Anquan Boldin deal expected to be done soon
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin was one of the most efficient wideouts in the league last season, as he helped to hold down the fort when Michael Crabtree was out. Although he’s no longer a No. 1 receiver due to his lack of speed at the age of 33, he’s still a very good player and one of the best WR2s in the NFL. Boldin and Crabtree give Colin Kaepernick and excellent wide receiver duo on the outside, and the 49ers offense could become a huge juggernaut with more positive steps from Kaepernick, as well as a YAC-monster in the middle of the field as a WR3. The possibilities for the 49ers offense are endless with further fine-tuning, and keeping Boldin around ensures that Kaepernick will have one of the surest hands in the NFL on the outside.
ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that he expects an agreement between the 49ers and Boldin to be reported within the next 24 hours, and it all makes sense at this point. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh unsurprisingly stated that re-signing the vet would be the team’s top priority in free agency, as losing him would create a huge need at the wide receiver position. Boldin caught 85 passes for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns last season, so the big, physical wideout asserted himself as a must-keep for Trent Baalke and the organization.
The 49ers and Boldin have been in talks for over a week, so a deal was always coming down the pipes. I expect him to receive a two-year deal worth around $5 million per year, and it would be a massive shock if a deal didn’t go through before the start of free agency.