When the Titans selected receiver Brandon Jones in the third round of the 2005 draft, a lot of people who are paid to offer opinions on talent thought that he had the potential to be a real solid player at the NFL level. In four seasons, however, Jones has been largely average. When your career year came in 2006 and only featured 384 yards and four touchdowns, you're closer to Drew Bennett's career arc than Jerry Rice's.Apparently, though, Jones is still living off of the hype he got in 2005, because that's the only way I can explain the fact that the 49ers have given him a five-year, $16.5 million deal with $5.4 million guaranteed.
While the deal is hardly an eye-opener in the wake of the gargantuan-money contracts being handed out, it can definitely be called "generous" given Jones' career production. It might also be called "desperation" on the 49ers' part, as they could lose both of 2008's starting receivers -- Isaac Bruce (retirement) and Bryant Johnson (free agency) -- in a relatively thin market.
Needless to say, whoever starts at quarterback for the 49ers this year will have his work cut out for him if Jones is the team's best target in 2009.
