It'll be a buyer's market for free-agent receivers
 

Posted by Mike Florio on February 12, 2014, 11:40 AM EST

As teams begin to plan their eventual 53-man rosters, there are currently 53 receivers scheduled to be available in free agency. That’s the number of unrestricted and restricted free agents at the position who’ll be available as of March 11, barring a new contract with their current teams.

It’s bad news for the individual players, since it creates a team-friendly market. With so many wideouts looking for new homes, owners and executives will be able to squeeze agents into taking less.

The full list appears below. The most intriguing 10 names to watch are Anquan Boldin, Riley Cooper, Eric Decker, Julian Edelman, Jacoby Jones, Jeremy Maclin, Dexter McCluster, Hakeem Nicks, Emmanuel Sanders, and Golden Tate.

Nicks surely entered the season thinking that he could get the same five-year, $60 million package handed last year by the Dolphins to Mike Wallace. Nicks won’t get that from the Giants. On the open market, he may encounter teams who are concerned that his contract-year slump may not have been a one-year thing.

The list could grow, as more receivers are cut from their current contracts. One big name to consider in that regard is Wes Welker. The Broncos’ slot receiver will see his cap number double from $4 million to $8 million in 2014. That could be enough to prompt the Broncos to try to squeeze Welker to take less. If he doesn’t, he could be gone.

Likewise, Seahawks receiver Sidney Rice is expected to be dumped from the latter years of a big-money contract.

When the dust settles, the big winners could be the Patriots, who surely will be looking to bulk up at the position without spending a lot of money. Last year, they signed Sanders to an offer sheet. This year, they’d be able to add him without giving the Steelers a chance to match or compensation if they choose not to.


Seyi Ajirotutu (Chargers)

Danario Alexander (Chargers)

Doug Baldwin (Seahawks; restricted)

Anquan Boldin (49ers)

Deion Branch (Colts)

Dezmon Briscoe (Redskins; restricted)

Kenny Britt (Titans)

Plaxico Burress (Steelers)

Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Austin Collie (Patriots)

Kevin Cone (Falcons; restricted)

Riley Cooper (Eagles)

Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers)

Josh Cribbs (Jets)

Tandon Doss (Ravens; restricted)

Eric Decker (Broncos)

Julian Edelman (Patriots)

Jacoby Ford (Raiders)

Ted Ginn (Panthers)

Andrew Hawkins (Bengals; restricted)

Lavelle Hawkins (Chargers)

Devin Hester (Bears)

Darrius Heyward-Bey (Colts)

Domenik Hixon (Panthers)

Lestar Jean (Texans; restricted)

Jacoby Jones (Ravens)

James Jones (Packers)

Brandon LaFell (Panthers)

Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)

Mario Manningham (49ers)

Marc Mariani (Titans)

Dexter McCluster (Chiefs)

Robert Meachem (Saints)

Marlon Moore (Dolphins)

Joseph Morgan (Saints; restricted)

Josh Morgan (Redskins)

Santana Moss (Redskins)

Louis Murphy (Giants)

Hakeem Nicks (Giants)

Kevin Ogletree (Lions)

Kassim Osgood (49ers)

Taylor Price (Jaguars)

Andre Roberts (Cardinals)

Emmanuel Sanders (Steelers)

Dane Sanzenbacher (Bengals; restricted)

Jerome Simpson (Vikings)

Micheal Spurlock (Lions)

Brandon Stokley (Ravens)

Brandon Tate (Bengals)

Golden Tate (Seahawks)

Tiquan Underwood (Buccaneers)

Damian Williams (Titans)

Kyle Williams (Chiefs)

If Dorsey/Reid want Maclin its sounding like we'll be bidding against the Jets for his services... if he wants to go where he'll fit in immediately and play for a winner, he'd be smart to take a little bit less from KC.

Yeah, but why would Maclin turn down the chance to play with Geno Smith, teh greatest QB EVAR?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Damn, that's a lot of names.

LMAO

:hail:

That's nice. I'm going to steal that and rename one of the wife's cats "Chuntly."

