NFL Free Agency: Power Ranking the 10 Best Available WRs
The draft class is generally full of wide receivers who excelled at the collegiate level. The 2011 class is certainly no exception and teams will be trying to draft as many of them as they can.
Generally, the draft would be considered a place to get the young up and coming guys who hold the key to your team's future. Free agency is where general managers can off-set any potential risk of getting players who either can't make the transition from college to the NFL or need time to develop.
With the lack of free agency so far this season, GM's and coaches have to be getting nervous. Because of the lockout they have not been afforded the opportunity to fill the holes that require veteran knowledge and experience.
You can't teach a draftee what has taken years for veteran players to learn. NFL experience only comes one way, by playing in it.
It is with sincere hope that the lockout gets resolved prior to the fast approaching draft.
In an attempt to help sort out which wide receivers should be considered for a snatch and grab once free agency is on the table again, a list of the top ten prospects has been compiled. This list may look different than others because of the circumstances the NFL is in right now.
There is uncertainty about how former kickoff and punt returners will be used due to the rule change that puts the NFL back to where it was in 1993.
If it worked so well then why was it ever moved to the 30-yard line instead of keeping it at the 35-yard line? Kickers have much better legs than they did in early 90s so we can expect up to half of all kickoffs to end up as touchbacks and not being returnable. This will drastically change the role of the returners on special teams.
It is also unclear what the actual status of the free agents will be once the lockout is over and if the salary caps will change for rookies. All of these things need to be taken into consideration when creating a list of free agent wide receivers.
To simplify the process, this list includes players who have been primarily used as kickoff and punt returners. It also includes free agents who were tendered. Who you won't see listed here is anyone who received the franchise tag or were re-signed to new contracts, as they, obviously, are no longer available unless the team decides to part ways with them later on.
Alright, let's get started.
10. Danny Amendola
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Every year you have to have at least one guy on your list who could either have a huge year or maybe just an average one. A player that, even though they are considered a veteran, doesn't really have much experience but shows a lot of promise. At number 10, this would be the guy.
Why include these kind of players in the top 10?
Because they are the guys who could be high value steals. They won't cost as much as the expensive top receivers in the NFL but could develop into one of the best decisions a team makes in free agency. They have a ton of upside and proven potential.
These players could end up being a much better deal than dropping a lot of money on the big name guys.
Danny Amendola of the St. Louis Rams, is worthy of being mentioned in this class of receivers.
He is considered by some to be the "poor man's Wes Welker." The parallel between the two players begins with both being former receivers for Texas Tech and having somewhat similar builds. Welker (WR for the New England Patriots) is 5'9", 185 lbs. and Amendola is 5'11", 183 lbs.
They were also both undrafted free agents who had to make their way into the NFL through pure force of will and proven talent.
Amendola came after Welker (originally picked up by the San Diego Chargers in 2004) and in 2008 was signed on to the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. From there he went to the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles.
In 2009, Amendola was signed by the St. Louis Rams and finally got his chance to play in the NFL.
Amendola didn't have a break out receiving year in 2009 because he wasn't used on the offensive line very much. However, he was very effective as a kickoff and punt return specialist posting 1,618 and 360 yards, respectively, in 14 games.
Last season is the one that set him apart and puts him at number nine on this list. It is also what got him tendered by the Rams.
Amendola showed that he can do whatever is asked from him. He rushed for 81 yards, received for 689, returned punts for 452 and returned kickoffs for 1,142. He became the all around, versatile, do anything player that teams love to have.
If there are any concerns about Amendola it would be that he only really has experience at wide receiver on the offensive line for one year. But there is something about him that makes the risk to add him to your roster not seem like much of one at all. He personifies a tough, never give up attitude and grittiness that is not easy to find in wide receivers.
Sometimes, it is the intangibles that make a player stand out. That seems to be true of Amendola.
9. Eric Weems
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This nod goes to a restricted free agent player who made a huge name for himself last season mainly as a kickoff returner. What impresses most about this player is his speed, drive and determination.
Eric Weems, listed as the starting KR and third -string WR for the Atlanta Falcons last season, made the top 10 because he has shown significant improvements in his four years of playing in the NFL.
He stands at just 5'9" and weighs 194 lbs. He is small for a wide receiver but he doesn't seem to notice or care. Like Welker, he didn't get the memo that suggests the NFL only wants six foot and over players to apply for the wideout position.
