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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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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 01: Jordan Matthews #87 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 01: Jordan Matthews #87 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Jordan Matthews, Buffalo Bills

Do you think wide receiver Jordan Matthews was happy to leave the Philadelphia Eagles for the Buffalo Bills prior to 2017 beginning?

Based off his numbers, probably not:

Jordan Matthews Receiving 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%
2017 25 BUF wr 10 7 36 25 282 11.3 1 47 2.5 28.2 69.4%
Care Care 56 43 382 250 2955 11.8 20 78 4.5 52.8
3 yr 3 yr PHI 46 36 346 225 2673 11.9 19 78 4.9 58.1
1 yr 1 yr BUF 10 7 36 25 282 11.3 1 47 2.5 28.2

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/26/2018.

Matthews isn’t a fit in Buffalo’s run-first offense anyway. But this does drive the 6-foot-3, 212 pounder’s price down this offseason. So does landing on season-ending injured reserve halfway through the year.

Again, you’ll have to consider the touchdown production from a player like Matthews when things were going well. This was, of course, during the Chip Kelly era in Philly two years before the head coach performed a one-and-done stint in San Francisco.

Yet both Kelly and Kyle Shanahan prefer one thing from their receivers: speed.

Matthews has that. And if he stays healthy, he’s a weapon San Francisco should strongly consider.