SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Trent Baalke never felt pressured to load up on rookies or sacrifice depth to make one, splashy pick.

With a talented roster expected to challenge for the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers general manager instead built depth and created future flexibility on the final day of the NFL draft.

Baalke still hopes the 49ers also plugged a few holes — and maybe found a hidden gem — in Saturday’s late rounds, selecting guard Joe Looney of Wake Forest, Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming, Michigan State free safety Trenton Robinson, offensive lineman Jason Slowey of Western Oregon and defensive end Cam Johnson of Virginia. San Francisco also netted three picks for the 2013 draft.

“It’s all about value,” Baalke said. “We feel good about that depth. It’s about drafting players at the right value, and also making sure that they have a legitimate chance to make this football team.”

Going to back to Friday’s third round, it seemed San Francisco might never draft another player.

The 49ers traded back three straight times from the 92nd pick before moving up to land Looney in the fourth round and 117th overall. San Francisco sent its original fourth-round pick (125th) and a sixth-rounder (196th) to Detroit.

The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Looney started at left guard the last three seasons for the Demon Deacons and — unlike the team’s other picks on the final day — could have an immediate chance to play. San Francisco lost right guard Adam Snyder to Arizona in free agency.

“As impressive an interview as we had at the combine,” 49ers coach Jim Harbugh said of Looney, emphasizing the lineman’s “oomph” and “pizazz” as reasons. “We believe he will be a starter in this league for us.”

Looney has a head start.

He spent part of the off-season working out with former 49ers centre Jeremy Newberry (1998-2006), who knows Looney’s agent, Andy Ross. The practice should speed up Looney’s learning curve in Harbaugh‘s complex version of the West Coast offence.

The pulling guard — a key position in San Francisco’s zone-blocking scheme to attack linebackers — had a left ankle injury that kept him from working out at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and Wake Forest’s pro day. He said Dr. Bob Anderson — the same specialist to perform surgery on Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s right ankle last year — in Charlotte cleared him for running and jumping activities two weeks ago.

“I love pulling around, coming up on linebackers,” said Looney, who can also play centre. “I feel like that’s an offensive lineman’s time to shine.”

Looney’s selection followed a series of trades by San Francisco to add future picks.

Baalke parlayed the original 92th overall pick in the third round into five picks in trades with Indianapolis, Miami and Carolina. In all, that included a pair of sixth-round selections Saturday — one of which was later sent to Detroit — plus a pick in the third, fifth and sixth round in 2013.

The 49ers lost to the eventual champion New York Giants in the NFC title game and figured it best not to overload with late picks who probably won’t make a talented roster this fall anyway.

“We feel like we’re ready to go,” Baalke said, acknowledging the team will sign undrafted free agents in the coming days.

That will include at least a trio of former Stanford players — defensive end Matt Masifilo, wide receiver Chris Owusu and safety Michael Thomas — who Harbaugh recruited while the Cardinal’s coach. Masifilo drove from the nearby campus and signed minutes after the draft ended.

“That’s probably one race and the last race I’ll ever win against Owusu,” said Masifilo, confirming his teammates would soon join. “Coach Harbaugh likes to cut drag. He said it’s a competition to get down here as fast you can.”

Familiarity proved to be a common theme for Harbaugh’s new group.

The 49ers drafted wide receiver A.J. Jenkins of Illinois in the first round Thursday before selecting Oregon running back LaMichael James on Friday. James, Looney and Fleming made it three straight players Harbaugh had faced while Stanford’s coach.

Fleming had 55 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble for the Fighting Irish last season. San Francisco has perhaps the NFL’s best linebacker corps with All-Pros Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman and sensational rookie Aldon Smith, among others, but a shortage of outside linebackers. Still, it will be tough for Fleming to find playing time as a rookie beyond special teams.

Even though he will be half a continent away from his native Chicago, Fleming should feel right at home.

