The San Francisco 49ers have been connected to DeSean Jackson ever since reports emerged that the Philadelphia Eagles were fielding trade inquiries in mid-March.
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As Jackson's agent began contract negotiations with the Washington Redskins Tuesday afternoon, a report emanating from NBC Washington suggested the 49ers have "thrown their hat into the ring" for the free-agent wide receiver.
A source involved in the process has told NFL Media's Albert Breer the team has a standing invitation for Jackson to visit San Francisco. Our understanding, however, is that the 49ers remain very much a long shot.
When coach Jim Harbaugh spoke of his need for a playmaking wide receiver at last week's NFL Annual Meeting, the description sounded a lot like a Jackson scouting report.
The primary roadblocks remain asking price and salary cap.
According to Breer, the 49ers' cursory interest won't reach legitimacy unless Jackson accepts a major discount. Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area has echoed that sentiment.
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The organization less than $5 million in available cap space and a quarterback soon to be cashing in with a contract in the range of $15 million to $20 million annually.
Aside from those obvious complications, the 49ers are leery of upsetting the financial pecking order of established stars such as Patrick Willis, Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree -- with the latter soon requiring an extension of his own.
The bottom line is 49ers fans shouldn't get their hopes up for Jackson's return to the Bay Area. For a wideout likely to surpassEric Decker's five-year, $36.25 million contract, a "prove-it" contract with San Francisco is closer to a pipe dream than reality.
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