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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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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass during warm ups before the game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars catches a pass during warm ups before the game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Up until this point, most of the wide receivers on San Francisco’s NFL free agency target list have been No. 2s. One or two might be a No. 1 if the situation was right. But that’s it.

Not the case with Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Allen Robinson.

Robinson, who missed almost all of 2017 after tearing his ACL, still ranks as Pro Football Focus‘ top wide receiver on the free-agent market this offseason.

OK, so the Jaguars will simply apply the franchise tag on Robinson, right? Not so fast. Niners Wire’s Chris Biderman explained more:

"If [the Jaguars] don’t bring [quarterback Blake] Bortles back and have to allocate more money to a new signal caller, the franchise tag for Robinson becomes a more complicated dilemma. The answer would be to make concessions elsewhere by releasing players to make everything fit – or signing Robinson to a long-term deal heavy in guarantees to keep his 2018 cap number down. … Perhaps it’s more likely they retain Robinson if their quarterback is brought back as the cost-friendly option. But then Jacksonville would be wagering its future on Bortles, which remains a scary proposition."

More from Niner Noise

Interesting.

Either way, Robinson’s deep-threat and big-play abilities — even looking beyond his 1,400-yard and league-leading 14-touchdown season in 2015 — has to have many NFL teams paying close attention.

Next: 5 lesser-known free agents the 49ers could target in 2018

Good to know San Francisco has more money to spend than anybody this offseason.