the Chicago Bears wide receiver once he hits free agency. Jeffery will command a lot of money on the open market – which the 49ers can afford – and is seen as a perfect fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Jones is now hearing that that perceived interest may be a smokescreen and that the 49ers may actually be interested in another wide receiver.
"I'm told that Alshon Jeffery is a smokescreen," Jones said. "That they are not as interested in him as much as is being reported about by some other people. That they are more interested in Pierre Garcon. But we'll see."
"This is kind of a window of opportunity with Alshon Jeffery that they really need to weigh," Jones continued. "I know that he's not Julio Jones. He's not a top-5 receiver but on his best day, he is a top-10 receiver. On his best day, he can give you 170, two touchdowns, and help you win a game. That is going to kind of be a bigger decision in free agency. 'Do we add a number one receiver, pay him $70 million, [$34 million] guaranteed?' Alshon Jeffery is 27 years old. He's not Julio Jones but he is pretty damn good."
You can listen to the entire interview on KNBR.
Garcon's best season came in 2013 with Washington when he caught 113 passes for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns. That was the last of two seasons that Garcon spent with Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator.
Garcon will be 31 when the 2017 season kicks off, but he is coming off his second career 1,000-plus-yard season. In 2016, he had 79 receptions for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns. He could come at a significantly cheaper price tag than a player like Jeffery but still dramatically improve the 49ers' group of wide receivers.
"His skill set is built to last, as his game is not based on speed but on route running, toughness and sure hands, similar to ex-Niner Anquan Boldin," wrote our own Jason Bertolucci while looking at potential free agents for the 49ers.
Jeffery, who was drafted out of South Carolina by the Bears in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, caught only 52 passes for 821 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games in 2016. He was unable to complete the season after being suspended the final four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Jeffery has had two 1,000-yard seasons over his five-year career. In 2013, the best season of his career, he had 89 receptions for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2014, Jeffery had 85 receptions for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns.