Plaxico Burress and the Top WR Weapons on the Market

The 2011 NFL free agency class is pretty deep at wide receiver. There are a number of high profile players who are looking to cash in on a payday with a new team. Luckily for this elite group of receivers, there are a number of quality squads in need of new life at their position.

The New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons are just a few of the many playoff teams that have a hole in their receiving corps that one of these playmakers could fill.

Plaxico Burress may be the most intriguing free agent in the entire class. The receiver will be 34 years old at the start of the 2011 NFL season and has spent the majority of the last two years in a federal penitentiary. He maintained that he worked out four times a week and is still in shape. He vows to play again and the Super Bowl-winning WR should easily catch on with a new team this offseason.

Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the top names in the 2011 NFL wide receiver free agent class.

5. James Jones

James Jones had his best statistical season last year as a member of the Super Bowl Champion Green Back Packers squad.

The speedy, strong wideout caught 50 balls, racking up 679 yards and five touchdowns. He is a deep threat who averaged 13.6 yards on a reception and could be getting paid by a team other than Green Bay.

Jones has some downside though, as he is prone to dropping the football. Some reports say he dropped as many as five potential touchdowns last season alone. 

4. Steve Smith

Steve Smith made the Pro Bowl after an excellent 2009 season and is coming off an injury-plagued '10 campaign. This should not stop the Super Bowl-winning receiver from having a number of teams offering him big money deals this offseason.

Smith is a possession receiver who catches a ton of short yardage passes and helps move the chains. He caught four balls on third down in the 2007 Super Bowl to help the Giants win the championship.

Smith was Eli Manning's favorite and most reliable target, so look for a team with a relatively young quarterback or a squad that needs a possession receiver to make a serious run at Smith.

3. Plaxico Burress

Everyone loves a second chance; just look at Michael Vick's return to the Pro Bowl after spending years in jail for dog fighting. Plaxico is going to get a shot at his this offseason when a team inks him to a deal.

Plaxico is reportedly still in shape and has not shrunk from his 6'5" frame. The tall, athletic receiver can go up and grab any ball and is a huge threat in the red zone. A team like Philadelphia desperately needs a big receiver to pair up with the speedy DeSean Jackson. Burress could be their man. 

Plaxico averaged 871 yards and 6 touchdowns for his career in the NFL, but may be rusty after spending nearly two years inside a prison. 

2. Santonio Holmes

The New York Jets would hate to see Santonio Holmes go. They traded with Pittsburgh for him two seasons ago and need to retain his services after he has built a solid rapport with Mark Sanchez. 

Santonio is a clutch performer late in games and is also the fastest of the Jets' receiving corps. The Jets have three decent free agent receivers about to hit the open market, but Santonio should be the priority to re-sign.

Holmes will command a large paycheck, but he has earned it. 

1. Sidney Rice

Rice missed most of the 2010 NFL season with a hip injury he sustained in the '09 NFC Championship Game. Rice is a tall, speedy, big-play receiver who should draw a lot of attention when free agency officially begins. 

When Rice is healthy, he is potentially one of the best young receivers in all of football. His potential and upside are incredible and he could be a perennial Pro Bowler in the right system if he avoids injury.

The Vikings need all the help they can get as they move forward into the Christian Ponder era. Having a wide receiver like Rice on their squad will help tremendously with his development. Look for them to place a priority on re-signing him.