49ers Waive Darrell Jackson

by David Fucillo on Mar 15, 2008 9:44 AM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Well that certainly changes things. The 49ers have announced they will be releasing Darrell Jackson on Monday.

After dealing a 4th round pick to the Seahawks last draft, many of us expected big things from Jackson. While he was solid at times, the drops definitely drove us crazy. Jackson was tied for ninth in the league in drops with seven but it often seemed like it was happening a lot more often.

The release of Darrell Jackson leaves the 49ers with Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Jason Hill and Ashley Lelie competing for starting time. And of course this likely alters things a little bit in terms of the 49ers potentially drafting a wide receiver. With no dead money coming out of this, I can't say I'm all that disappointed.

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Too bad it didn't work out.

I like Jackson but he looked like he was running with his shoe laces tied together last year. Match that with his "two left hands" and he had to know this was coming. Knowing now that the intention was to waive Jackson, I'm kind of confused with the 1 year deal with Bryant Johnson. I guess this opens the draft board back up, maybe a Hawkins type player in the second round (I think Marts needs a Holt type to understudy with the aging Bruce)? It also free up even more cash to front load extensions and maybe sign Spikes. I like this front office, lots of savvy moves, let's see if they can draft this team into the playoffs.

by jjham15 @ Niners Nation on Mar 15, 2008 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

I hate replying twice before....

anyone else chimes in but...what if this moves signals another receiver signing? The Niners just freed up a lot of cash, cash that could be spent on a younger stud like DJ Hackett. Hackett has the potential to be a number one, Johnson, Bruce and Battle in Martz 4 receiver sets is pretty appealing. The Niners seem to like to hurt their NFC West rivals by signing away their WRs, Hackett could be the best of all them not named Holt and the impact on Seattle would be huge. This move would also free the Niners up to go OL-DL/OLB with their first 3 picks. Hell, you can't take all that cap space with you when you die so you might as well take a risk on a big risk/reward guy like Hackett (who I like a lot more than Berrian).

by jjham15 @ Niners Nation on Mar 15, 2008 11:42 AM PDT reply actions

couple of thoughts

As far as cap space, this move clears $4 million for 2008 and $4.5 million in 2009. Not huge but certainly not chump change.

As far as Hackett, I think Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald would take issue with your thoughts on Hackett being the best not named Holt. In 3 seasons Hackett has made 105 receptions for 1,394 yards and 9 touchdowns. Last season, Larry Fitzgerald had 100 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns and Boldin had 71 receptions for 853 yards and 9 TDs.

Hackett brings a lot of potential, but would young stud be the best label right now when his career high in a season is 45 catches and 610 yards?

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by David Fucillo on Mar 15, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

my bad, forgot about Arizona.

Your right Boldin, Fitz and Holt. Hackett has as much or more upside than any free agent WR this off-season and I know the Niners were interested last season if it wouldn't have cost them a second round pick. Sure, young stud is appropriate when you consider that he put up those numbers while only starting five games and competing with Branch, Jackson and Burrelson for PT during that season. Look at his numbers for the 6 games he played last year, pretty good stuff when you consider that he got hurt in two of those games, missing substantial opportunities. The injury concerns are real but you can't fault a guy for a high ankle sprain. He'll be 27 this year, entering his prime with very little mileage on his body.

by jjham15 @ Niners Nation on Mar 15, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

good move

Free up cap space, and now it makes sense to draft a WR for the long term. WR are risky draft picks (I've said this more than anyone on this forum), but when you see the kind of money going to guys who aren't even proven #1's like Berrian, it makes drafting receivers less risky overall because free agents in the position are such a rip-off. I really like the 49ers' approach this off season.

1st and 2nd picks: definitely OL and WR, order depends on who's available still.

by jaytierney on Mar 15, 2008 12:18 PM PDT reply actions

i like it

i was looking forward to jackson in the slot in the matz offense, but i'd rather see hill or a hawkins-type rookie get those snaps.

by sam23 @ Niners Nation on Mar 15, 2008 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

Hawkins

Maybe it's my west coast bias, but Lavelle Hawkins is moving into Jay Moore territory for me...For those that are new, I was high on Jay Moore after a huge Senior Bowl performance and when the 49ers grabbed him in the 4th round I was quite pleased. I wanted it to be and so it became...We'll see if that happens with Hawkins this year.

