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San Francisco 49ers: Grading DeForest Buckner trade, other moves in NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Travis Benjamin #12 of the Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
Travis Benjamin #12 of the Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

. . . SIGNING TRAVIS BENJAMIN. C+

San Francisco made another under-the-radar move by bringing aboard former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin on a one-year deal, who joined the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns back in 2012.

Benjamin’s time with the Browns is noteworthy, as he had one year of experience working with head coach Kyle Shanahan when he was the offensive coordinator there in 2014. The following season, after Shanahan left, Benjamin had his best campaign as a pro, logging nearly 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

His next two seasons with the Chargers were solid enough, although the numbers gradually fell off to him becoming a relative non-factor in L.A. the past two years, partially due to injury concerns.

Those concerns are still there for the 5-foot-10, 175-pound wideout who just turned 30 years old last December.

While Benjamin might not be blazing fast like he was during the 2012 NFL Combine, he still has speed to burn and could compete alongside fellow wideout Marquise Goodwin during training camp.

If Goodwin is still on the roster by that point.