Re-Signing WR Anquan Boldin Expected To Be The 49ers First Priority

Matt Maiocco of the CSN Bay Area writes that re-signing veteran WR Anquan Boldin is likely to be the 49ers “first priority” this offseason.

• Maiocco mentions that San Francisco will need to strike a balance with regards to a new contract and find a price that works for both parties.
• Maiocco doesn’t see them paying big money for a replacement on the open market either, but adds that they could look for a speed receiver at a reasonable price or target someone in the draft.

Boldin, 33, is coming off of another productive season in which he totaled 85 receptions for 1,179 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 8 receiver in the league, so he should be one of the few veteran players to do well in free agency.

One other note of interest regarding the 49ers and their free agents; Maiocco mentions that the 49ers paid CB Tarell Brown $300,000 at the end of the season as a “good-will gesture” after he unknowingly forfeited $2 million by skipping the team’s offseason program.

San Francisco obviously didn’t need to do, especially not this late in the season, so it appears as though they are hoping this “good-will gesture” could help in negotiations over the next few weeks.

Brown, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent, but the 49ers may want to retain him in the event that they release veteran CB Carlos Rogers for salary relief.

Maiocco writes that the 49ers may look for a player who “slips through the cracks” and mentions that Browns just happens to be someone who could do just that.

We have both players listed in our Top 100 Free Agents list.