It has a nice ring to it.

he can throw it & catch it too, though

And the draft is loaded at WR.

So we may finally be ****ed at the right time? Dorseid is the difference!

Absolutely no excuse this year if we don't get WR help

Golden Tate or James Jones please

Devin Hester's old special teams coach is here.

Just saying.

I'd also take a look at Kenny Britt if his head was right.

Would love to see the donkeys lose decker and welker.

Devon Hester at WR is a failed experiment.

What role would Hester fill for KC that they don't already have covered?

Avery's almost certainly staying.

Seattle fans are convinced that the team will resign Golden Tate. Which ****ing sucks, because I'd love to see him in KC.

I'm sure they're convinced they want him resigned.

Can't blame them for that. One of the sports radio guys there always seems to have a pulse on what the team will do in the offseason. This is one instance in which I hope he's wrong. As long as Denver doesn't get him that is...

;)

Hear you. Denver doesn't really have room for him if they keep decker.

I think Tate already came out and said that he wanted to stay in Seattle and would be willing to give a home town discount.

Being restricted he is prob staying but I like Doug Baldwin. Love the way he fights for the ball. He made a lot of plays for them down the stretch.

Manning and Brady have made JAGs look like stars for so long. Is age catching up to them?

? What makes you ask?

I know they ran more this year but if I am NE I clear some cap space and go after a couple of guys on this list. Boldon and Nicks. Nicks could have a Moss like experience in NE.

Brady isn't getting it done like he use to. Smoke & mirrors always has been part of Peyton's game(intelligence for most). With the arm strength being less reliable it's more so now

I am not a big fan of FA WR's.

Brady got to the afc championship with a shit D and without either stud TE in a TE based O. He had no name WRs.

Manning set the all time NFL offensive record.

No doubt father time is coming but I didn't see it this year...

Mario Manningham would be a nice inexpensive upgrade over Avery and McCluster. NVM, Just realized he's coming of a ACL... PASS.

Give Brady 1/2 the weapons manning has and he would be back to 30-40 td a year. Manning throws ducks Brady still has some zip on the ball.

Aging says Tom & Peyton need higher end talent now more than ever. Nature taking it's course

If not Maclin, Hakeem Nicks is an intriguing option...

For sure they're at the end, not the beginning...Wonder when Discount Double check becomes a FA?

Its safe to bet that we will be in for Mclain and Cooper. I'd really take either with more preference to Cooper.
Posted via Mobile Device

http://i.imgur.com/JYyuiP0.jpg

can i get a decoder ring?

Avery needs a demotion, but he isn't worthless either, I'd like to keep him around.

Really?

It is spelled ChUNT

I'm not a big fan of the WR's on our roster.

Coming out of Houston, I really liked Avery's potential, but he's never played to the level I believed he was capable of achieving.

That is the result of a lack of focus and commitment.

He could eventually still find that focus and play to the level of his talent, but that's probably unlikely.

He'd be ok as a 4th receiver, but I would have no qualms should the Chiefs move on from him.

I had a fairly high opinion of Nicks when I put him on my fantasy team as depth at WR last year. Unfortunately I caught the same number of TDs as he did.

Some of it was surely on him but in fairness, Eli couldn't find his ass with both hands in 2013.

ROFL

How about LaFell? Will the Panthers let him go? Too expensive?

His problem is with trying to stay healthy and like you said focus. I really thought highly of him but after seeing him drop so many easy passes and being unable to stay healthy throughout yet another season has me second guessing him.

nope ... just need reading lessons

o:-)

Chiefs sign Ford and DHB. #SuperBowl

and many I do not know
or on thre downslide of their career

Hmmm...I didn't know Emmanuel Sanders was a FA.

If we were going the FA route, he's who I'd want, in order:

Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
James Jones (Packers)
Emmanuel Sanders (Steelers)

I think I've seen James jones catch one ball. I'm guessing he's decent? Sanders didn't look terrible for the abortion of a team the steelers were.

There are also about 25 receivers in this class that have a third round or higher grade.

Now reason not to double dip and really bolster the position this offseason. Give Alex Smith the best weapons of his career and see what these guys can do to make a run at giving Peyton some unhappy endings.

