After voluntarily sitting out the 2013 season, veteran wideout Brandon Lloyd may be mulling the possibility of returning for 2014. According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the 49ers have engaged in talks with Lloyd about a potential comeback.
Lloyd, who is just two years removed from a 74-catch season, reportedly received inquiries from at least six teams last fall, including the 49ers, but rejected all overtures. A Pro Football Talk report at the time suggested Lloyd was “neither physically nor mentally ready” to continue his playing career at that point, so we’ll have to see if the 32-year-old has changed that stance.
As for the 49ers, they pursued receivers like Julian Edelman and Emmanuel Sanders earlier in the offseason, but were only able to lock up their own free agent wideout, Anquan Boldin. That leaves San Francisco with a solid 1-2 punch of Boldin and Michael Crabtree, but the club is clearly looking for alternatives at the No. 3 spot. If Lloyd were to sign with the Niners, he would presumably have the upper hand for that third receiver role over players like Quinton Patton and Jonathan Baldwin.