He was a college roommate of San Francisco’s Ian Williams, and the two are close friends. Fleming, who wanted to avoid the agony of watching the draft, was stuck in Chicago traffic when Harbaugh called him to deliver the news.

“I was actually rolling pretty well and then once I got the call traffic hit,” Fleming said. “I’m fine with being stuck in traffic now that I’m a 49er.”

In the sixth round, San Francisco took Robinson 180th and Slowey 199th overall.

Robinson had 76 tackles last season and his nine career interceptions are tied for 12th in Michigan State history. Slowey played left tackle for most of his career at Western Oregon but is projected at centre or guard in the NFL.

The 49ers took Johnson in the seventh round and 237th overall. The Virginia defensive end is expected to shift to a pass-rushing outside linebacker in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 scheme in a transition similar to the one Aldon Smith made a year ago.

“It’s a historic day for so many of these young men,” an overenthusiastic Harbaugh said. “But it’s not the end. It’s very much the beginning.”

___

Follow Antonio Gonzalez at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Trent Baalke never felt pressured to load up on rookies or sacrifice depth to make one, splashy pick.

With a talented roster expected to challenge for the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers general manager instead built depth and created future flexibility on the final day of the NFL draft.

Baalke still hopes the 49ers also plugged a few holes — and maybe found a hidden gem — in Saturday’s late rounds, selecting guard Joe Looney of Wake Forest, Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming, Michigan State free safety Trenton Robinson, offensive lineman Jason Slowey of Western Oregon and defensive end Cam Johnson of Virginia. San Francisco also netted three picks for the 2013 draft.

“It’s all about value,” Baalke said. “We feel good about that depth. It’s about drafting players at the right value, and also making sure that they have a legitimate chance to make this football team.”

Going to back to Friday’s third round, it seemed San Francisco might never draft another player.

The 49ers traded back three straight times from the 92nd pick before moving up to land Looney in the fourth round and 117th overall. San Francisco sent its original fourth-round pick (125th) and a sixth-rounder (196th) to Detroit.

The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Looney started at left guard the last three seasons for the Demon Deacons and — unlike the team’s other picks on the final day — could have an immediate chance to play. San Francisco lost right guard Adam Snyder to Arizona in free agency.

“As impressive an interview as we had at the combine,” 49ers coach Jim Harbugh said of Looney, emphasizing the lineman’s “oomph” and “pizazz” as reasons. “We believe he will be a starter in this league for us.”

Looney has a head start.

He spent part of the off-season working out with former 49ers centre Jeremy Newberry (1998-2006), who knows Looney’s agent, Andy Ross. The practice should speed up Looney’s learning curve in Harbaugh’s complex version of the West Coast offence.

The pulling guard — a key position in San Francisco’s zone-blocking scheme to attack linebackers — had a left ankle injury that kept him from working out at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and Wake Forest’s pro day. He said Dr. Bob Anderson — the same specialist to perform surgery on Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s right ankle last year — in Charlotte cleared him for running and jumping activities two weeks ago.

“I love pulling around, coming up on linebackers,” said Looney, who can also play centre. “I feel like that’s an offensive lineman’s time to shine.”

Looney’s selection followed a series of trades by San Francisco to add future picks.

Baalke parlayed the original 92th overall pick in the third round into five picks in trades with Indianapolis, Miami and Carolina. In all, that included a pair of sixth-round selections Saturday — one of which was later sent to Detroit — plus a pick in the third, fifth and sixth round in 2013.

The 49ers lost to the eventual champion New York Giants in the NFC title game and figured it best not to overload with late picks who probably won’t make a talented roster this fall anyway.

“We feel like we’re ready to go,” Baalke said, acknowledging the team will sign undrafted free agents in the coming days.

That will include at least a trio of former Stanford players — defensive end Matt Masifilo, wide receiver Chris Owusu and safety Michael Thomas — who Harbaugh recruited while the Cardinal’s coach. Masifilo drove from the nearby campus and signed minutes after the draft ended.

