NFL Free Agency: Oakland Raiders and 10 Teams Who Need To Snag Sidney Rice
Anyone shopping for a top-flight wide receiver?
Minnesota wide receiver Sidney Rice remains on the market. The Vikings have said they want to resign Rice, but agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that he will test free agency before he resigns with the team.
"I didn't want him to be sensitive about the fact that it was (linebacker) Chad (Greenway) being franchised instead of Sidney," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told NFL.com on Friday. "That does not mean that we're not going to do right by Sidney, but we couldn't franchise both of them. We want to get Sidney signed and take care of him, because he's going to take care of our football team."
Together with Percy Harvin, Rice gave the Vikings one of the most athletic and talented receiving duos in the NFL. Rice was injured for much of the year in 2010, but still finished with 17 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
Something tells me Rice will come with a hefty price, but I know of some teams that could go after him, including the Raiders. Here's who could be in the mix:
11. Carolina Panthers
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Yes, it's the longest of long shots, but the Panthers could use someone opposite Steve Smith. If he bolts (which is possible), then this becomes even more critical. Carolina should at least make the effort, but I have a feeling Rice will pass on a rebuilding project.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
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If Chad Johnson goes west and rejoins Hue Jackson in Oakland, then Cincinnati will need to address this area.
Now if Carson Palmer winds up being traded? Then this becomes even less of a possibility.
9. Chicago Bears
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It would be brutal for the Vikings to lose Rice to a division rival, but the Bears didn't have a 1,000-yard
receiver last year. Adding Rice would then give Jay Cutler one of the NFL's best deep threats and bolster a receiving corps that includes Johnny Knox (960 yards, five touchdowns), Devin Hester (475, four touchdowns) and tight end Greg Olsen (404 yards, five touchdowns).
The only problem here is that general manager Jerry Angelo sounds like he'll be conservative in free agency and may not be a big spender again like he was when they signed Julius Peppers.
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8. Seattle Seahawks
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When Mike Williams (65 catches, 751 yards) is your top receiver, that's not a good thing. Ben Obomanu may be gone due to free agency as well, so this is an area that needs some help. I look at Seattle's group of receivers and don't see a legitimate No. 1 receiver. All these guys would be a No. 2 option or maybe a quality third receiver on other teams.
7. Saint Louis Rams
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A true No. 1 wide receiver for quarterback Sam Bradford is a must, but something tells me they'll address this via the draft. Imagine how dangerous the Rams would be, though, with Bradford, Steven Jackson and Rice catching passes.
6. Cleveland Browns
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Like St. Louis, I think the Browns could address getting a top wide receiver via the draft, but if I'm team
president Mike Holmgren, I look at the division and see the problems in Cincinnati, see how talented both Baltimore and Pittsburgh are, and realize this could help the team become a little more competitive.
5. Buffalo Bills
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The Bills could be dangerous if they add Rice to a group that already includes Steve Johnson (1,073 yards, 10 TDs), Lee Evans (578, four TDs) and Roscoe Parrish (400 yards, two touchdowns).
I know the Bills have several other areas to address, but adding Rice to the offense could create some matchup nightmares for opposing defensive coordinators.
4. Tennessee Titans
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This could hinge primarily on who the Titans go after at quarterback.
Let's say they land Donovan McNabb, for example. You could then have him and Chris Johnson in the backfield, which could be enticing for Rice.
The Titans receivers are decent, but there's not a true No. 1 receiver in that group. Put Rice on here, and that group goes from good to very good immediately.
3. Oakland Raiders
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If the Al Davis spending spree continues, this wouldn't shock me.
Of course, Raider fans will cuss me out, and say right now their receivers are the best in the league and that I'm idiotic to think they even need to improve.
Add Rice into the mix with Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey and that offense has to improve. Oakland was second in the NFL in rushing, but their passing attack was 23rd, averaging just under 199 yards per game.
2. Atlanta Falcons
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Yes, I think the Falcons should go after Rice. Matt Ryan's got a top receiver already in Roddy White, but if you double team him, that really leaves you Tony Gonzalez (who isn't getting any younger), Michael Jenkins (who had just two touchdown catches) and Jason Snelling (who had 303 yards receiving).
1. San Diego Chargers
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It's amazing that the Chargers stayed in the playoff mix for as long as they did, despite not having a true No. 1 receiver outside of tight end Antonio Gates. If Vincent Jackson is lost to free agency, this becomes even more important.
Put Rice into the fold, and you then have two incredible options for Philip Rivers to throw to in Gates and Rice. That could then benefit Malcom Floyd (37 catches, 717 yards, six touchdowns) and Patrick Crayton (28-514, one touchdown).
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