NFL free agency does not get going for another month and a half, but rumors and reports are already starting to percolate. The latest news comes courtesy of Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson. Sunday evening, prior to the Super Bowl, he offered up some news and notes about the Miami Dolphins. The most interesting for San Francisco 49ers fans, and any NFC and AFC West fans regards wide receiver Kenny Stills:
The Dolphins want to keep Kenny Stills and Stills has said he would love to stay with the Dolphins. But an associate said to keep in mind that he also likes the West Coast and an offer from an AFC West or NFC West team could be attractive.
The Philadelphia Eagles also are reportedly interested in Stills, who caught nine touchdown passes and was third in the league in yards per catch at 17.3.
Stills is coming off his most prolific scoring season, catching nine touchdown receptions. He finished his second year with the Dolphins with 42 receptions for 726 yards. He spent the first two seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints. He had 32 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, and then 63 receptions for 931 yards and three touchdowns in his second season. The Saints then traded him to the Dolphins for linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a third round pick. He had a slow first year with Miami, catching 27 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns.
The 49ers have a desperate need for help at wide receiver. Their top two receivers this past year were Jeremy Kerley and Quinton Patton. Both will be free agents next month. Torrey Smith has not worked out as a significant threat, in part because the team does not have a true No. 1 opposite him. Smith is a burner, but he is not a top of the line No. 1 receiver. He is a deep threat who can serve as a No. 1a or No. 2 option.
The 49ers head into the offseason with Smith, Bruce Ellington, Eric Rogers, DeAndre Smelter, and Aaron Burbridge under contract. Stills is not someone expected to turn into a No. 1 receiver, but depending on how free agency goes, the 49ers could be best suited signing someone like him and then spending significant draft capital on the position.