2012 NFL Free Agents: Plaxico Burress and Veteran WRs Who Still Serve a Purpose

This year's NFL free agent class is loaded with quality wide receivers, and many of them are veterans who still have enough talent to be important contributors on any team.

These receivers may not have the same speed and quickness they used to, but their football intelligence and experience would make them a valuable addition to NFL rosters.

Let's look at three veteran receivers who still serve a purpose.

Plaxico Burress

The former New York Giants star isn't the same elite receiver he once was, but at 6'5" he has the size that makes cornerbacks have real problems while covering him.

After missing two seasons because of jail time, Burress caught 45 passes for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. That's quite impressive for someone who was away from the sport for a few years.

Burress is still a quality No. 2 or 3 option at the wide receiver position and could be a fabulous addition to a contending team that still needs some more weapons on offense.

Hines Ward

The Pittsburgh Steelers star is a free agent now and would be a fine pickup for a contending team needing another quality wideout.

Ward has played in at least 13 games in every season of his 14-year professional career, and is one of the better possession receivers of the last decade.

With a talented quarterback, he's still capable of catching at least 50 passes and racking up 400-plus receiving yards.

Ward would be an inexpensive upgrade for a team needing some veteran experience and/or depth at the wide receiver position.

Randy Moss

While Randy Moss doesn't have the blazing speed he used to, he's still a great route runner and still has enough quickness to be a quality deep threat.

Moss has a ton of experienced and is still very motivated to win the first Super Bowl of his career. Even though he will one day be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the lack of a championship ring is still one thing absent from Moss' glowing resume.

With a top quarterback on a contending team, Moss could be a valuable part of an offense needing a receiver who can work the sidelines and stretch the field.

Follow @NicholasGoss35