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The Ravens have traded veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the trade will not be official until Boldin -- currently on an African mission -- passes a physical.

Boldin, 32, was involved in a contract dispute with the Ravens, who asked him to lower his $6 million base salary by $2 million.

However, Boldin declined to do so and attempts to resolve the impasse were unsuccessful.

According to Baltimore Sun staffer Aaron Wilson, the Ravens were on the verge of releasing Boldin on Friday afternoon and he even prepared a statement thanking the fans for their support.

After the two sides were unable to work out a compromise, the Ravens opted to trade Boldin to the 49ers. Boldin played a large role in helping the Ravens defeat San Francisco in the Super Bowl.

Now Boldin, who carried a $7.531 million salary-cap figure and is now off the books other than $1.5 million in dead money, heads to the 49ers.

According to NFL.com's Albert Breer, there will be no alteration to Boldin's salary in 2013 -- he still is set to make $6 million this season. A 49ers source told Breer that the sides might consider something later.

The 49ers are coached by Jim Harbaugh, the brother of Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

As NFL.com's Chris Wesseling pointed out, Boldin fills a major need for a reliable receiver opposite Michael Crabtree while casting doubt on Mario Manningham's future in San Francisco. It also suggests the 49ers envision another red-shirt year for 2012 first-rounder A.J. Jenkins, who barely saw the field as a rookie.

Randy Moss is expected to move on.