The 49ers a season ago finished last in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage. They scored on just 41.2 percent of their trips inside the 20. Scoring touchdowns in the red area will be an essential aspect of the offense that has to change if the 49ers are going to be in the playoff hunt, and newly-signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews might be the answer for those woes.
Matthews on Thursday inked a one-year deal with San Francisco and immediately became the biggest red-zone threat on the roster.
He’s a big-bodied target at 6-3, 215 pounds, and has produced regularly in the red zone throughout his career.
There’s no guarantee Matthews winds up on the roster. Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin, Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor and Richie James all figure to be in line for places on the 53-man. San Francisco could also be in the hunt for a receiver early in the draft. That might make it difficult to keep Matthews since he doesn’t contribute on special teams.
On the other hand, his value as a red-zone threat could be impossible to let go. San Francisco cannot continue converting red-zone trips into field goals. He’ll have to show he can produce between the 20s as well, but his ability to turn those jaunts to the red zone into touchdowns might make him too valuable to let go.
