Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers are still looking to add "a top-line" receiving target in addition to Pierre Garçon, who is expected to sign on Thursday. La Canfora mentions Alshon Jeffery, who the 49ers could still pursue. Having two quality receivers would make things easier on quarterback Brian Hoyer, who has reached an agreement in principle with the 49ers.
The 49ers are still looking to add a top-line WR like Jeffery and FB Kyle Juszcyzk is a top priority as well (I bet they land him)...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 8, 2017
Hoyer and Garçon cannot officially sign with the team until Thursday. Neither can Buffalo Bills WR Marquise Goodwin, who will reportedly join the 49ers once free agency begins.
If the 49ers make a move to add a quarterback like Kirk Cousins in the 2018 offseason, having two reliable targets already in place might result in a very respectable offense for new head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The Chicago Bears did not want to commit over $17 million to WR Alshon Jeffery when the team had already committed $14.9 million to him when they franchised him for the 2016 season. That means that Jeffery will become a free agent on Thursday and be free to sign with any NFL team.
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's 2016 receiving yards total was still more than any 49ers player. Playing mostly as a slot receiver, Jeremy Kerley led the 49ers with 64 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. Kerley was re-signed on Saturday.
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.