Free agency is kicking off. Time for teams to buy and release players, as they try to find the right mix to put together a successful team.
I’ve got the list of free agent wide receivers in front of me. I’ve put them in order – as if I were an NFL general manager and was putting together a shopping list. Not a particularly strong group. Looks like about a half dozen who’ll be starters this year.
IAN’S TOP 20 FREE AGENT RECEIVERS
Julian Edelman To me, he looks an awful lot like Wes Welker. Very reliable possession receiver. AFC East teams (and other contenders in that conference) will have to consider how much of a blow it would be the Patriots to lose him.
Eric Decker Big guy with some speed, but he’s not special. Not that different, really, than Riley Cooper – just a little faster. He’s caught 85 and 87 passes the last two years, with 24 TDs, but that’s with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Back in 2011, with Tim Tebow at quarterback (the anti-Manning), he caught 44 passes. Probably would be a 65-catch receiver in a typical offense. A poor No. 1 receiver or a good No. 2.
Anquan Boldin (re-signed) Big, physical receiver, but he’s getting old and doesn’t have much speed. Re-signed by 49ers.
Riley Cooper (re-signed) Poor man’s Eric Decker, but he fit well in Chip Kelly’s offense. Re-signed.
Golden Tate At times he looks good, but he doesn’t have great size or speed, and he’ll disappear a lot – to where you think he’s just a No. 3. Seahawks are trying to calculate how they’ll be able to pay everyone, so they might have to let him go.
James Jones Has been in the league for seven years, believe it or not, but has never quite gotten over the hump. At times, you think he’s right up there with teammates like Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and (formerly) Greg Jennings, and then he’ll underperform at times. Has dropped too many balls at times. Maybe a starter, but maybe more of a No. 3.
Jeremy Maclin (re-signed) Missed last year with an ACL injury. If he’s healthy and right physically, he might be the most productive of these free agent receivers. The Eagles re-signed both him and Cooper, which could be an indication they’re thinking about getting rid of DeSean Jackson, who’s better but has a big pricetag.
Emmanuel Sanders Not spectacular, but was a starter-quality guy for the Steelers last year – 67 catches and 6 TDs. Just 11.0 yards per catch, though. Small receiver (5-11, 180) and doesn’t have special speed or quickness. Just a guy.
Dexter McCluster Decent slot receiver who can also handle the ball on some end-around type plays. Probably one of the top half dozen punt returners in the league – scored 2 TDs on punt returns last year.
Jerricho Cotchery Looks like one of the better No. 3 receivers around – for a couple of years, anyway. Will be 32 on opening day. Had a couple of 82-catch seasons with the Jets. As a heavily-used No. 3 receiver for the Steelers caught 46 passes and was their main guy around the goal line, catching 10 TDs.
Andre Caldwell If the Broncos lose Decker and re-sign Caldwell, he might be a top-30 wide receiver in 2014 – just because of the offense he would be playing in. He wasn’t great in the final three games last year (when he was starting in place of Wes Welker), catching 11 passes for 113 yards and 2 TDs in those final three games).
Hakeem Nicks Nicks is 26. It just seems like he’s 33. He’s had a lot of problems with injuries, and it seems like he’s lost a step. Has missed at least one game in all five of his seasons in the pros. Has caught only 3 TDs in the last two years. Feuded a lot with Tom Coughlin over missed practices. I don’t think he’s getting back to being an elite guy.
Brandon LaFell Looks like a lesser No. 2 receiver at best. Has good size and speed, but the hands and route-running and over ability just don’t seem to be anything special. Caught 49 passes and 5 TDs last year as a 16-game starter for Carolina.
Mario Manningham Wasn’t a factor last year. Now that he’s a full year removed from knee surgery, maybe he can get back to being an above-average third receiver. Caught 60 passes and 9 TDs in 2010. Will be 28 years old in May.
Jacoby Jones A good kick returner and has ability as a third receiver – not as a slot guy, but as a player who can make some big catchers downfield. But he’s never quite got over the hump as a wide receiver, and he’ll be 30 in July.
Andre Roberts He’ll probably be a third receiver for some team. Was a starter in 2011(for Arizona) and caught 64 passes and 5 TDs. They moved him into the No. 3 role last year, and he caught 43 passes and 2 TDs.
Ted Ginn Surprisingly decent as a No. 3 receiver in Carolina last year, catching 36 passes for 556 yards and 5 TDs. Not a traditional slot-type guy though. He’s not a player you want working the middle of the field or settling into soft spots in zones – he’s more of a big-play guy. Returns kickoffs and punts, but below-average in that role (hasn’t scored on a kick return since Week 1 of the 2011 season). Will be 29 on opening day.
Jason Avant Poor man’s Anquan Boldin – big, physical slot receiver. Caught 53 and 52 passes in the 2011-12 seasons. Recently cut by Eagles. Turns 31 next month.
Tiquan Underwood Showed some flashes with the Bucs in the second half of last year. Cool haircuts.
Kenny Britt Looked special earlier in his career – rare blend of size and athleticism. But has had a host of off-field problems and knee injuries that might prevent him from every getting back to being that kind of player. Titans hardly used him last year.
NOT MAKING THE CUT
Sidney Rice Had the monster season with Brett Favre in Minnesota, but that was five years ago. Looked very ordinary last year in Seattle, catching 15 passes before missing the second half of the season with a torn ACL. Not physical enough. Might be prone to concussion. Earlier had a serious hip injury.
Jacoby Ford Really fast. Potentially a great kick return. But has done very little since his nice rookie season in 2010. Oakland has a mediocre receiving corps, and he was unable to even play for them.
Davone Bess Could be an above-average slot receiver in the right situation. On talent, he’s one of the top dozen guys in this group. But extensive off-field issues that would need to be figured out. The Browns cut him.
Jerome Simpson Extensive off-field issues, and not productive enough on the field in Minnesota.
Robert Meachem At best, an OK No. 4 receiver. Chargers cut him last year, and he didn’t make enough of an impact for the Saints.
Santana Moss Nice career, but he turns 35 in June.
Nate Burleson Potentially an adequate slot receiver, but he’s missed a lot of time the last two years, and he’ll be 33 in August. Lions cut him.
Josh Morgan Not fast enough.
Danario Alexander Outstanding in the second half of 2012, but too many knee injuries. Underwent another knee surgery early this year that has me wondering if he’ll ever start another NFL game.
Darrius Heyward-Bey Doesn’t seem to have the catching and route-running ability. Colts gave up on him late last year.
Plaxico Burress Turns 37 in August. He’s done.