It appears that Anquan Boldin's worth to the San Francisco 49ers may well go far beyond his impact on the field and in the locker room.
Boldin, according to the latest report - and technically, to himself - may actually be the best ambassador for the 49ers brand that San Francisco has ever seen.
Jamey Eisenberg of CBS Sports reports that in speaking with Boldin, the veteran receiver revealed to him that his former Baltimore Ravens teammate, wide receiver Torrey Smith, is set to join him as a member of the 49ers receiving corps, referring to it as a "done deal."
Boldin also revealed that he was a key member of the recruiting team that convinced Smith to join forces with San Francisco.
Smith, a fourth-year pro out of Maryland, is a fleet-footed outside presence that can track and catch deep balls as well as anyone in the NFL. He wrote a post on his blog late last week thanking the city of Baltimore and seemingly preparing the fanbase for his exit.
He finished last season with just 49 receptions for 767 yards - the lowest numbers of his career - but nabbed 11 touchdowns - three more than he's ever recorded.
Smith isn't elite in anything he does, but he's a field-stretching wideout who can take the tops off defenses and open up the middle of the field for a guy like Boldin to go across the middle and wreak continuous havoc.
The two are actually almost polar opposites in terms of playing style, but they'll complement one another well.
Boldin is slower, steadier and has elite hands. He's strong at the catch point and will win contested balls.
Smith is fast, electric and will outrace defensive backs to balls thrown out ahead of him.
His hands aren't elite and he'll struggle with drops, but he adds an important element to the 49ers depth chart at wide receiver that they're expected to lose once Stevie Johnson is officially jettisoned.
With Michael Crabtree a free agent and unlikely to be brought back and Johnson likely gone, it looks like next season will be the Boldin and Smith Show in San Francisco.
