Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Anquan Boldin will sign with the Detroit Lions
Jul 26, 2016 at 10:48 AM
•
It would seem that
Anquan Boldin's run with the San Francisco 49ers is officially over. The former 49ers wide receiver and current free agent is finalizing a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions, per Adam Schefter of
ESPN.
Boldin
visited with the Lions on June 13. He also had a visit with the Washington Redskins and it was reported that the New Orleans Saints were very interested in acquiring the reigning NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner.
The 49ers acquired Boldin via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. He was not re-signed this offseason as the team looks to see what it has with the numerous younger receivers on the roster.
Boldin, who will be 36 years old in October, had 69 receptions for 789 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. That was the fewest receiving yards he has had since 2004 with the Arizona Cardinals, which was his second year in the league. Of course, those numbers were still enough to lead the 49ers in receiving.
Boldin had surpassed 1,000 yards (1,062 in 2014 and 1,179 in 2013) in each of his previous two seasons with San Francisco and ranks 17th all-time in receiving yards with 13,195 and is 12th all-time in receptions with 1,009.
During his three seasons with the 49ers, Boldin had 237 catches for 3,030 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Torrey Smith, another former Raven acquired via free agency in 2015, has been looking to reign as the 49ers' number one receiver since the departure of Boldin. Last season, Smith had 33 receptions on 61 targets for 663 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the 49ers.
Boldin was – by far – the highest graded 49ers wide receiver by
Pro Football Focus in 2015.
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