The San Francisco 49ers are signing former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver and return specialist Travis Benjamin to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
More WR news: The #49ers are signing former #Chargers WR Travis Benjamin, source said. Added depth in SF. He gets a 1-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2020
The move comes after the Seattle Seahawks signed former New England Patriots wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to a one-year deal. The 49ers were reportedly among the teams expressing interest in Dorsett.
The #Seahawks are signing WR Phillip Dorsett on a 1-year deal, source said. A former #Patriots WR has a new home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2020
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is familiar with the 30-year-old Benjamin, having coached the receiver in Cleveland in 2014. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator at the time. Benjamin was also a teammate of current 49ers assistant Miles Austin that season.
The Cleveland Browns made Benjamin a fourth-round selection out of Miami (FL) in 2012. He registered six receptions for 30 yards through five games and two starts with the Chargers in 2019. The receiver saw his season end due to a quad injury and landed on injured reserve on October 17.
Benjamin has caught 208 passes for 3,143 yards with 19 touchdowns through his eight NFL seasons. His best statistical season came in 2015 with the Browns when he hauled in 68 passes for 966 yards and five touchdowns.
Benjamin was with Kyle Shanahan in Cleveland in 2014 & averaged 17.4 YPC. He best season was in 2015 when he went 68/966/5 w/ the Browns.
He's only caught 18 passes the last two seasons with the Chargers, but has been a good PR in his career, averaging 10.9 YPR w/ 4 TDS #49ers https://t.co/qDlk33tH82
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) March 24, 2020
| Career Statistics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | G | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2019 | Chargers | 5 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 5.0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018 | Chargers | 12 | 3 | 12 | 186 | 15.5 | 46T | 1 |
| 2017 | Chargers | 16 | 3 | 34 | 567 | 16.7 | 62T | 4 |
| 2016 | Chargers | 14 | 8 | 47 | 677 | 14.4 | 54 | 4 |
| 2015 | Browns | 16 | 15 | 68 | 966 | 14.2 | 61 | 5 |
| 2014 | Browns | 16 | 0 | 18 | 314 | 17.4 | 43 | 3 |
| 2013 | Browns | 8 | 3 | 5 | 105 | 21.0 | 39 | 0 |
| 2012 | Browns | 14 | 3 | 18 | 298 | 16.6 | 69T | 2 |
| Total | 208 | 3,143 | 15.1 | 69 | 19 | |||