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Waiting for the call

Allen, Cooper unsigned as training camps approach

Training camps are three weeks away, and there are still some free agent dominos that need to fall – particularly at wide receiver. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper, most notably, are still there for anyone who wants to sign them.

Further down in the pecking order are Tyler Boyd, Gabe Davis and Nelson Agholor. Reports indicate the Steelers in recent days have talked to Boyd and Davis; they’re presumably looking to add another pair of hands.

Allen and Cooper look like the best available options. They’re certainly the most accomplished. Both have gone over 1,100 receiving yards five times in their careers. I expect both will wind up being second or third receivers somewhere.

That Allen and Cooper are available is likely a result of them and teams not agreeing on how much they’ve detriorated. Allen is 33, while Cooper is 31. Both come off ho-hum seasons, but neither is perhaps ready to admit that they’re not No. 1 guys anymore.

While both have lost some juice, both are still decent candidates for viable numbers (not great, but fantasy-relevant).

In the last 15 years, 10 wide receivers who were at least 31 switched teams in the offseason, then went on to post top-30 numbers (using PPR scoring). Another 13 at least made the top 50.

OLDER RECEIVERS ON NEW TEAMS (last 15 yrs)
YearPlayerAgeRecYdsTDPPRRkPrevious Yr
2015Brandon Marshall, NYJ31109150214343.2361-721-8
2013Anquan Boldin, S.F.338511797246.01565-921-4
2010Terrell Owens, Cin.37729839224.31755-829-5
2023Adam Thielen, Car.3310310144231.01770-716-6
2014Steve Smith, Balt.357910656221.51864-745-4
2013Wes Welker, Den.327377810210.821118-1354-6
2023DeAndre Hopkins, Ten.317510577223.62264-717-3
2012Brandon Lloyd, N.E.31749114195.12570-966-5
2011Jabar Gaffney, Was.31689475192.72665-875-2
2015James Jones, G.B.31508908191.03073-666-6
2017Ted Ginn, N.O.32537874159.63454-752-4
2021Marvin Jones, Jac.31738324180.23476-978-9
2024Keenan Allen, Chi.32707447186.434108-1243-7
2018Jordy Nelson, Oak.33637393156.73853-482-6
2011Plaxico Burress, NYJ34456128154.24035-454-4
2020Emmanuel Sanders, N.O.33617265164.84166-869-5
2021A.J. Green, Ari.33548483156.84147-523-2
2016Anquan Boldin, Det.36675848173.44269-789-4
2011Deion Branch, N.E.32517025151.24461-818-6
2017DeSean Jackson, T.B.31506683138.64556-1005-4
2019Golden Tate, NYG31496766154.24574-795-4
2015Nate Washington, Hou.32476584136.84940-647-2
2019Danny Amendola, Det.34626781140.84959-575-1
2025Amari Cooper??????44-547-4
2025Keenan Allen??????70-744-7

If we’re trying to play matchmaker, I would identify the following 10 teams as most likely to add a wide receiver: Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Cowboys, Raiders, Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, 49ers, Titans and Commanders.

For those drafting right now, some sense in throwing a late-round pick at Allen or Cooper.

LEADING RECEIVERS FOR EACH TEAM
TeamWR1WR2WR3
• ArizonaHarrisonM.WilsonDortch
• AtlantaLondonMooneyMcCloud
BaltimoreFlowersBatemanHopkins
BuffaloShakirColemanJ.Palmer
CarolinaMcMillanLegetteThielen
ChicagoD.MooreOdunzeBurden
CincinnatiChaseHigginsIosivas
• ClevelandJeudyC.TillmanD.Johnson
• DallasLambPickensTolbert
DenverSuttonMimsBryant
DetroitSt.BrownJ.WilliamsPatrick
Green BayReedDoubsGolden
HoustonCollinsKirkHiggins
IndianapolisPittmanDownsPierce
JacksonvilleB.ThomasT.HunterD.Brown
Kansas CityWorthyR.RiceM.Brown
LA ChargersMcConkeyJohnstonT.Harris
LA RamsNacuaAdamsAtwell
• Las VegasMeyersBechTucker
• MiamiT.HillWaddleM.Washington
MinnesotaJeffersonAddisonNailor
New EnglandDiggsDouglasHollins
New OrleansOlaveShaheedCooks
NY GiantsNabersW.RobinsonSlayton
• NY JetsG.WilsonJ.ReynoldsLazard
PhiladelphiaA.BrownD.SmithDotson
• PittsburghMetcalfC.AustinR.Wilson
• San FranciscoJenningsPearsallAiyuk
SeattleSmith-NjigbaKuppValdes-Scantling
Tampa BayEvansGodwinMcMillan
• TennesseeRidleyLockettAyomanor
• WashingtonMcLaurinSamuelN.Brown

—Ian Allan

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