Push those chips in and lets play ball.

Bowe
Maclin
Avery
Rookie

Also sign Hester if the price is right... Guessing it won't be but wanting to be used like McCluster and back with his ST's coach wouldn't shock me.

I like the list but...WHY not just sign McCluster to "use like McCluster?" He could likely be had for less than Hester...If the Chiefs got 500+ yards receiving out of him in year 1 of Reid, makes sense they'll get more out of him as the offense evolves. Not to mention the fact that Dex can spell RB if necessary, and Hester cant. Dex is an ascending player, Hester isnt. You can do more with Dex. Id just hate to lose Dex when his best years are ahead. I dont mind overpaying a bit to keep him. Just my take...

I agree. Take advantage of the glut and go for it. Id also REALLY like to see them get a TE that can do more in the passing game, not to mention stay healthy. Fasano / Duck Dynasty are both #2 types (Fasano can block a bit better, but thats not saying much) and no way Id count on Kelce for anything.

Should the Raiders take a QB? or should they take Sammy Watkins with a crop of F/A receivers like this?

The amount of FAs coupled with the depth of this year's WR draft class will force a lot of good vets to take less than what they should be making. Expect many 1-year prove it type deals from guys like Maclin, Nicks, Alexander, etc.

The Patriots were #3 in scoring despite losing Hernandez in the offseason, not having Gronk for most of the year, having Amendola shred his groin in the first game of the season, having to start 2 rookies at WR (including one UDFA rookie), and basically having a converted QB as his only healthy receiving option for a significant part of the season.

How is that not getting it done?

Their run game is what carried the team for most of the year. Did you watch the playoff loss to the Broncos? Brady was missing throws all over the field and they did nothing offesnively because Knighton was destroying the middle of their line in the run game.

Dex is going to cost more than Hester. Hester's probably on 1 year deals for the rest of his career, he's 32.

All the more reason not to sign Hester. How much do you think he signs a 1 year deal for somewhere? How much do you think Dex's cap hit will be per year in a new deal?

I'm not an expert, but if Hester gets more than $2m next year, I'll be shocked.

As for Dex... I think he gets something like 4 years, $12m.

I have a hard time believing McCluster will get a big contract offer from another team with all the WRs available in free agency and the draft.

Maybe not a big offer but possibly more than we have. A solid contract for Rex would be a very raiders thing to do.

Id be fine with Dex getting that. You might be right in that Dex might cost more than Hester, but not "that" much more if measured on an annual basis. All I'm saying is that keeping Dex might not be all that much more expensive than going in another direction. There's still upside there with many ways to use him.

Almost none of them with McCluster's skillset, though.

If you're looking for a slot receiver, he's near the top of your list.

If you're looking for a slot receiver who can also contribute hardcore on special teams, he is the top of your list.

I agree.

The ideal situation would be for the Chiefs to trade down and get more picks.

If they can't do that, then our ability to add talent in this year's draft is limited, and we're going to need Dex to return if we want to compete at the same level we did last year.

Best case scenario is that a QB falls to us that Cleveland wants, and they are scared Cincy will take him with the next pick.

So you didn't watch them play at all this year? BTW, Brady was 24 of 38 in the AFCCG.

Hope this helps

QUOTE=OrtonsPiercedTaint;10429519]Manning and Brady have made JAGs look like stars for so long. Is age catching up to them?[/QUOTE]


I really thought calling Manning smoke & mirrors would be the contested part. Catching the defense with 12 men on the field. Getting them to jump off sides so you get 3 downs to get 5 yards. You can take more down the field shots.

Dex has grown on me as well, I've used the analogy "handy little pocket multi-tool" quite a bit because it fits... but if he ends up being too expensive then I'm down for letting him go.

I'm all about stocking this team up the right way, the Steelers dominated for so long because they never hesitated to ditch guys who cost too much and drafted well to replace them.

Obvious question is obvious. :thumb:

I can't wait for the meltdown when we re-sign the guy...

If they do resign him it shouldn't be for much more than hesters deal a few years ago which was 2mil per.