“That’s probably one race and the last race I’ll ever win against Owusu,” said Masifilo, confirming his teammates would soon join. “Coach Harbaugh likes to cut drag. He said it’s a competition to get down here as fast you can.”

Familiarity proved to be a common theme for Harbaugh’s new group.

The 49ers drafted wide receiver A.J. Jenkins of Illinois in the first round Thursday before selecting Oregon running back LaMichael James on Friday. James, Looney and Fleming made it three straight players Harbaugh had faced while Stanford’s coach.

Fleming had 55 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble for the Fighting Irish last season. San Francisco has perhaps the NFL’s best linebacker corps with All-Pros Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman and sensational rookie Aldon Smith, among others, but a shortage of outside linebackers. Still, it will be tough for Fleming to find playing time as a rookie beyond special teams.

Even though he will be half a continent away from his native Chicago, Fleming should feel right at home.

He was a college roommate of San Francisco’s Ian Williams, and the two are close friends. Fleming, who wanted to avoid the agony of watching the draft, was stuck in Chicago traffic when Harbaugh called him to deliver the news.

“I was actually rolling pretty well and then once I got the call traffic hit,” Fleming said. “I’m fine with being stuck in traffic now that I’m a 49er.”

In the sixth round, San Francisco took Robinson 180th and Slowey 199th overall.

Robinson had 76 tackles last season and his nine career interceptions are tied for 12th in Michigan State history. Slowey played left tackle for most of his career at Western Oregon but is projected at centre or guard in the NFL.

The 49ers took Johnson in the seventh round and 237th overall. The Virginia defensive end is expected to shift to a pass-rushing outside linebacker in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 scheme in a transition similar to the one Aldon Smith made a year ago.

“It’s a historic day for so many of these young men,” an overenthusiastic Harbaugh said. “But it’s not the end. It’s very much the beginning.”

___

Follow Antonio Gonzalez at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

49ers plan to bid on Super Bowl: Reports By The Sports Xchange

With their new stadium breaking ground in Santa Clara, Calif., this week, the San Francisco 49ers reportedly plan to bid on Super Bowl L for 2016.

The 49ers hope the team’s new $1.02B facility would host the 50th Super Bowl, a team source told the Sacramento Bee on Friday. And if the team did not get the event, it would bid on the 2016 game.

The 49ers are planning for the new stadium, which will hold 68,500 seats and can expand to 75,000, to be open in 2014. The bidding process for the game will begin this summer with a vote expected at the NFL owners’ meetings next May.

The 2013 Super Bowl is scheduled for New Orleans with the 2014 game in East Rutherford, N.J., and the 2015 event in Glendale, Ariz.

The San Francisco 49ers, who will break ground on their new $1.2 billion stadium Thursday, are planning to bid for Super Bowl L, The Sacramento Bee reported Saturday, citing sources.

Teams are required to play two full seasons in a new venue before they are eligible to host a Super Bowl and the 49ers are reportedly confident the stadium will be ready for the 2014 season. Super Bowl L will be played in February, 2016.

If San Francisco was to win the bid it would make for a bit of symmetry for the NFL as Super Bowl I was held in California, in Los Angeles in 1967.

The Super Bowl Advisory Committee will begin accepting applications from interested cities for Super Bowl L in the summer, before deciding on finalists in October.

Set to begin construction on a new stadium, the San Francisco 49ers are planning to bid on the right to host Super Bowl L in 2016, a team source told the Sacramento Bee on Saturday.

According to the newspaper, the team is optimistic that its new venue, to be built in Santa Clara, Calif., will be finished in time for the team to play the 2014 season there. The NFL mandates that teams play at least two complete seasons in their stadiums before they can host a title game.

Team president and CEO Jed York told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche in February that the team would bid on a Super Bowl, but did not specify which one.

The newspaper reported that the league’s Super Bowl Advisory Committee will likely vote to decide where Super Bowl L will be played in May.

