Programming note: For all the day’s sports news, tune in to SportsNet Central tonight and every night at 6, 10:30 p.m. and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
It sounds like a great idea.
The 49ers would add one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the game and a much-needed injection of speed to go along with Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. And a team with five selections within the top 94 picks would surrender just one of those selections to make it happen.
If those were the only considerations, it would be simple enough. But it’s never that simple.
The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly listening to offers for wide receiver DeSean Jackson. And the 49ers have been mentioned as a team that has picked up the phone to make a call.
[REWIND: Examining 49ers' level of interest if DeSean Jackson were available]
However, there are several factors that make it an unlikely scenario:
--The 49ers have $3,726 million in salary cap space. Jackson is scheduled to make $10.5 million in base salary this season.
--General manager Trent Baalke has long stated that his first priority is to “take care of our own.” One source close to Baalke said he believes Baalke will never bring a player in from the outside and make him the highest-paid player on the team.
Jackson is scheduled to make $30.75 million over the next three seasons. Patrick Willis makes $10 million per year, followed by NaVorro Bowman ($9.05 million), Vernon Davis ($7.35 million), Joe Staley ($7.2 million), and Anthony Davis and Frank Gore ($6.5 million).
Jackson would make significantly more than Boldin and Crabtree. Boldin just signed a two-year, $12 million contract to return to the 49ers. Crabtree is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $4 million this season.
--The 49ers have such players as quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Aldon Smith, Mike Iupati and Crabtree who are entering their contract years. The 49ers’ next blockbuster contract is expected to be awarded to one of those players.
[RELATED: 49ers Mailbag: Cap room for Kap]
--If the 49ers were going to pay big money for a player from the outside, he would have to be seen as someone who embodies everything the 49ers want from a player on the field, off the field and in the locker room. It’s doubtful Jackson is viewed that way.
--The 49ers have a lot of draft picks and there is expected to be a deep pool of young, talented wide receivers who can stretch a field. And they can do it at a cap cost of just a fraction of what it would take to fit Jackson onto the team.
