San Francisco 49ers: Top 3 free agent targets still available

3. Michael Crabtree, Wide Receiver

The 49ers decided to shy away from making any blockbuster deals for the top wide receivers on the open market in the offseason. The likes of Odell Beckham and Antonio Brown went elsewhere while San Francisco was left with a pretty thin group of receivers.

In the draft, the 49ers doubled-up selecting projected slot receiver Deebo Samuel in the second round and former Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd in the third. But their wide receiver core is still very unproven with a mixture of inexperienced young talent and veteran No. 2 and 3 options.

Still, it’s going to be hard to get any worse than last season.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. In fact, it could be in the 49ers best interest to bring back a longtime Bay Area wide receiver to solidify the offense.

Michael Crabtree still remains available and the big-bodied receiver could be an intriguing option to bring back after spending last season with the Baltimore Ravens. Crabtree hauled in 54 grabs for 607 yards with Baltimore last season after spending his last nine seasons in the Bay Area split between the 49ers and the Oakland Raiders.

The likes of Marquise Goodwin, Jordan Matthews, Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, and the two aforementioned rookies will be competing for playing time in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and adding Crabtree to the fray certainly wouldn’t hurt matters.

At the very least, a reunion after spending his first six years with San Francisco would be a cool story nonetheless.