Apparently Brandon Lloyd’s one season out of the NFL has helped change his mind. After spurning multiple contract offers last offseason, the former San Francisco 49ers fourth-round pick will return to home to the first franchise he suited up for in the league.
#49ers welcome back WR Brandon Lloyd (@mrblloyd), SF's fourth-round pick in 2003.
PHOTOS: http://t.co/R8D6GydhQU pic.twitter.com/3nLZhWqcgE
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 15, 2014
Lloyd’s first stint with the 49ers didn’t end on the best of notes. He was traded by the team following a 2006 season that saw him put up 733 yards and five touchdown. His antics off the field and with the media was the primary reason he was traded back in 2006. In fact, Lloyd drew criticism from then teammates Fred Beasley and Kevan Barlow “for his flashy jewelry and his aspirations to become a rapper in his spare time” (via ESPN).
After struggling for the next four seasons with the Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos, Lloyd broke out big time in 2010. He led all NFL receivers with 1,448 yards and scored 11 touchdowns catching passes from Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow in Denver.
In yet another example of how Lloyd seems to wear out his welcome, he was traded from Denver to the St. Louis Rams the following season before signing a free agent contract with the New England Patriots in 2012. Catching passes from future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, Lloyd finished second on the team behind only Wes Welker with 911 receiving yards.
Interestingly enough, Lloyd’s three-most productive seasons have come after he turned 29 years old. He’s averaging 1,108 receiving yards per season during that span.
It remains to be seen what the details of the one-year contract are, but Lloyd’s likely going to receive somewhere near the veteran minimum with very little guaranteed. It’s a low-risk signing for the 49ers and doesn’t necessarily change their draft plans heading into May. You can fully expect general manager Trent Baalke and Co. to go out there and add another receiver early in the draft.
Lloyd isn’t a lock to make the team, but he provides a tremendous amount of upside at the No. 3 wide receiver position should he impress in offseason workouts and training camp. If his last three NFL seasons are any indication (they might not be) this could very well be a nice under-the-radar signing for San Francisco. Let’s just hope for everyone involved it doesn’t turn into another Braylon Edwards or Randy Moss situation.
Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA Today