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10 Players the 49ers Should Watch for 2018 NFL Free Agency

By Peter Panacy

November 2, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Rams defeated the 49ers 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Rams defeated the 49ers 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) makes a touchdown reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews (81) makes a touchdown reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8: Wide Receiver Jordan Matthews

2017 Team: Philadelphia Eagles

The 49ers added wide receivers Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin and Aldrick Robinson via free agency this year. And yet they could stand for even more upgrades, either through the NFL Draft or next year’s free agency.

One of the players to watch is current Philadelphia Eagles wideout Jordan Matthews.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound former second-round pick of the Eagles gives both size and production, as demonstrated over his first three seasons at the NFL level:

Receiving & Rushing Table
Game Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Age Tm Pos G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch%
2014 22 PHI WR 16 10 103 67 872 13.0 8 44 4.2 54.5 65.0%
2015 23 PHI WR 16 13 126 85 997 11.7 8 78 5.3 62.3 67.5%
2016 24 PHI WR 14 13 117 73 804 11.0 3 54 5.2 57.4 62.4%
Care Care 46 36 346 225 2673 11.9 19 78 4.9 58.1

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/20/2017.

Now just imagine that kind of production in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

What’s even better is Matthews will be just 25 years old when 2018 free agency kicks off. Sure, the Eagles probably want to retain him. But he remains a pending free agent for now.

And he should be on San Francisco’s radar as a big-bodied, red-zone target.