Weems was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He was on the practice squad for most of the season but was called to the field during the final game against the Seattle Seahawks. Though he didn't post any numbers during that game, he got a taste of the big league.
In 2008 he saw more action. His first career reception was a four yard catch against the Carolina Panthers. During this same game, he showed that he could be a worthy blocker and made way for WR Harry Douglas to punch the ball in to the endzone.
In Week 16 of the 2008 regular season, Weems flexed more skill and recovered a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings.
2009 opened a new door for Weems when Harry Douglas went out with a season ending injury. Weems won the job as the team's punt and kick returner but also got to play at wide receiver. His first career touchdown, in fact, was a 30-yard reception thrown by QB Matt Ryan. Weems would score his second touchdown a month later with a 4-yard reception against the New York Giants.
He showed his off-field character before the season was over after being arrested for suspicion of driving while under the influence. Weems issued an apology to his team and to the Atlanta Falcons fans for his involvement in the incident.
By the end of the 2009 season, Weems was the number one KR/PR for the Falcons. He amassed 1,214 yards on kickoff returns and 270 yards on punt returns. He also had 6 catches for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns, rushed the ball 8 times for 53 yards and recorded 10 tackles.
2010 just got better for Weems and the Atlanta Falcons. He caught a career high four passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 and had his first start as a wide receiver in Week 2.
Weems ended the regular season with 6 catches for 61 yards, returned 40 kickoffs for 1,100 yards and a touchdown, returned 18 punts for 230 yards and a touchdown, while recording 16 tackles.
He was the only player in the NFC to have scored a touchdown on both kickoff and punt returns. All of this earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl on special teams.
It didn't stop there for Weems or the Falcons. They played in a memorable postseason game against the Green Bay Packers. The Falcons fell short of beating the Packers but Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, setting both franchise and NFL post-season records.
This is a young, talented and explosive player.
The Falcons should hold on to him if they can. If not, he'd make a great addition to a team looking to stretch their field on offense and special teams.
8. James Jones
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At No.8, we have a free-agent player who comes with some controversy about how good he really is. He can be a solid number three wideout, without question. However, he believes he should be a number two or even a number one receiver.
We are talking, of course, about James Jones. Jones is a 27-year-old, 6'1" 208 lbs, wide receiver who was picked up by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 draft. He had a stellar year as a rookie on the team.
Jones played in all 16 games with nine starts and chosen to play in both their playoff contests. He began the first two games in 2007 regular season as the number two WR. He was bumped to number three after Greg Jennings returned from a hamstring injury.
Jones finished the season fourth on the team with 47 receptions for 676 yards which put him at third best in the league among rookies. The other rookie receivers who were ahead of him were Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe (70 receptions for 995 yards) and Detroit’s Calvin "Megatron" Johnson (48 receptions for 756 yards). He also ranked fourth in the Green Bay franchise history for a rookie in receptions and yardage.
In 2008 his production dropped due a sprained right knee. He played in 10 games, starting in two of them, and pulled in 20 receptions for 274 yards and a TD. Notably, he joined Greg Jennings and Donald Driver as the three Packers to post a 100-yard receiving game on the season.
2009 was better for Jones. He stayed healthy and played in all 16 regular season games with three starts. Jones ended the season with 32 catches for 440 yards and a career-high five touchdown catches. The Packers were alive in post-season play again where Jones added a sixth touchdown.
In 2010, Jones played in 16 games with three starts. He had a huge window of opportunity when Donald Driver injured his thigh and a backup was needed. However, his free agency status would appear to suggest that he lost his battle for the second spot to teammate Jordy Nelson.
In the 10 games leading up to the Super Bowl, Jones had 29 catches for 366 yards and five touchdowns and Nelson had 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns.
It is unfortunate that a young player who caught five passes in the Super Bowl, including one that was over his back shoulder, will be remembered as the guy who dropped a pass that looked to be an easy touchdown. This was compared to Nelson's nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The main issue holding Jones back from being where he wants to be seems to center around his ability to follow through with a catch during clutch times. Jones is reported to have had at least 10 dropped passes just last year alone.
If he could shed himself of whatever is getting in the way of his ability to hold onto a ball received from one of the best QBs in the league, Jones could be an excellent second receiver. He is able to separate himself from defenders and get open in the deep. Jones definitely has an upside and may be attractive to many teams struggling at the wide receiver position.