According to the newspaper, a ground-breaking ceremony has been set for Thursday.

The 49ers’ relentless fortification of their roster yielded three more moves Thursday: the signings of quarterback Josh Johnson, return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. and wide receiver Mario Manningham.

While Manningham agreed to his two-year deal Saturday and finally made it official five days later, the acquisitions of Johnson and Ginn came as a bit of a surprise but not a total shock.

Johnson, an Oakland native and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup, signed a two-year deal. Ginn visited three teams before opting to return on a one-year pact.

Johnson told this newspaper Tuesday morning he wanted to join the 49ers, even if Alex Smith returned as the incumbent quarterback. Well, Smith agreed to a three-year

deal later Tuesday, and now he’ll be competing with Johnson and Colin Kaepernick, last year’s second-round draft pick.

“It’s a great organization, and they were a great team last year, so most definitely I would,” Johnson said in Tuesday’s phone interview from his Tampa, Fla., home.

“Josh is a promising young player that has experience in our offensive system,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “He is a skilled athlete with a good arm talent. Josh has shown promise in limited action, both as a backup and starter at the NFL level.”

Johnson played at the University of San Diego under current 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and was 0-5 all-time as a starer with the Buccaneers, who picked him in the fifth round

of the 2008 draft. He met with members of the Washington Redskins on Wednesday and is scheduled to talk with Bay Area media Friday. He did not immediately return a call Thursday night seeking comment.

“No matter where you go, there’ll be competition,” Johnson said Tuesday. “You have to hope a team gives you the best opportunity to put your best foot forward. The 49ers, they came within a quarter (or overtime) of the Super Bowl.”

The 49ers’ Super Bowl bid ended with an NFC Championship

game loss to the New York Giants, a 20-17 defeat Ginn missed because of a nagging knee injury. His replacement, Kyle Williams, botched two punt returns for game-changing turnovers.

“Everybody said it’s Kyle fault, but it’s not right. It’s a team game,” Ginn said on a media conference call. “It was very hard (not to play). You work so hard to be there.”

Ginn reunited with his 49ers “family” on a one-year deal. He’s been the 49ers’ primary return specialist since they acquired him in a 2010 trade with the Miami Dolphins. Ginn, a five-year veteran, took free agency visits to the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.

He started his 2011 season in record fashion, becoming the first 49er to return a punt and a

kickoff for touchdowns in the same game, clinching a 33-17 win over the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

“He is a versatile player and an excellent teammate that will continue to play an important role for us on both offense and special teams,” Baalke said in a statement.

During Ginn’s visit to the Lions, he told the Free-Press he was looking to emerge more as a receiver than a return specialist. That could be a tough task on the 49ers, who’ve added Randy Moss and Manningham to their receiver stable.

Ginn said he merely wants an opportunity to compete at receiver, having tallied 19 receptions for 220 yards and no touchdowns last season in 14 games and three starts.

As for Moss’ addition, Ginn said: “He’s an icon. To have

that player on your team and all the accolades he has, and to come to a great team we have, and to put all that together — it should be something to see.”

Manningham, an Ohio native like Ginn, agreed to a two-year contract Saturday that finally became official earlier Thursday. Manningham picked the 49ers over the St. Louis Rams, but not because of the possibility that his quarterback might be Peyton Manning.

“I thought (Manning) was going to the 49ers, but he didn’t and went to Denver,” said Manningham, who caught clutch passes from Eli Manning in the Giants’ Super Bowl run. “We’ve got Alex Smith, and he’s a great player. He played good last year.”

A third-round pick in the 2008 draft by the Giants, Manningham acknowledged

that he was disappointed to leave his original team, noting: “Who wouldn’t want to come back to the team that drafted them? But that’s in the past, and I won a Super Bowl with them. I give them credit for teaching me things. But this is my new team.”

