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

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

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)

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by OldSchool

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.

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

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

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?

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]

Originally Posted by OrtonsPiercedTaint

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

Originally Posted by OrtonsPiercedTaint

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

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.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by TEX

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...

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.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by TEX

WHY not just sign McCluster to "use like McCluster?"

Obvious question is obvious.

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

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Obvious question is obvious.

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.

[Jiu Jitsu Jon]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

Avery + McCluster are much better brah, trust me.

I was being funny. Not sure if you were or not.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by Jiu Jitsu Jon

I was being funny. Not sure if you were or not.

The real DMC:

" Dexter 'Ludacris' Mc'motha ****in' Cluster "

[OldSchool]

I'll take Andre Roberts over McCluster.

[Ragged Robin]

Wouldn't mind Ted Ginn for PR/KR and an occasional 9-route if Avery is tired. Meh on the rest. Need to look to the draft for our answer at WR.

[Jiu Jitsu Jon]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

The real DMC:

" Dexter 'Ludacris' Mc'motha ****in' Cluster "

He'll look good in silver & black this year.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RustShack

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.

If you're looking to improve your receiving corps, and the plan to so includes signing Hester, that is a flawed plan.

Hester sucks as a receiver, and he hasn't been nearly as productive as a returner without Taub.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Jiu Jitsu Jon

He'll look good in silver & black this year.

Good luck with that...

[Jiu Jitsu Jon]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Good luck with that...

Wouldn't mind him as a punt returner, but if I were going to pick up a WR it would be Decker.

[ct]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

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.

this

UDFA rookie, wonder what his compensation level will be. I've like this guy since his rookie year, and kept thinking seattle was wasting a starting spot on Sydney rice for a couple years now.

[Gonzo]

Cribbs have anything left in the tank?