The 49ers receiving corps is immensely talented, but they don’t exactly have a guy who can take the top off a defense. They also don’t have a go to option to return kicks or punts.
Apparently San Francisco is going to try and kill two birds with one stone this offseason, and has checked in on three speedy wide receivers / returners according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic: Jakeem Grant, Ray-Ray McCloud and Kalif Raymond.
The 49ers have already been linked to McCloud, 25, who led the league in punt return yards last year in Pittsburgh with 367 on 38 returns. He also caught 39 passes for 277 yards.
Grant, 29, was second in the NFL in average punt return yards for the Dolphins and Bears, averaging 11.9 yards on 26 returns. Grant also had the longest punt return of the season, taking one 97 yards to the house for Chicago in Week 14. Grant made the Pro Bowl as a specialist.
Kalif Raymond is the most well rounded of the three, catching 48 passes for 576 yards for the Lions last season while also handling punt return duties.
The 49ers 19.3 yards per kick return was fourth lowest in the NFL last season, and they lost three fumbles on punt returns.