Anquan Boldin to Lions: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Despite being closer to 40 than 30, Anquan Boldin led the San Francisco 49ers in all receiving categories last season. The Detroit Lions rewarded that production Tuesday, giving him a one-year contract.Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the signing and noted the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles were also interested.Boldin turns 36 in October. He'll join fellow veteran Andre Roberts, who agreed to a one-year deal last month.Boldin had 69 receptions for 789 yards and four touchdowns last season. He was one of the few bright spots in a moribund 49ers offense that ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL in every major category. It was nonetheless a marked step down for Boldin, who had posted over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons at the Bay.The 49ers posted a 5-11 record, resulting in a mass exodus of the coaching staff. Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly replaced the deposed Jim Tomsula, who struggled to replicate the success of his predecessor, Jim Harbaugh. Boldin maintained he wanted to return to San Francisco despite the organizational upheaval."I like the people here," Boldin told reporters in December. "The organization has been good to me. And I have roots here now. There's a lot of people, a lot of relationships that I've built in this community."As it stands, he apparently wasn't part of Kelly's organizational plan. Kelly's unique offense is predicated on speed and size at the wide receiver spot, something Boldin doesn't have at this point of his career. The former Florida State star relies more on guile and know-how to get open, and his hands are among the most reliable in the sport.Pro Football Focus measured Boldin as having the 12th-lowest drop rate in the sport last season, which was a return to form after he had a case of the dropsies in 2014. The service graded him as the 33rd-best receiver in football, highlighting his blocking ability and propensity for avoiding penalties. Few receivers in football bring a better combination of football intelligence and toughness.Boldin became one of 13 players in NFL history to amass 1,000 receptions last season and has never had fewer than 56 grabs in a campaign. That's a testament to his ability to stay on the field despite injury and his unwavering consistency. Boldin, even if he's a secondary option at this point in his career, is a worthwhile asset for any organization.The Lions are in desperate need of receiver help after the abrupt retirement of Calvin Johnson. They already signed Marvin Jones away from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, but their reliability at the position beyond Golden Tate is minimal.Bringing Boldin on board for at least one season will do Detroit wonders.
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