Also part of that wide receiving corps is Williams, who received a pep talk from Ginn after last season’s tough finale.

“I talked to him that day and tried to tell him to keep his head up, stay positive and he’s got long time to regroup from this,” Ginn said.

The 49ers’ busy offseason also includes the re-signings of Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers, linebackers Ahmad Brooks and Tavares Gooden, defensive backs C.J. Spillman and Tramaine Brock, and defensive tackle Will Tukuafu. Safety Dashon Goldson has drawn the 49ers’ franchise tender of $6.2 million this season but has yet to sign it.

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers kicked off the free-agency period with the signing of four-time All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. Moss, who did not play last season, had arguably the worst season of his career in 2010. Playing for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans, Moss totaled 28 receptions for 393 yards and five touchdowns. With a year off to recover and refocus, he’ll look to get a fresh start with Jim Harbaugh and the Niners. Signed to only a one-year, $2.5 million deal, Moss gives the team a big-play target who presents low-risk and high reward.

Apparently adding Moss was not enough, as the Niners signed former New York Giants receiver Mario Manningham to a two-year deal on March 18. Manningham may have been the Giants’ No. 3 receiver, but he played a key role in helping them win their second championship in four years. Although he had a subpar regular season, his play improved during the playoffs. In both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl, Manningham demonstrated that he is capable of making clutch plays- which is exactly what the Niners need in converting third downs (ranked 31st overall).

By adding Moss and Manningham to the roster, the offense can now stretch the field effectively. Their speed brings another dimension to the offense that it did not have last season. With Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker running short and intermediate routes, opposing defenses must cover all parts of the field.

Now that Peyton Manning has officially joined the Denver Broncos, the Niners will turn back to Alex Smith. With Smith returning, he will have more receiving options to choose from compared to last year. Last season, Smith threw for a career-high 3,144 passing yards while recording his best quarterback rating (90.7) in his first year under Harbaugh. He has shown steady improvement, and with Moss and Manningham at his disposal, Smith could be even better next season. Couple the signings with a full offseason to understand the offensive system, the sky’s the limit for him.

On defense, bringing back Carlos Rogers and Ahmad Brooks was crucial. Rogers had the best season of his career last year, as he was tied for a team-high six interceptions while making his first Pro-Bowl and All-Pro team. Brooks solidifies the pass rush long-term playing opposite of Aldon Smith. One of the potential concerns that the Niners face is the possible loss of Larry Grant, who received an original-round tender from the team. Last season, he showed that he was a starting-caliber linebacker when he filled in for Patrick Willis, who missed four games in December. With these signings in place, the Niners should once again be a top-10 defense in 2012.

Overall, San Francisco has done a solid job of addressing their needs. If the players live up to expectations and work together, there’s no reason why the Niners can’t make another deep run in the playoffs.

Sources:

bayarea.sbnation.com

foxsports.com

nfl.com

Carlos Rogers Profile- pro-football-reference.com

Randy Moss Profile- pro-football-reference.com

washingtonpost.com

Travis Chan is a longtime fan of the San Francisco 49ers, Giants and Golden State Warriors. He is also a contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. You can follow him on Twitter @Travischan1.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jim Harbaugh coaching Peyton Manning. In the Bay Area, they’re beginning to think about the possibility and believe it truly might happen.

A former NFL quarterback, Harbaugh worked wonders with Alex Smith in a matter of months for the NFC West champions, and now all signs point to the 49ers being a serious player in the Manning sweepstakes. Smith, who had a three-year offer on the table to return, traveled to Miami on Sunday to meet with the Dolphins.

“It’s crazy,” said 49ers running back Frank Gore, who has long been a big supporter of Smith. “I’m going to sit back and let them do their job. I’m sitting back and waiting for it to happen.”

Everybody is eagerly anticipating decision day, likely this week.

If San Francisco doesn’t sign Manning, the 49ers will have some serious relationship-building to do with Smith even after he developed a close relationship with Harbaugh. The Niners might even need to bump him up from the $24 million he has reportedly been offered.

