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5 Under-the-Radar Free Agents 49ers Should Target in 2016

By Jerod Brown

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York (left), Chip Kelly (center), and San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke (right) pose for a photo in a press conference after naming Kelly as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York (left), Chip Kelly (center), and San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke (right) pose for a photo in a press conference after naming Kelly as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green (89) leaps over Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner (31) for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers went on to a 30-17 win. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green (89) leaps over Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner (31) for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers went on to a 30-17 win. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Ladarius Green-Tight End

The 49ers tight end group seemed stacked at the beginning of last season. After a few departures, that group looks largely unproven as the 49ers move into 2016. Vance McDonald may or may not return next season and fans are anxiously awaiting the arrival of recent draft picks Blake Bell and Rory “Busta” Anderson.

The 49ers can add to the competition by signing San Diego Chargers free agent tight end Ladarius Green. The Chargers are likely to be involved in the bidding for Green as they look to secure him as Antonio Gates’ replacement once the impressive tight end retires. The 49ers don’t often like to compete with other teams in a back and forth, but a willingness to pay for Green’s services could improve this offense immensely.

Green stands at 6’6” and is an athletic 240 pounds. Gates was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season and Green filled in admirably. In the first week of the season, he totaled five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. Green ended the year fading out as Gates was the primary tight end for the team.

The 49ers have continually shown an inability to score in the red zone for multiple seasons in a row. With a roster larger unchanged, they need to find someone that creates matchup problems in tight spaces. Green’s height and athleticism could immediately bring that to the team and can force a competition among the tight ends for the starting spot.

Head coach Chip Kelly utilized multiple tight ends in Philadelphia with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz, and it’s reasonable to assume he’ll bring a similar system to San Francisco. Pairing Green with Bell and Anderson could give the 49ers three athletic tight ends to build their offense around in 2016.

Next: Veteran Offensive Lineman