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7. Santana Moss
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Santana Moss comes in at No.7. He is an unrestricted free agent currently with the Washington Redskins. Even though he will be turning 32 in June this proven player still has a lot of game left in him.
Moss was a first round pick in 2001 by the New York Jets (16th overall). He started out as primarily a punt returner for the Jets, where he became known as a player with big play potential.
In his 2001–04 stint with New York, Moss played in 51 games and finished just eleven yards shy of the 4,000 receiving yard mark. He had 1,799 yards in returns and a total of 19 touchdowns.
Moss was traded to the Washington Redskins after the 2004 season for Laveranues Coles. Since his days with the Redskins, when healthy, Moss has been a huge asset. His best season to date was in 2005 when he accumulated an incredible 1483 yards in 84 catches. He was also elected to his first Pro Bowl that same year.
However, it should be noted for prospective teams that Moss had his second best career stats last season when he received the ball 93 times for 1,115 yards. He had knee surgery prior to the 2010 season and it seems to have helped him get back to true form.
Though Moss is also a shorter wide receiver at 5'10", he has always made up for his lack of height with his speed and his hands.
There is some question about whether Moss would be best suited for a number two receiver position.
If this is where a team needs help, they really couldn't ask for much more out of a second receiver than you would get with Moss. Given how well he played again last season, Washington may not be inclined to let him go. Moss was by far their number one receiver last year.
6. Steve Smith
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Coming in at No.6 is a player known to most, not unlike the remaining top five players. Steve Smith of the New York Giants was picked up by New York in the second round of the 2007 draft.
Though he only played in five regular season games due to injuries his rookie year, Smith showed up, and showed up big, during the post season. Smith performed so well he became QB Eli Manning's main third down receiver. Most notably, he caught five passes in Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots, which included four catches on third down conversions. The Giants went on to beat the Patriots 17-14.
In 2008, Smith continued to be a favorite target of Manning's and caught 57 passes for 574 yards and a touchdown. He ended up besting the starting wide receivers, Amari Toomer and Plaxico Burress in receptions and aided the Giants in their NFC East division title.
2009 was a breakout year for Smith. The Giants parted ways with both Toomer and Burress and named Smith and Domenik Hixon as their starting receivers. Smith did not disappoint as a starter. He grabbed 107 receptions for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns. In Week 15 against the Washington Redskins, Smith established a new franchise record for most receptions in a single season.
The 2010 season was a little rougher for Smith when he tore his pectoral muscle and was out for a month only to come back and injure his knee, which would require microfracture surgery. However, in the nine games he played in Smith recorded 48 receptions for 529 yards.
There is no question about Smith's ability to be a high level wide receiver in the NFL. The only question will be what condition his knee will be in by the beginning of this 2011 season. So far the indications are that his rehab is on schedule and Smith expects to be on the field catching some balls and doing his job.
Will the Giants keep him in New York?
5. Lance Moore
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Lance Moore of the New Orleans Saints is another one of those players fans love. He, like Danny Amendola and Eric Weems came into the NFL the hard way. The 5'9", 190 lbs., 27-year-old wide receiver was another player who was not drafted.
Moore comes in at No.5 of the top 10 best available WRs in free agency this year.
In 2005, Moore was originally invited to the Cleveland Browns training camp but was waived by them and picked up by the Saints where he was signed to their practice squad. In November, he was promoted briefly to the active roster, declared inactive for three games, waived, and re-signed to the practice squad.
In 2006, the New Orleans Saints placed him on the active roster again to play on both special teams and the offensive line as a wide receiver. He had two punt returns against the Green Bay Packers during a preseason game where he busted out for 25 yards on one of them. However, he didn't make the final cuts, was waived again and resigned to the practice squad.
Moore decided to try his luck in Europe's NFL and played for the Berlin Thunder.
2007 was a much better year for Moore. In January, the Saints signed him to a reserve/future contract. Moore played in all 16 regular season games and notched his first four starts in the NFL. He had 32 catches for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Moore also led the Saints in punt returns with 20 for 185 yards. His longest return was for 48 yards.
In 2008, Moore again played in all 16 games and increased his starts to six. This was the year that he emerged as the team’s most consistent receiver and a favorite target for QB Drew Brees. Moore grabbed 79 catches for 928 yards.
2009 was a rougher year in terms of injuries as Moore struggled with both nagging hamstring and ankle injuries. This was a very special year for New Orleans, however, and Moore managed to help his team win Super Bowl XLIV by catching a two point conversion that ultimately sealed their fate and brought home the ring.