And there could be similar fallout in Tennessee and Denver if those teams don’t land Manning, who turns 36 on Saturday. The four-time NFL MVP sat out the 2011 season and is trying to come back after he was released by Indianapolis following a string of neck surgeries.

For Smith, his visit to South Florida also could be a move by the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick to protect himself with a possible backup plan. He and Manning are both represented by agent Tom Condon of CAA Sports.

“This is the NFL. I guess nothing surprises me anymore,” Smith told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel upon arriving at the airport Sunday. “I never thought a year ago [Peyton] Manning would be a free agent either. I’m never surprised by anything.”

Harbaugh watched Manning work out last Tuesday at Duke, and now the former Colts star has held sessions for all three of the franchises believed to be the finalists to sign the biggest free agent of 2012. Only the 49ers are yet to publicly acknowledge their interest.

Manning worked out for Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville, one day after he showed his skills to Hall of Famer John Elway and the Broncos at Duke.

While Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman saw Manning last week and San Francisco emerged as a surprise contender to sign the 2007 Super Bowl-winning quarterback, it seems 49ers CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke certainly would want to make their pitch to Manning in person, too.

Pulling off this one would be the second major splash by the 49ers’ brass in as many offseasons.

In January 2011, York and Baalke wooed Harbaugh away from nearby Stanford on a $25 million, five-year deal. And what a job Harbaugh did: San Francisco went 13-3 and ended an eight-year stretch without a playoff berth or winning record, losing 20-17 in overtime of the NFC title game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

If Smith leaves and Manning doesn’t sign or were to get hurt, the 49ers would be left with unproven second-year pro Colin Kaepernick, but this is a team that isn’t afraid to take chances when the reward could be huge. Just look at a two-day span for San Francisco last week. The 49ers signed Randy Moss on Monday and a day later cornerback Perrish Cox, who was acquitted earlier this month on sexual assault charges in Colorado.

Harbaugh has a knack for coaching anybody into a winner with his “Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!” chants and other unorthodox motivational tactics — some of which he learned from his coaching father, Jack, and big brother and Baltimore Ravens coach John.

The NFL coach of the year last season, Harbaugh has to believe he’ll have no problem coaching a veteran quarterback like Manning. The former Colt is among the greatest ever to play with 54,828 yards passing, 4,682 completions and 399 touchdown passes.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, first ballot, that’s all I got to say,” Gore said of Manning. “He’s one of the best ever to play the game. I’m going to sit back and let them do what they think is best.”

If winning is more of a priority for Manning than a big payday, the 49ers have put things in place over the past week. They signed Moss to a one-year deal, then brought back Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers on a $31.3 million, four-year contract to give San Francisco 11 returning starters on Vic Fangio’s talented defense. The 49ers then agreed to terms on a two-year contract with former Giants wideout Mario Manningham late Saturday.

“I know coach Harbaugh and Trent Baalke feel good about what they’re doing,” Gore said. “They know what they’re doing.”

Perhaps all of that is enough to attract Manning, despite the thought he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother, Eli.

This year marks Manning’s 15th in the NFL — the same number of seasons Harbaugh spent in the league with the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Chargers and Panthers. A first-round draft pick taken 26th overall by Chicago in 1987, Harbaugh completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 career yards and 129 touchdowns in the NFL. He also ran for 18 TDs.

Elway, of course, also has quite the pedigree.

Perhaps Elway’s pursuit of Manning might mean he doesn’t have faith in Tim Tebow as the Broncos’ QB for the future. Denver squeaked into the playoffs as AFC West champions on the final day of the regular season last year.

Titans owner Bud Adams declared earlier this month he wanted Manning and considers him the missing piece to a championship team. That might not sit too well with Matt Hasselbeck, who signed to a three-year contract last July with Tennessee.

