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NFL Free Agency: 10 Players the San Francisco 49ers Should Target in 2016

By Peter Panacy

Nov 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) reacts after making a sack during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) reacts after making a sack during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver Marvin Jones

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The big, sexy offseason acquisition many 49ers fans may like to see would be Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. But, as Ryan Sakamoto of NinerFans.com points out, he may not be the best fit opposite wideout Torrey Smith.

Jeffery will also be one of the more highly targeted free agents on the market this offseason if the Bears don’t re-sign him. While that may not impact San Francisco’s cap now, what happens a few years down the road?

Still, the Niners will be looking to replace veteran wideout Anquan Boldin at some point sooner rather than later. It could even happen this season.

So Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones may be a nice fit here. Jones is a solid receiver buried on a team laden with offensive talent. Last year, the 6’1″, 199-pound target hauled in 65 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns — numbers similar to those Boldin posted in 2015 as the team’s leading receiver.

And Jones is only 25 years old with plenty of room to grow into an upper-echelon receiver, especially if the 49ers add some more weapons via the draft.

Jones would also be a far cheaper option than Jeffery, which could help the Niners’ long-term financial plans should they ever reach cap trouble in the next few years.

Remember, this offseason’s overwhelming cap space won’t stick around forever.

Such a signing would be an upgrade for the 49ers questionable crop of wideouts. And, with some added work on that side of the ball, Jones could be the type of player who makes a significant contribution in head coach Chip Kelly’s offense.

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San Francisco won’t be landing all of these free agents. The team may not land any of them. But the point is the 49ers have cap space to approach this offseason more aggressively than has been seen in recent years.

And, given the woes from 2015, the Niners need to take full advantage of their situation to turn things around this upcoming season.

Next: 5 Positions the 49ers Must Address in Free Agency

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Over the Cap.