Though 2010 did not have the Saints repeating their national championship, Moore ended the year with 66 receptions for 763 yards. He also helped on special teams again and posted a 72 yard return for a touchdown.
Moore is a very well respected player in New Orleans. It would be surprising to see them let him go but if they do, he won't be on the market for long.
4. Malcom Floyd
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At the No.4 spot on this list we finally come to a receiver who fits the modern day idea of what a wideout should look like physically. Malcom Floyd, currently with the San Diego Chargers, stands at 6'5" and weighs in at 225 lbs. He is one of the tallest receivers in the NFL. Floyd is also the first half Samoan, half African American receiver to be in the NFL.
Floyd, also nicknamed, "M-80" for his jersey number and his ability to run routes efficiently, is one more player that can be added to the "wasn't drafted" list.
He has been with the San Diego Chargers since they picked him up as an undrafted free agent in 2004. His story is similar to the others who had to prove themselves and slowly climb the ranks.
Floyd's first reception came in his rookie year at the hands of another rookie, Philip Rivers. It was a touchdown pass and reception that marked the first for both of them.
In 2005, Floyd was released on September 3 and resigned to the practice squad two days later. He spent the first 12 weeks of the season on the Chargers’ practice squad. He was signed to the active roster on December 7 but did not play for the rest of the season.
From 2006 through the 2007 seasons, Floyd had an ankle injury that inhibited his playing time. In those two seasons collectively he played in 18 games, starting only in one of them. He had 22 receptions for 307 yards.
In 2008, Floyd played in 13 games, starting in two, and had 27 receptions for 465 yards. He was slowly, but surely finding his place on this team.
Interestingly, Floyd played with a collapsed lung on Dec 14, 2008. He scored a touchdown with 1:13 left on the clock and then spent the night in the hospital after the game.
Finally, in 2009, Floyd earned the chance to start for the Chargers. He played in all 16 games and started in nine. His reception record was 45 catches for 776 yards with an impressive 17.2 yard average per catch which tied him with teammate Vincent Jackson for the second highest average in the NFL.
Last season, Floyd had 37 receptions for a total of 717 yards and an even more impressive 19.4 yard average per catch. He did all of this while missing five games due to a hamstring injury.
If you are a Chargers fan you probably already know that Floyd is the number two receiver behind Vincent Jackson. You probably also know that the Chargers put the franchise tag on Jackson and would really like to keep Floyd.
Since he is an unrestricted free agent it will be interesting to see how hard they will pursue him.
Could he be a number one guy on another team?
3. Braylon Edwards
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At number three on this list, Braylon Edwards, might be a stretch. He's got talent, that's not the issue. It's more about consistency and his conduct off the field.
More and more teams are concerned about the conduct of their players on and off the field. Edwards has had his fair share of legal problems from traffic violations to a DWI to aggravated assault. He also is known to donate a lot of money to charities and has his own foundation.
Edwards is a complicated man.
Perhaps we should just focus on his NFL stats.
Edwards is another tall WR at 6'3" and weighs 214 lbs. He was drafted in 2005 in the first round, number three overall, by the Cleveland Browns. Edwards was highly touted as a powerful wide receiver out of the University of Michigan.
He started in seven games and played in ten during his rookie year. His production numbers were 32 receptions for 512 yards, averaging 16 yards per catch and recording 3 touchdowns.
He played in all 16 games in 2006 and started in all but one. Edwards improved his numbers to 61 catches for 884 yards but his average yards per catch fell slightly to 14.5 and he only increased his number of touchdowns to six.
2007 was by far his breakout year. Edwards played and started in all 16 regular season games. He put up monster numbers with 80 catches for 1289 yards and got his average yards per catch back up to 16.1. He also scored 16 touchdowns. This is a number he has not been able to even get close to since 2007.
2008 did not go quite as well although he was still the clear starter for the Browns. Edwards recorded 55 receptions for 873 yards with an average of 15.9 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns.
In 2009, Edwards felt he needed a fresh start somewhere else.
He started four games for the Browns and then was traded to the New York Jets where he finished the year by playing in 12 games and starting in 11. His production for the Jets was not exactly all that great but it was a new team so some slack should be given. He ended recording 35 catches for 541 yards and averaged 15.5 yards per carry, with four touchdowns.
