49ers: 3 former players you forgot played for San Francisco, Part 2

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Braylon Edwards #17 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards

Although former NFL wide receiver Braylon Edwards never fully gained synonymity with one NFL franchise, he will most probably be remembered by fans as a member of either the Cleveland Brown or New York Jets.

Edwards was draft by the Browns in the first round (third overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He had a decent rookie season catching 32 passes for 512 yards receiving, and three touchdowns. He had an even better sophomore season improving upon those numbers.

His breakout season though came in 2007. In that season Edwards had 80 receptions, 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. For his spectacular performance in 2007, he earned his first (and only) Pro Bowl selection.

In 2008 he regressed slightly, though, despite starting all 16 games he had lower numbers in receptions, yards and touchdowns than his prior season.

In 2009 after four games, Edwards was traded to the New York Jets. With New York, he teamed with quarterback Mark Sanchez, put up decent numbers and helped the Jets make it all the way to the AFC Championship game.

In 2010 Edwards had bounce-back numbers. He didn’t quite top the 1,000-yard mark but he came close putting up a stat line of 53 receptions, 904 yards receiving and seven touchdowns for the season and again making it to the AFC Championship game.

In 2011 with the arrival of new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers signed Edwards to a one-year deal in free agency. However he never really meshed with the team’s offense and by December he was cut by the team after only managing to put up 15 receptions for 181 yards and no touchdowns.

He split time in 2012 between the Seattle Seahawks and Jets, but would eventually retire from football after that season.

Although he never made a splash with the 49ers, he was a significant signing. It is interesting to note, in 2011 the 49ers had two of the top three draft picks from the 2005 NFL Draft with Edwards and quarterback Alex Smith (first overall). Their two careers, however, would take completely different trajectories from that point on.