Smith was the single most underrated player in the NFL

Vernon Davis the tight end could soon be Vernon Davis the wide receiver. The veteran tight end played exclusively at wide receiver during the 49ers' most recent minicamp, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

With Michael Crabtree, the team's leading receiver in 2012, sidelined for at least six months thanks to a torn Achilles, the 49ers don't have many experienced options at outside receiver. San Francisco has two players, A.J. Jenkins and Ricardo Lockette, who can play outside, but Lockette and Jenkins have a combined two career receptions.

As the Press Democrat notes, former Raven Anquan Boldin isn't the answer either because he's a better fit in the slot.

Davis has been a weapon for the 49ers since the team chose him sixth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. The 29-year-old has led the team in receiving yards two times in his seven-year career (2009-10) and finished second on the team twice (2011-12). In both 2011 and 2012, Davis finished second only to Crabtree in receiving yards.

If Davis does make the move to receiver, he'll want to make sure his relationship with quarterback Colin Kaepernick is more like it was in the 2012 playoffs than the 2012 regular season.

Over the final six games of the season, Davis only caught a total of six passes for 61 yards and no touchdowns. That all changed in the playoffs, though, where Davis had 12 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' three-game run to Super Bowl XLVII.

If you noticed the 49ers defense sagging a little bit near the end of 2012, there's a good reason: Justin Smith was injured. Smith is the lynchpin for that D and he'll keep playing that role for at least three more years, as the 49ers have locked up on an extension through 2015.

Smith's a fascinating case for a few reasons. One, he was a very nice player in Cincinnati, compiling 43.5 sacks as a defensive end for the Bengals in seven seasons. But he's absolutely flourished in San Francisco. He has compiled 32 sacks in five years (from age 29 to 33) and has become one of the more dangerous defenders in the league. His ability to, ahem, open up holes for guys like Aldon Smith can't be overstated -- Aldon's sacks disappeared following Justin's triceps injury in late December last year. (Even if Justin doesn't think that was the cause.)

Then there's the media coverage. For a while, Smith was the single most underrated player in the NFL. In the past two years or so, he's gotten his due, tilting a touch towards overrated and then finally settling in as properly rated. His 2011 season was his first as an All-Pro and third as a Pro Bowler (he picked up a fourth in 2012) and it was the full recognition he deserved. That's sometimes just life as a 3-4 end not named J.J. Watt.

Anyway, Smith's a big-time contributor to the 49ers defense. They need him healthy and on the roster, and with him headed into the final year of his deal, it makes sense to work out an extension.

The money will be fascinating, though, considering that Smith turns 34 in September of 2013. With the 49ers not too far under the cap when they made this deal, it's hard to imagine them throwing huge dollars his way to keep him locked down through the age of 36.

But a deal makes sense for both parties. It would mean Smith can retire with the Niners, it means the Niners keep a critical cog to their defense on board, and it means that the team can maneuver a little money around.

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