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Andersen Pickard takes a look at the top 10 NFL wide receivers heading into free agency and where they could land this offseason.
NFL free agency kicks off on Monday when the legal tampering period opens at noon EDT. As soon as the clock strikes 12, all 32 NFL teams can begin negotiating contracts with free agents.
So far this offseason, we've already seen three high-profile wide receiver moves as Mike Evans signed a two-year extension and Michael Pittman Jr. and Tee Higgins were both issued franchise tags.
Nevertheless, there are still some appealing names on the open market at the wide receiver position. Let’s rank the top 10 free agent wide receivers, starting with No. 10.
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10 – Josh Reynolds
Reynolds emerged as a reliable receiving threat despite playing a crowded offense with the Detroit Lions last year. He finished the year with 40 catches, 608 yards, and five touchdowns while dropping just three passes the entire year. Reynolds' reliability was consistently on display as Jared Goff had a 118.8 passer rating when throwing to him.
While Detroit benefitted from having Reynolds within its offense, it's hard to imagine they'll re-sign him. As mentioned, the Lions have a crowded offense headlined by the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery. As much as the Lions appreciated his contributions last year, Reynolds is expendable.
9 – Darnell Mooney
Mooney simply hasn't been the same receiver ever since he turned in a 1,000-yard campaign back in 2021. Not only was he impacted by the arrival of DJ Moore, but he also dropped five passes this past season. He also earned a 55.2 PFF grade on offense, which is the lowest mark of his career thus far.
The Bears likely wouldn't oppose bringing Mooney back as their second wide receiver, but it also wouldn't be surprising if Chicago felt as though this offseason represented a natural point for their divorce. Mooney could garner some interest on the open market if teams think he can return to his 2021 form.
Darnell Mooney apparently turned down a 3-year contract worth avg. of $10mil a season.
Not sure I’d pay the same now with how stacked this WR class is.
If we don’t bring him back, wishing him the best of luck!
Via @BradBiggs pic.twitter.com/FEVwwKDSsG
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@OfficialJAYCHI) March 5, 2024
8 – K.J. Osborn
Osborn consistently impressed in a depth role for the Vikings, but he's almost a lock to depart in free agency given Minnesota's dominant one-two punch of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He also dropped seven passes in 2023, which was a staggeringly high number considering he had dropped just two over his first two seasons in the league.
After contributing 48 catches, 540 yards, and three touchdowns in 2023, Osborn can market himself to other teams as a big-play threat who can compete to be a steady second wide receiver. He should have plenty of suitors.
7 – Curtis Samuel
2023 was a big year for Samuel as he proved that he can still be a very productive WR2. The general consensus entering last year was that Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson would be the Commanders' top two pass-catchers, but the latter massively underperformed. Samuel didn't miss a beat, playing physical football alongside McLaurin. He ultimately finished the year with 62 catches, 613 yards, and four touchdowns.
Samuel hits free agency for just the second time in his career and should have plenty of suitors. He could be the second receiver on many teams, providing veteran support for a contender or any team seeking a reliable weapon for their young quarterback.
6 – Michael Thomas
Thomas isn't officially a free agent, but the expectation is that he will be released on March 13 and therefore free to sign with any team. The 31-year-old has been no stranger to stardom in the past, catching 274 passes for 3,130 yards and 18 touchdowns between 2018 and 2019. However, injuries have tarnished his reputation since then. In fact, the former Offensive Player of the Year has appeared in just 20 games over the last four seasons, failing to surpass the 500-yard mark in any of those campaigns.
The veteran pass-catcher's lofty injury history will surely scare away many teams. Even the organizations interested in signing him will only feel comfortable doing so on a shorter-term deal that includes incentives or some other insurance to protect themselves in case Thomas continues to suffer injuries. With that said, he'll still generate plenty of interest given his immense potential when healthy.
The Saints are planning to release veteran WR Michael Thomas.
His 2019 is one of the greatest of all-time:
⚜️149 receptions (NFL record)
⚜️1,725 yards
⚜️91 first downs (2nd all-time)
⚜️9 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/7x5rqlIEOB— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 7, 2024
5 – Tyler Boyd
Boyd was the third weapon in what was widely considered to be one of the NFL's best wide receiver trios. While often overshadowed by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Boyd managed to have another productive season, contributing 67 catches, 667 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. He has earned at least a 70.0 PFF grade on offense in five of his last six seasons.
Given that Boyd has shown he can fill in as a team's top receiver in a pinch, he should sign to be a second option somewhere. He could take a while to sign if a large number of teams have interest in him.
4 – Gabe Davis
Davis' departure from the Bills is inevitable, but he should draw significant interest after putting together some strong games in Buffalo. He totaled 163 catches, 2,730 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns over four years with the Bills, and that doesn't include his heroic eight-catch, 201-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Chiefs in the 2021 playoffs.
On a negative note, Davis took a step back this past season. He turned in a 67.9 PFF grade on offense and a 49.8 run-blocking grade in 2023, as well as 11 combined drops over the last two campaigns. Once a promising young receiver and breakout candidate, Davis now seems poised to latch on somewhere as a WR2.
Gabe Davis - among Bills pass catchers 2023
*Highest drop %
*Highest INT % when targeted
*Lowest ADOT adjusted catch %
*Lowest contested catch %Im sorry. I don't think it was a Josh Allen problem. It was a Gabe Davis problem. Onward. #Jets
— The Buffalo Jet Fan (@BuffaloJetFan) March 7, 2024
Update: Gabe Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.
3 – Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham isn't the Pro Bowl-caliber player he once was, but he remains a solid, reliable threat in the passing game. As a Raven last season, he turned in 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns while dropping one pass. He played all over the field and finished the year with a very respectable 75.4 PFF grade on offense.
Perhaps the biggest concern with Beckham is his injury history. In addition to missing all of 2022 with a torn ACL, the veteran pass-catcher dipped in and out of games in 2023 with minor injuries. It would be reasonable for teams to have concerns about his ability to stay healthy for a full 17 games, therefore limiting him to the second receiver role.
2 – Marquise Brown
Brown has remained a steady contributor throughout his five-year career but won't garner top-end money after a somewhat underwhelming final campaign in Arizona. This past year, he appeared in 14 games, catching 51 passes for 574 yards and a trio of touchdowns. He finished the season with a 67.1 PFF grade on offense but averaged a mere 47.9 grade over his final two contests.
Brown isn't a top-tier wide receiver and therefore won't command top-tier money, but perhaps that's part of his appeal. He has shown that he can be the top receiving option on a team that balances the run game with the passing game and spreads the ball around well.
1 – Calvin Ridley
With Evans, Pittman, and Higgins all off the market, Ridley becomes the top name available. He flourished in his first year back from a suspension, catching 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. He did have seven drops, but he was also one of Trevor Lawrence's favorite targets in a pinch because of his ability to haul in difficult passes near the sideline.
There's a chance Ridley could sign early in the tampering period because of his prominence, but he could also afford to wait given that he can control the market, rather than the market dictating what type of deal he'll sign.
Another name that will be hot on the free agent market is WR Calvin Ridley.
With Mike Evans securing an extension in Tampa Bay and Michael Pittman Jr./Tee Higgins being slapped with the franchise tag, Ridley will cash in.
The Patriots, Jets, and Panthers would be teams to… pic.twitter.com/BKVBUol46z
— Neal Driscoll (@NealDriscoll) March 10, 2024
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