Each year, we run a series of post called "90-in-90" here at Niners Nation. The idea is that we'll take a look at every single player on the roster, from the very bottom to the top and break them down a few different ways. This is to help give everyone a basic understanding of a roster. Of course, this roster will change, and some days we'll have more than one so it's not strictly one per day but you get the idea.
Hello Niners Nation! I’m back with another 90-in-90 roster breakdown, and today’s subject is wide receiver Pierre Garçon. The San Francisco 49ers signed Garçon during free agency to bolster a much-maligned receiver corps, and they are hoping that he will be their number one guy. Let’s take a look.
Basic Info
Age: 30 (31 on August 8)
Experience: 9 accrued seasons
Height: 6’0
Weight: 211 pounds
Cap Status
Garçon signed a 5-year, $47,500,000 contract with the 49ers. He is due a base salary of $3,675,000 in 2017, along with $250,000 in a roster bonus (paid out over 16 weeks) and $100,000 in a workout bonus. His 2017 cap hit is $6,425,000.
How He Might in Improve in 2017
The best season of Garçon’s career came in 2013 when he was under the tutelage of then-Washington offensive coordinator and now current 49ers’ head coach, Kyle Shanahan. The wide receiver finished that season with 1,346 yards on 113 catches and five touchdowns. His next best season was last season when he had 79 receptions for 1,031 yards and three touchdowns. This bodes well, especially since he’s being reunited with Shanahan and his offense.
Over the past several years in Washington, Garçon was competing with a lot of talent on offense. With the Niners, he has the chance to be the shining star so to speak. He’s a talented route runner and his familiarity with Shanahan’s offense can only help him.
Age also doesn’t seem to be slowing him down. Garçon continues to have a fiery nature on the field and sandwiched between 2013 and 2016 were two solid seasons with Washington. He finished both with over 750 yards.
How He Might Regress in 2017
That being said, Garçon will be 31 when the season begins, which is by no means old, but in football years, it’s also not that young. He’s never had more than six touchdowns in a season, which is a slight concern.
The 49ers’ offense also has a number of new players, with the potential for a number of new starters, including quarterback Brian Hoyer and maybe an offensive lineman here or there. It’s been clear in the 49ers’s offseason program that the offense is still working on timing and chemistry, but those things should be better by the start of the season…should be. Either way, those factors could make or break Garçon’s season.
Odds of Making the Team
Garçon just signed a $47,500,000 contract. He’s making the team, but I also think he’ll have a successful season. As I mentioned above, he won’t have as much competition for targets as he did in Washington, and he knows this offense, which also means he could end up with a lot more touchdowns than he’s had in the past. If Hoyer can get him the ball, and that is of course the wild card, Garçon could very well be looking at another 1,000-yard season.
When it comes to fun facts, Garçon definitely had some good ones. Check them out below!