Wide receivers have been flying off the board. There were three good, intriguing options at this position, I thought, and they’ve all landed with new teams. One guy has been grossly overpaid, and there are a host of lesser type options still available.
THE BEST
Marvin Jones: He showed some ability to get deep last year in Cincinnati. Now he’s replacing Calvin Johnson. The best of the free agent wide receivers, I thought, but a lot weaker than a typical No. 1 free agent. Lions gave him $40 million for five years, with $17 million guaranteed. Mostly with the Lions, I’m excited to see what Golden Tate will do now that he’s more of a No. 1. When Megatron missed four games in 2014, Tate caught 31 passes for 483 yards and 3 TDs in those games. Tate was a great goal-line receiver last year. Early guess is that Tate will be a top-10 receiver on my board, while Jones will clock in somewhere around No. 30.
Travis Benjamin: The Colts selected Philip Dorsett in the first round last year. Benjamin also played at the U, and he’s the same kind of player – really small but really fast. He really started to put things together in Cleveland last year, with 4 TD catches over 40 yards. He has that speed. Definitely should help their punt-return teams. Only issue is his tiny size. When Philip Rivers has had success throwing deep balls in the past, it’s also been to huge receivers – Vincent Jackson, Malcom Floyd. Benjamin isn’t that kind of guy; he’s small and lean. But explosive No. 2 who’ll contribute some big plays. About 35-40 on my board this summer, I think (among wide receivers).
Rishard Matthews: Relative to what people are being paid, he’s my favorite free agent wide receiver. Tennessee signed him to a three-year deal worth $15 million. As well as Matthews played last year, I thought he was worth more than that. The Dolphins traded for Kenny Stills, signed Greg Jennings and used a first-round pick on DeVante Parker, and Matthews simply was better than all of those guys. But I can’t say for sure he’ll be the top target in Tennessee. They’ve got a really good pass-catching tight end (Delanie Walker), and there might not be much difference between their three top wide receivers. Likely Matthews and Dorial Green-Beckham playing outside, with Kendall Wright in the slot.
OVERPAID
Mohamed Sanu: He had a pretty mediocre season in Cincinnati last year. Marvin Jones beat him out, and Sanu didn’t make much of an impact as their slot guy. Looks like a pretty mediocre No. 3 receiver to me. Yet Atlanta gave him a five year contract worth $32.5 million, with $14 million guaranteed. I don’t get it. He’ll take Roddy White’s job, and the Falcons didn’t send many passes to that spot last year.
WHAT’S LEFT
At this point, the position is pretty well picked over. There’s Mike Wallace. He was pretty good a few years back, but the Dolphins and Vikings haven’t been able to get him dialed in the last two years. Maybe some team can spark him. Based on what he’s done in the past, I will put Wallace ahead of a couple of the struggling starters from last year – Jermaine Kearse (re-signed with Seahawks) and Rueben Randle.
I’m putting three younger guys in my top 10, and note that they’re restricted free agents (RFA) – Kamar Aiken, Chris Hogan and Jaron Brown.
Many of the remaining prospects are older guys who are right at the end of the road – Anquan Boldin, Brandon LaFell, Nate Washington, James Jones, Roddy White, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, Marques Colston, Lance Moore.
Leonard Hankerson showed some potential last year, but something about him seems to rub coaches the wrong way, since both the Falcons and Patriots had him and dropped him last year.
Percy Harvin can’t seem to stay healthy.
| TOP 30 FREE AGENT RECEIVERS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Old | New |
| 1. | Marvin Jones | Cin. | Det. |
| 2. | Travis Benjamin | Clev. | S.D. |
| 3. | Rishard Matthews | Mia. | Tenn. |
| 4. | Kamar Aiken (RFA) | Balt. | --- |
| 5. | Mike Wallace | Minn. | --- |
| 6. | Mohamed Sanu | Cin. | Atl. |
| 7. | Jermaine Kearse | Sea. | Sea. |
| 8. | Rueben Randle | NYG | --- |
| 9. | Chris Hogan (RFA) | Buff. | --- |
| 10. | Jaron Brown (RFA) | Ariz. | --- |
| 11. | Anquan Boldin | S.F. | --- |
| 12. | Brian Quick | Rams | Rams |
| 13. | James Jones | G.B. | --- |
| 14. | Nate Washington | Hou. | --- |
| 15. | Jeremy Kerley | Jets | --- |
| 16. | Andre Holmes | Oak. | --- |
| 17. | Roddy White | Atl. | --- |
| 18. | Percy Harvin | Buff. | --- |
| 19. | Greg Jennings | Mia. | --- |
| 20. | Andre Johnson | Ind. | --- |
| 21. | Jerricho Cotchery | Car. | --- |
| 22. | Brandon LaFell | N.E. | --- |
| 23. | Leonard Hankerson | Buff. | --- |
| 24. | Rod Streater | Oak. | --- |
| 25. | Marques Colston | N.O. | --- |
| 26. | Andre Caldwell | Den. | --- |
| 27. | Lance Moore | Det. | --- |
| 28. | Keshawn Martin | N.E. | --- |
| 29. | Malcom Floyd | S.D. | --- |
| 30. | Chris Givens | Balt. | --- |
—Ian Allan