Buzz By The Bay

In the wake of the Brandon Marshall and Santonio Holmes trades, the 49ers’ acquisition of Ted Ginn Jr. for a fifth-rounder admittedly pales in comparison. This is mainly because the team did not set out to get Ted Ginn Jr. the receiver, but rather Ted Ginn Jr. the kick/punt returner.

Since the Dolphins selected him ninth overall in the 2007 NFL draft, Ginn has been considered a colossal bust. Unable to recapture the magic from his glory days at Ohio State, the Cleveland native has been very ineffective in the passing game, averaging just under 35 receiving yards per game. While Ginn looked to have been progressing after his sophomore campaign — during which he caught 56 passes for 790 yards and two scores — Ginn regressed mightily in 2009, as he returned to rookie form statistically, frustrated coaches and fans with his untimely drops, and was eventually demoted to the second team receiving corps.

The area Ginn has excelled in most has been the return game. He possesses top end speed, and has returned both kicks and punts for the Dolphins over his career. On occasion, he shows flashes of the athleticism and elusiveness that warranted such a high selection on draft day back in 2007 (well..maybe not warranted). Last season was his best statistically, as Ginn averaged a shade under 25 yards per kick return, with two electrifying touchdowns to his credit.

For a team as starved in the return game as San Francisco, this move makes plenty of sense. Ginn will likely assume both kick and punt returning duties for the 49ers, and should immediately improve the special teams with his speed alone. He also has clear untapped potential as a receiver, and it remains a possibility that Singletary could have a similar impact on him as he did on Vernon Davis. While still unlikely to ever become the No. 1 receiver he was envisioned as on draft day, I’m perfectly willing to give up the 145th best college prospect for an established returner who still has the potential and athleticism to become a solid slot receiver as well. This transaction also makes it even less likely that the Niners will go after C.J. Spiller come Thursday, since a good portion of his value to San Francisco is in the return game. With weaknesses in the secondary and along the offensive line, a returner simply isn’t the need anymore.

The only issue I take with this move is the size of Ginn’s contract. Ginn signed a heavily back-loaded, five-year, $19.6 million contract in 2007. The deal, as well as the selection itself, was heavily criticized by the media, as $14 million were given guaranteed, with Ginn expected to make $1,035,833 in 2010, $1,393,750 in 2011, and a cool $1,393,750 in 2012. There is also a voidable final year in the contract, during which Ginn would be eligible to receive $1,801,667. It remains unclear exactly how much of that contract the Niners will be taking on.

In the end, Ginn will probably cost a good deal of money. There’s also the possibility that the Niners could have addressed the issue equally well with a far cheaper, late-round selection. But then again, if we can shore up the special teams with an established returner, save the Spiller pick for a real star in the secondary, and only forfeit a fifth-rounder in the process, I’ll take that deal any day.