The 49ers on Tuesday added some veteran depth to their young receiving corps. They’re due to sign former Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin to a one-year deal.
Benjamin, 30, was a fourth-round pick of the Browns in 2012, and was there in 2014 when Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator. He had moderate success his first three years, but exploded in 2015 with 68 catches for 966 yards and five touchdowns.
He spent the next four years of his career with the Chargers, but never replicated the success of his 2015 campaign. In four seasons with Los Angeles, he posted 93 catches for 1,430 yards and nine touchdowns in 42 games.
His 2019 season was limited to just five games after a quad injury landed him on injured reserve.
Benjamin’s experience in Shanahan’s offense could pay dividends if the offseason program is cut short due to ongoing shutdowns for COVID-19.
Adding Benjamin doesn’t rule out wide receiver as a need for the 49ers moving forward. They still need a No. 1 type of receiver on the outside.
Benjamin doesn’t fit that mold. He’s 5-9,180 pounds and ran a blistering 4.36 40 at the combine in 2012. That’s the kind of speed the 49ers miss when Marquise Goodwin is out, and given the cap savings San Francisco can create by trading or releasing Goodwin, it stands to reason they may be looking for a player who can fill that role.
He also has a ton of experience as a punt returner, with 109 returns in his career. Benjamin won’t be guaranteed a roster spot going into the season, but his ability to play multiple roles makes him an enticing option heading into next season.