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by David Fucillo on Mar 15, 2008 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

i'm starting

to like the hawkins idea more and more too. but whats the story with moore? is he gonna get more playing time this year? if spikes signs we will have a ton of LB's. i know nolan likes to rotate them through, but lawson, j.moore, haralson, tbc, ulbrich, b.moore, bam bam, thomas and spikes-thats a lot of guys. are ulbrich or b. moore going to get cut, or could we deal one of them to the vet-loving patriots for a mid-round pick?

by sam23 @ Niners Nation on Mar 15, 2008 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

LBs

I could see J. Moore get some additional time at DE when they go with more of a speed defense. It sounds like the 49ers would use Spikes inside in the "Ted" role Derek Smith filled. As much as I like Jay Moore, I hope Brandon Moore gets some more opportunities. As for Dontarrious Thomas, I could see him being a sort of super sub who isn't starting but is filling in all over the field.

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by David Fucillo on Mar 15, 2008 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

yea,

i agree with you, id like to see more of b. moore. but if he and spikes are fillin the "ted," tbc and haralson are splitting time at one olb, and lawson and bam bam playin almost full time....that leaves very few snaps for thomas. and none for ulbrich. and none for moore at linebacker. ulbrich seems to be a nolan guy, but couldnt he also be a good fit for the pats? ulbrich or moore plus a 5th or 6th rounder for little used former 1st round pick wr chad jackson?

by sam23 @ Niners Nation on Mar 16, 2008 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah.

I think the 49ers like J.Moore's pass rush potential, and they'll probably plug him in quite a bit during nickel situations as an end in the 4-man line (sharing time with guys like Banta-Cain, Haralson, and Ray McDonald). As the current roster is situated, though, it's hard to believe he'll have much playtime at OLB in the base defense (Lawson, Haralson, and Banta-Cain will likely get dibs). Factor in a potential first or second round OLB, and the Moore may get pushed even further back on the base defense depth chart.

Brandon Moore and Ulbrich are probably "on the bubble" this offseason. Both will get a chance to compete for the Ted along with Donarrious Thomas, but I don't think it's possible to rule out either of them getting cut (or traded). Problem is, I don't think very many teams would give up much for Moore (hard pressed to believe someone would even give up a 6th or 7th for him), and my feelings on Ulbrich are very well documented.

If the B.Moore of last year shows up, I'd like to believe Thomas will be the starter at the "ted." If the Brandon Moore of 2006 shows up, there would be no reason NOT to give him the starting job. It'll be an interesting battle, nevertheless.

by sfgfan on Mar 17, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

oh great

now what am I gonna do with THIS?

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Mar 15, 2008 6:35 PM PDT reply actions

You know

They used to use stick-'em to help you catch the ball, but now they have those gloves!

Jackson just needed to stick-'em his gloves.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over....

by howtheyscored on Mar 15, 2008 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

are we gonna carry 6 WR?

if we draft one, then one on the current roster has to go....probably Lelie.

Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.

by Nosetackle Supreme on Mar 20, 2008 10:37 PM PDT reply actions

Not necessarily.

I think that is why the team went after Johnson and decided they're going to release Jackson. They may have already made up their minds that the guys they have on the roster now, are likely to be the guys that will be on their roster at the beginning of the season. The 49ers can definitely draft a WR, but that WR is practice squad eligible and the 49ers haven't been shy about putting rookies on the practice squad before.

If a rookie DOES end up on the practice squad, the odds of someone plucking a late round WR from the 49ers practice squad are slim. There are plenty of guys other teams can sign from free agency that are better immediate fixes (which is what you're generally looking for when you sign a practice squad player from another team) than a rookie who couldn't make an NFL roster. This is also all assuming that the 49ers DO take a WR in the draft, which isn't as big of a slam dunk as it was a few weeks ago, either.

by sfgfan on Mar 21, 2008 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions