49ers sign WR Braylon Edwards to one-year contract

Aug. 4, 2011MAIOCCO ARCHIVE
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Matt MaioccoCSNBayArea.com
In 2005, the 49ers chose quarterback Alex Smith over receiver Braylon Edwards for the No. 1 pick in the draft.Now, the 49ers have both players.The 49ers and Edwards agreed to terms on a one-year, 3.5 million contract, ESPN reported Thursday. Edwards traveled to Santa Clara to meet with coaches and team officials Wednesday.After the initial report broke, Edwards tweeted 'It's official Team17 we have moved to the bay. I'm a proud member of the San Francisco 49ers.'
The signing continues a whirlwind of activity for the 49ers, who have added presumptive starters center Jonathan Goodwin, cornerback Carlos Rogers and safety Donte Whitner within the past day.Edwards visited the 49ers prior to the 2005 draft, as the club publicly reduced its candidates for the top overall pick to Smith, Edwards, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and defensive back Antrel Rolle. The 49ers picked Smith with the top selection, and Edwards was the Cleveland Browns' pick with the No. 3 overall pick.
Edwards had his best season in 2007, as he caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. Two years later, the Browns dealt him to the New York Jets.In 16 games with the New York Jets last season, Edwards caught 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns. In his career, he has 326 receptions for 5,142 yards and 39 touchdowns. His career average per catch is an impressive 15.8 yards.Edwards joins a receiving corps that features Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan. Crabtree is likely to miss the entire exhibition season with a left foot injury. Crabtree, who has attended practices and meetings while wearing an orthopedic boot, is on the physically-unable-to-perform list.Crabtree led the 49ers wide receivers a year ago with 55 catches for 741 yards and six touchdowns. Morgan caught 44 passes for 698 yards and two touchdowns. Only nine recivers in the league last season caught as many passes for more yards than Morgan.The 49ers are taking a risk with the addition of Edwards. He reportedly still faces the possibility of an NFL suspension stemming after pleading guilty last week to driving while intoxicated to resolve a case stemming from a Sept. 21 police stop.