Edwards stepped his game up in 2010. He played in all 16 games and started in 15 of them. He recorded 53 receptions for 904 yards with an average of 17.1 yards per carry and scored 7 touchdowns.
As it was mentioned in the beginning, there is no question about his ability to make plays but when his numbers start to falter he has a reputation of blaming everyone else for that.
Some team will want to pick Edwards up for his proven play making abilities. Will the Jets resign him?
2. Santonio Holmes
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The choice between who would fall at the No.1 pick and who would be at No.2 on this list proved to be very challenging when I looked at production. However, when you are talking about the top athletes at the wide receiver position, the deciding factor landed with their character.
With that said, Santonio Holmes comes in second. He is not unlike his teammate Braylon Edwards when it comes to legal trouble off the field. If this were a personality contest, neither of these guys would be on this list.
Okay, back to sticking with the stats.
Holmes was selected in the first round of the 2006 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a rough start with the Steelers and was criticized for his less than stellar performance on special teams where he had a propensity for fumbling the ball.
He did much better, however, once they moved him to the receiver position. Holmes replaced Cedrick Wilson in the starting lineup and ended the season with 49 receptions for 824 yards and two touchdowns.
2007 was considered his breakout year. He earned the starting position at the split end. Holmes led the Steelers in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 942 yards and eight touchdown catches.
In 2008, Holmes started in 15 regular season games. He posted a career-high 55 receptions for 821 yards and five touchdowns. He also played on special teams and returned 34 punts for 226 yards. His longest return was for 35 yards.
This was, of course the year, that the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl.
Holmes played in each of the three postseason games, but his most exciting achievement was catching the game winning touchdown with only 35 seconds left on the game clock. He caught nine passes during this game for 131 yards and was named the Super Bowl XLIII MVP.
In 2009, Holmes posted his best season to date, with 79 catches for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns.
In the 2010 off season, the Steelers opted to trade Holmes to the New York Jets. If Holmes had not been traded, the Steelers had already decided to cut him as a result of his various legal problems and violations of league policies.
The Jets knew that Holmes would not be able to participate in the first four regular season games as part of his suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Once Holmes did get to play in a Jets uniform he brought in 52 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns.
As of March 1st, 2011, Holmes received a tender from the Jets.
For as many off the field issues as Holmes has, he can make clutch plays and has established himself as a top wide receiver. It is unclear what the Jets will do if another team attempts to make an offer to trade for Holmes.
Frankly, it seems, the Jets may be the best place for him.
1. Sidney Rice
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Sidney Rice comes in at No.1.
Rice was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2007 draft and made an immediate impact. He had an impressive rookie season, which began with the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, as Rice was only the fifth rookie WR to start in the opener in team history.
Rice also, impressively tied for first in the NFC and second in the NFL among rookies with 4 touchdown catches. He played in 13 games, starting in four of them, and had 31 catches for 396 years with four recorded touchdowns.
What might be the most impressive play of his 2007 campaign, however, had nothing to do with being on the receiving end of the ball.
Rice threw the longest pass of the Vikings season, a 79 yard bomb, to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe on a reverse pass play. Not surprisingly, this set a team record as the longest pass by a non-QB in franchise history. He would go on to complete two other passes for a combined 94 yards in a game against the Oakland Raiders.
It would seem that his 2007 experience would be difficult to top if you looked at adrenaline plays alone.
In 2008, Rice struggled with a knee injury and sat out three games but it would appear that his production was hurt the entire season. He may have been in 13 games, starting in three of them, but Rice only caught 15 passes for 141 yards. He did manage to score four touchdowns, suggesting that he made every catch count.
2009 was the breakout year for Rice where he posted 83 receptions for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. His performance earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl. He also had a great game against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, where he caught six passes from QB Brett Favre for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
Unfortunately, for Rice and the Vikings they lost the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints. It was during this game that Rice suffered an injury to his hip that he would finally have surgery on just before the 2010 season.
Rice would rejoin the Vikings for the final six games. He posted 17 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
If there are questions about Rice being the number one overall pick, it may be important to remember that he, like the others on this team, had to adjust to several different QBs over the past four years. It shouldn't be a surprise that the Vikings even resorted to using Rice as a QB for a few plays.
Rice has tremendous hands and is a very athletic player. The Vikings have enough positional problems to worry about without losing Rice.
However, they didn't put the franchise tag on him so he is free to go if another team is willing to meet the trade agreements and if the Vikings don't or aren't able to match it.
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