Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL free agency: Ranking the top 5 wide receivers on the 49ers’ target list

By Peter Panacy

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second quarter against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 5, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second quarter against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 5, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 14: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks catches a touchdown pass in front of free safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 14: Wide receiver Paul Richardson #10 of the Seattle Seahawks catches a touchdown pass in front of free safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Paul Richardson, Seattle Seahawks

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

He might never turn into a bona fide No. 1 receiver, but Seattle Seahawks wideout Paul Richardson might be a decent fall-back option for the 49ers if they want to upgrade this position in NFL free agency.

Richardson, 25 years old, has a bit of an injury history after being taken by Seattle in Round 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft. He missed almost all of 2015 and wasn’t much of a factor the following year, hauling in just 21 passes for 288 yards.

2017 was Richardson’s best year as a pro, though, as he managed 703 yards and six touchdowns — all the while being overshadowed by fellow Seahawks receivers Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett.

Interestingly enough, three of those six touchdowns came within the red zone. And that’s an area of pressing need for San Francisco, as head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense finished 27th in red-zone efficiency in 2017, per TeamRankings.com.

Richardson, 6-foot-0 and 175 pounds, isn’t exactly a mismatch nightmare. But he’s more than enough insurance and depth for the rest of San Francisco’s receiving corps.