The pursuit of Manning has kept the Titans from addressing their defensive line early in free agency, one of their top needs. Mario Williams signed with Buffalo, John Abraham re-signed with Atlanta and Jason Jones left Tennessee for Seattle.

Other teams also might be behind in building their rosters because of the chase for No. 18.

The Dolphins and Arizona fell out of the running, and the Cardinals are moving ahead with quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Gore, who spends his offseason in Miami each year, isn’t going to begin to guess what might happen next in the Manning story — and what it might mean for him next season.

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I don’t know.”

The quarterback situation for the San Francisco 49ers has generated some of the biggest news of the free agency period. From the 49ers claiming that they are not interested in signing Peyton Manning (as I discussed here) to the team now being one of three franchises in the running for the four-time MVP’s services (as I discussed here), the latest development could potentially lead the team down a very dangerous road.

After over a week of discussions, the 49ers have yet to sign incumbent Alex Smith to a contract. While a three-year offer has been in the works, talks have been stalled due to the team’s interest in Manning. Understandably, Smith has decided to take ownership of the situation by taking a red-eye flight on Saturday night to Miami to visit with the Miami Dolphins, as first reported by a Seattle Seahawks blogger on the same flight as the quarterback.

While a majority of 49er fans are either in complete favor or cautious denial of Manning’s possible migration to the West Coast, what would happen if the team misses out on the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback and Smith, who is now considering a move to the Dolphins. At first, Smith seemed to be a lock to return as the 49ers quarterback for 2012 and beyond.

Now, if this situation does not work out the right way, the 49ers could potentially be staring at Colin Kaepernick as the team’s new starting quarterback. This is something that would make backers of Manning and Smith very upset.

Even if San Francisco is the best fit for Manning in terms of personnel and his ability to win another Super Bowl, his other two likely destinations offer plenty of appeal as well. If he went to the Denver Broncos, Manning would ultimately end Tim Tebow’s reign with the team and give the team its best quarterback since the great John Elway. If he went to the Tennessee Titans, Manning would return to where it all started for him as a college quarterback with the Tennessee Volunteers and would possibly receive a lifetime contract from owner Bud Adams.

As for Smith, he has already considered changing agents because of a conflict of interests. Both he and Manning share agent Tom Condon and a change of agents would possibly expedite the process of him signing with a team. Also, a return to the Dolphins would set up a reunion of sorts with former high school teammate Reggie Bush.

Ultimately, the last thing the team needs is to start all over at a quarterback position that finally seemed to stabilize with the career year by Smith. While the saga has been intriguing to say the least, matters could blow up in the team’s face and leave the team looking at a mediocre season instead of a possible run at the Super Bowl.

Sources:

AP Source: Alex Smith visits with Dolphins Sunday, AP

The Alex Smith to Miami Story: Seahawks Blogger Breaks News, Niners Nation

Tennessee Titans work out Peyton Manning in Knoxville, ESPN

More from this contributor:

San Francisco 49ers in Running for Peyton Manning, Third Team in Race: Fan’s Reaction

Randy Moss Signing with the San Francisco 49ers is Great, but More Moves at Wide Receiver Needed: Fan’s Reaction

San Francisco 49ers not interested in Peyton Manning, have ‘offer on the table’ to Alex Smith: Fan’s Take

2011 Defensive Player of the Year Award Doesn’t Go to a San Francisco 49ers Player: Fan’s Reaction

San Francisco 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh Wins AP Coach of the Year: Fan’s Reaction

Austin Chang is a lifelong football fan, San Francisco 49ers supporter, and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow this contributor on Twitter @_austinchang.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco 49ers landed another wide receiver in a headline-making week for the NFC West champions, agreeing to terms Saturday with free agent Mario Manningham on a two-year contract.

Randy Moss joined the roster last Monday.

Now, the big question is who will be throwing them the ball: Peyton Manning or Alex Smith?

