When is a receiver too old? Carolina released Steve Smith, who’ll turn 35 in May. Baltimore signed him, hoping he can add the toughness and over-the-middle catching threat that’s been missing since they traded away Anquan Boldin.
Which team will be the winner here (if any)?
Receivers do tend to slow down, but there have been some productive old hands over the year.
Looking at just this century (which includes not just 2001 but also the 2000 season), there have been 21 receivers who’ve gone over 1,000 yards who were 34 at the end of the season. And there have been 16 who’ve caught at least 7 TDs.
I even see a couple of old Smiths on there – Jimmy Smith and Rod Smith.
Not saying that Smith will go for 1,000 or score 7 TDs. The Ravens have a bunch of other receivers they’ll use. Torrey Smith is a great deep threat, and I think Marlon Brown will be a factor around the end zone. And with Gary Kubiak there, I think Dennis Pitta will lead them in touchdown catches. In Kubiak’s last three years in Houston, his tight ends caught 46 percent of the team’s touchdowns.
But Smith looked very good at times last year (see the MNF win against New England, or the playoff loss to San Francisco). I think he’ll help them.
| OLD RECEIVERS WITH 1,000 YARDS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tm | Player (age) | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2006 | Ind. | Marvin Harrison (34) | 95 | 1366 | 14.4 | 12 |
| 2012 | Ind. | Reggie Wayne (34) | 106 | 1355 | 12.8 | 5 |
| 2007 | Dall. | Terrell Owens (34) | 81 | 1355 | 16.7 | 15 |
| 2005 | T.B. | Joey Galloway (34) | 83 | 1287 | 15.5 | 10 |
| 2000 | Minn. | Cris Carter (35) | 96 | 1274 | 13.3 | 9 |
| 2002 | Oak. | Jerry Rice (40) | 92 | 1211 | 13.2 | 7 |
| 2004 | Jac. | Jimmy Smith (35) | 74 | 1172 | 15.8 | 6 |
| 2001 | Oak. | Tim Brown (35) | 91 | 1165 | 12.8 | 9 |
| 2007 | Sea. | Bobby Engram (34) | 94 | 1147 | 12.2 | 6 |
| 2004 | Den. | Rod Smith (34) | 79 | 1144 | 14.5 | 7 |
| 2001 | Oak. | Jerry Rice (39) | 83 | 1139 | 13.7 | 9 |
| 2000 | Oak. | Tim Brown (34) | 76 | 1128 | 14.8 | 11 |
| 2005 | Den. | Rod Smith (35) | 85 | 1105 | 13.0 | 6 |
| 2006 | St.L. | Isaac Bruce (34) | 74 | 1098 | 14.8 | 3 |
| 2009 | G.B. | Donald Driver (34) | 70 | 1061 | 15.2 | 6 |
| 2006 | T.B. | Joey Galloway (35) | 62 | 1057 | 17.0 | 7 |
| 2008 | Dall. | Terrell Owens (35) | 69 | 1052 | 15.2 | 10 |
| 2008 | Balt. | Derrick Mason (34) | 80 | 1037 | 13.0 | 5 |
| 2009 | Balt. | Derrick Mason (35) | 73 | 1028 | 14.1 | 7 |
| 2005 | Jac. | Jimmy Smith (36) | 70 | 1023 | 14.6 | 6 |
| 2007 | T.B. | Joey Galloway (36) | 57 | 1014 | 17.8 | 6 |
| OLD RECEIVERS WITH 7 TOUCHDOWNS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tm | Player (age) | No | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2007 | Dall. | Terrell Owens (34) | 81 | 1355 | 16.7 | 15 |
| 2006 | Ind. | Marvin Harrison (34) | 95 | 1366 | 14.4 | 12 |
| 2000 | Oak. | Tim Brown (34) | 76 | 1128 | 14.8 | 11 |
| 2005 | T.B. | Joey Galloway (34) | 83 | 1287 | 15.5 | 10 |
| 2008 | Dall. | Terrell Owens (35) | 69 | 1052 | 15.2 | 10 |
| 2000 | Minn. | Cris Carter (35) | 96 | 1274 | 13.3 | 9 |
| 2001 | Oak. | Tim Brown (35) | 91 | 1165 | 12.8 | 9 |
| 2001 | Oak. | Jerry Rice (39) | 83 | 1139 | 13.7 | 9 |
| 2010 | Cin. | Terrell Owens (37) | 72 | 983 | 13.7 | 9 |
| 2005 | S.D. | Keenan McCardell (35) | 70 | 917 | 13.1 | 9 |
| 2002 | Oak. | Jerry Rice (40) | 92 | 1211 | 13.2 | 7 |
| 2004 | Den. | Rod Smith (34) | 79 | 1144 | 14.5 | 7 |
| 2006 | T.B. | Joey Galloway (35) | 62 | 1057 | 17.0 | 7 |
| 2009 | Balt. | Derrick Mason (35) | 73 | 1028 | 14.1 | 7 |
| 2008 | S.F. | Isaac Bruce (36) | 61 | 835 | 13.7 | 7 |
| 2000 | S.F. | Jerry Rice (38) | 75 | 805 | 10.7 | 7 |
—Ian Allan