We tend to dismiss players as they get older. Sometimes, years too early. That might be the case with Larry Fitzgerald. Although many thought he'd retire a year ago, or this season, he's not only coming back for 2018, but says he's open to playing even longer than that.
And why not? He's 34, but he's still ridiculously productive. Over the last three seasons, in fact, only Antonio Brown (343) has more receptions than Fitzgerald (325). And only three players -- guys who have caught far fewer passes -- have dropped a lower percentage of all the catchable balls sent their way.
Here are the numbers, showing all players who had at least 150 balls sent their way over the last three seasons. The three guys better in this regard either retired in the offseason or missed most of last year due to injury.
| RECEIVER DROP RATES, 2015-2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Drop | Tot | Pct |
| Jason Witten, Dall. | 209 | 2 | 211 | .9% |
| Pierre Garcon, tms | 191 | 2 | 193 | 1.0% |
| Jordan Reed, Wash. | 180 | 2 | 182 | 1.1% |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 325 | 5 | 330 | 1.5% |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 150 | 3 | 153 | 2.0% |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 247 | 5 | 252 | 2.0% |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 343 | 7 | 350 | 2.0% |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 196 | 4 | 200 | 2.0% |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 175 | 4 | 179 | 2.2% |
| Greg Olsen, Car. | 174 | 4 | 178 | 2.2% |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 166 | 4 | 170 | 2.4% |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 200 | 5 | 205 | 2.4% |
| Robert Woods, tms | 154 | 4 | 158 | 2.5% |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 227 | 6 | 233 | 2.6% |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 186 | 5 | 191 | 2.6% |
| Jeremy Maclin, tms | 171 | 5 | 176 | 2.8% |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 202 | 6 | 208 | 2.9% |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 316 | 10 | 326 | 3.1% |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 189 | 6 | 195 | 3.1% |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 188 | 6 | 194 | 3.1% |
| James White, N.E. | 156 | 5 | 161 | 3.1% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 154 | 5 | 159 | 3.1% |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 273 | 9 | 282 | 3.2% |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 192 | 7 | 199 | 3.5% |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 163 | 6 | 169 | 3.6% |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 285 | 11 | 296 | 3.7% |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 233 | 9 | 242 | 3.7% |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 205 | 8 | 213 | 3.8% |
| Brandin Cooks, tms | 227 | 9 | 236 | 3.8% |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 172 | 7 | 179 | 3.9% |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 217 | 9 | 226 | 4.0% |
| Alshon Jeffery, tms | 163 | 7 | 170 | 4.1% |
| Mohamed Sanu, tms | 159 | 7 | 166 | 4.2% |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 227 | 10 | 237 | 4.2% |
| Jermaine Kearse, tms | 155 | 7 | 162 | 4.3% |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 151 | 7 | 158 | 4.4% |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 184 | 9 | 193 | 4.7% |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 154 | 8 | 162 | 4.9% |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 307 | 16 | 323 | 5.0% |
| Mike Wallace, tms | 163 | 9 | 172 | 5.2% |
| Marvin Jones, tms | 181 | 10 | 191 | 5.2% |
| Rishard Matthews, tms | 161 | 10 | 171 | 5.8% |
| Travis Kelce, K.C. | 240 | 15 | 255 | 5.9% |
| Brandon LaFell, tms | 153 | 10 | 163 | 6.1% |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 222 | 15 | 237 | 6.3% |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 170 | 12 | 182 | 6.6% |
| Jordan Matthews, tms | 183 | 13 | 196 | 6.6% |
| Charles Clay, Buff. | 157 | 12 | 169 | 7.1% |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 163 | 13 | 176 | 7.4% |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 150 | 12 | 162 | 7.4% |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 199 | 16 | 215 | 7.4% |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 159 | 13 | 172 | 7.6% |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 278 | 23 | 301 | 7.6% |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 241 | 20 | 261 | 7.7% |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 203 | 18 | 221 | 8.1% |
| Eric Ebron, Det. | 161 | 15 | 176 | 8.5% |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 232 | 22 | 254 | 8.7% |
| Brandon Marshall, tms | 186 | 20 | 206 | 9.7% |
| Ted Ginn, tms | 151 | 17 | 168 | 10.1% |
Fitzgerald doesn't have a Super Bowl ring (he played in one, but lost), and one might theorize he'll only keep playing if he believes his team has a chance to win a championship. But he's coming back this year, and nobody considers Arizona a Super Bowl favorite; wouldn't be stunning if they finished 3rd or 4th in their own division.
Jerry Rice played until he was 42 and had a 1,000-yard season at age 40. Fitzgerald might very well outlast a lot of good receivers drafted long after him. Will be interesting to see where he shows up on the all-time lists when he finally does decide to hang up his cleats.
--Andy Richardson