Manningham met Thursday with the 49ers, who still appear to have interest in Manning after coach Jim Harbaugh worked him out Tuesday at Duke University. Manning worked out for the Tennessee Titans on Saturday and it appears he will now choose between them, San Francisco and the Denver Broncos.

Have the 49ers done enough already to entice him, and show they’re aiming for another shot at the Super Bowl this season?

Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Saturday night that Manningham, the former New York Giants wideout, had reached a deal with the 49ers, who lost in overtime of the NFC championship game to Manningham and the eventual Super Bowl champions at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22.

Manningham caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 8:34 remaining in regulation of the NFC title game to help New York reach the Super Bowl.

He had five more receptions for 73 yards in the Giants’ 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, including an over-the-shoulder 38-yard catch between two defenders on which he managed to stay inbounds to start the game-winning, 88-yard touchdown drive.

The 25-year-old Manningham had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns total last year in his fourth NFL season.

Manningham will join an upgraded receiving corps that also includes Moss, who signed a one-year contract Monday, and Michael Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech who had 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

“It’s going down. Mario Manningham signs with 49ers. This is a sick WR squad. It’s going to be crazy on the Offensive side of the ball,” tweeted defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois.

The 49ers, who ended an eight-year playoff drought in Harbaugh’s first season of 2011, also will return their entire starting defensive 11 after bringing back cornerback Carlos Rogers on a $31.3 million, four-year deal this week. So, that too could be attractive to Peyton Manning, even though there’s speculation he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother.

Smith had been expected to re-sign with the 49ers and acknowledged he was weighing a three-year contract offer — but that all might have changed in a matter of a few days once Manning entered the 49ers’ picture. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site Saturday, citing a league source, that Smith was considering changing agents from Tom Condon, who also represents Manning.

An email to 49ers CEO Jed York, Smith and agents at CAA Sports went unreturned Saturday.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and current sportscaster Steve Young likes the approach his old team took in wooing Peyton Manning.

He thinks the strategy, along with the team’s status of coming within a hair of the Super Bowl last year, should put the 49ers in prime position to pick up Manning, he said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

Young also said 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh — the man Manning replaced at quarterback when he first started with the Indianapolis Colts — took a personal approach during Manning’s workout for the team this week, throwing with Manning.

“Trent Baalke laid low, he did the research; Jim Harbaugh threw with Peyton Manning,” Young said on “SportsCenter,” crediting the 49ers general manager for stealthily pursuing Manning while other teams’ names were thrown out publicly. “They didn’t get the front pages. They know that they are the best answer for Peyton Manning.

”They know they have the best defense in the league to offer. They know they have the offensive weapons. They know they have Jim Harbaugh.“

The Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals have been eliminated from contention for Manning’s services. The Tennessee Titans have been aggressive with owner Bud Adams talking about Manning’s post-playing days and saying he wants the quarterback to be a Titan ”for life.“

Denver has prepared a five-year, $90 million offer, according to the Denver Post, which would be extremely impressive as it would be similar to Manning’s pre-neck-injury contract with the Colts.

But Young raised several fair points as San Francisco’s dominant defense led the team to the NFC West division title and nearly the Super Bowl. The 49ers fell in overtime by a field goal to the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

San Francisco seemed in control of the game, if not for a pair of muffed punts late by returner Kyle Williams.

Earlier in the week, the 49ers added a potential offensive threat at wide receiver by signing Randy Moss out of retirement.

”They know all the pieces are in place for Peyton Manning,“ Young said. ”It is the best opportunity for Peyton Manning. They knew it, and they waited for the wannabes to exhaust themselves, and then they came in right and the end, and that’s why I think they’ll probably land him at this point.“

Young thinks the allure of a team that barely missed the Super Bowl could be too strong a pull for Manning to resist.

”I know Peyton Manning is looking for a team to join now and win a division now and go to the Super Bowl now,“ Young said. ”That’s the San Francisco 49ers.“