Wide receiver Pierre Garçon was added on the first day of free agency in order to give new San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer a reliable veteran target on offense. How good can Garçon, who has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving just twice in his nine-year career, be for the 49ers in 2017?
49ers beat writer Kevin Jones joined KNBR on Thursday and said that he believes Garçon will impress fans this season.
"I think Garçon will be the MVP of this team," Jones said. "He was tired of being in DeSean Jackson's shadow in Washington. He was actually their consistent guy there playing 16 games, getting seven catches for 70 yards, the tough third downs. I mean, you can rely on this guy. He's got a lot to prove. He's still in tip-top shape. I think at the end of the year – 80 receptions, 1,200 yards, seven or eight touchdowns. I would not be shocked for that and people would say, 'That's a damn good signing for those numbers.'"
1,200 yards this season would be impressive for Garçon. The last 49ers receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards was Anquan Boldin in 2014. One of Garçon's two 1,000-plus-yard seasons came in 2016 with the Washington Redskins when he had 79 receptions for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns. A lot of that was thanks to a stellar season by quarterback Kirk Cousins. Last season, Garçon earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade of his career.
How reliable is Garçon? His drop rate in 2016 was tied with Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for the second-lowest among NFL receivers, according to Pro Football Focus. Of the 80 passes thrown Garçon's way that were deemed catchable, the sure-handed wideout dropped just one.
Garçon'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 Garçon spent with Shanahan as his offensive coordinator.
Garçon, who is entering his 10th NFL season, will turn 31 in August.