Jeremy Kerley is a rare specimen on San Francisco's roster -- a 49ers would-be free agent the incoming regime decided to retain.
Why? Kerley not only led the team in receptions and receiving yards last season, he received a boost from a prominent teammate before the free-agency period began.
"I won't name a name, but there was a guy on this squad that I talked to that was here who just said, 'He's a pro,'" wide receivers coach Mike LaFleur said. "… And he couldn't be more right. I talked to that guy (recently) and I said, 'You couldn't have been more right.