The Free Agent Wide Receivers

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 6:28 AM CST

There are more big name free agent wide receivers available this year than I can every remember being available. It would make a lot of sense to sign one of these guys since most of them won't get the payday they deserve with all the competition out there. Some of the second tier guys could easily be great steals and still upgrades for the Rams. Personally I feel we'd be much better off signing one or two of these guys and letting WR wait til next year in the draft.

Here's a list of free agents with a few personal thoughts on them:

Wes Welker – Everyone says there is no way he doesn't end up with the Pats again, but the Pats have a history of letting big money players not named Tom Brady walk. Turns 31 in June.

Mike Wallace – Restricted - Before coaching changes I'd of said no way he moves. With a more conservative offense coach and two more young emerging receivers in Pittsburgh who knows though. One could easily make the case for him being the best WR free agent this year, restricted or not.

Dwayne Bowe - In my opinion the second best player up for free agency in KC this offseason after Brandon Carr. They may be hard pressed to sign both.

Vincent Jackson - Probably the most talented, but a DUI history and the competition may keep him from the payday he would get in another year.

Marques Colston – He wants to be the man somewhere. New Orleans has to pay Drew Brees and Carl Nicks and possibly Robert Meachem. They probalby won't pay him the money he wants and deserves given the way they spread around the ball.

Steve Johnson – Only 26, for stretches in the last two years he's been one of the best. Could end up with a franchise tag but if he doesn't he should get paid somewhere.

Reggie Wayne – At 34 how many more years can he get it done? May move on from Indy with the turnover there, as they clean house for a new beginning.

Desean Jackson – Another 26 year old. Another likely candidate for the franchise tag. Will get big bucks despite his diva meltdown this year.

Brandon Lloyd – Our best chance at signing a great receiver. Already shown some chemistry with Bradford. Would be a mistake to let him walk without our best effort to keep him here.

Mario Manningham - Probably be overpayed after his clutch role in the superbowl, wherever he ends up.

Laurent Robinson – Already did one stint here in St. Louis, wants to stay in Dallas where he clicked with Romo, but can Dallas afford to pay him as a number three?

Robert Meachem – Young receiver that can stretch the field and find the end zone. Not sure how he will fair without a Marques Colston across the way though.

Jerome Simpson – Everyone knows who he is since the flip. A young athletic receiver that's yet to be consistent but always puts together 2-3 big games a year.

Pierre Garcon – Twenty five and has quietly improved every year, even this year with no Manning. I've been very surprised not to hear his name out there in the free agent talk. Stick a guy like this with Lloyd and Amendola and we could sneak up on some people.

Mark Clayton and Danny Amendola (Restricted) - Danny should end up here again, but will Mark? He has shown great chemistry with Bradford when he had the chance and was healthy. It's doubtful Mark would get a big payday anywhere.

Ted Ginn – Worth mentioning just because he's a dynamic return man (which we always lack) that we could steal from a division rival.

The Rest:
Early Doucet (ARZ)
Harry Douglas (ATL)
Eric Weems (ATL)
Ruvell Martin (BUF)
Roscoe Parrish (BUF)
Legedu Naanee (CAR)
Roy Williams (CHI)
Andre Caldwell (CIN)
Eddie Royal (DEN)
Rashied Davis (DET)
Maurice Stovall (DET)
Braylon Edwards (FA)
Bryant Johnson (HOU)
Anthony Gonzalez (IND)
Jerheme Urban (KC)
Devin Aromashodu (MIN)
Bernard Berrian (MIN)
Greg Camarillo (MIN)
Deion Branch (NE)
Matt Slater (NE)
Courtney Roby (NO)
Domenik Hixon (NYG)
Devin Thomas (NYG)
Plaxico Burress (NYJ)
TJ Houshmandzadeh (OAK)
Derek Hagan (OAK)
Chaz Schilens (OAK)
Steve Smith (PHI)
Jerricho Cotchery (PIT)
Patrick Crayton (SD)
Josh Morgan (SF)
Mike Sims-Walker (STL)
Micheal Spurlock (TB)
Donnie Avery (TEN)
Kevin Curtis (TEN)
Lavelle Hawkins (TEN)
David Anderson (WAS)
Donte' Stallworth (WAS)
Stephen Williams (ARZ) - Exclusive Rights
Jordan Norwood (CLE) - Exclusive Rights
Jesse Holley (DAL) - Exclusive Rights
Kevin Ogletree (DAL) - Restricted
Stefan Logan (DET) - Restricted
Matt Willis (DEN) - Restricted
Dominique Curry (STL) - Exclusive Rights
Preston Parker (TB) - Exclusive Rights

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Comments

nice post

i was hoping for a bit deeper of coverage…im interested to hear your thoughts on some of the lesser names/players. like:

braylon
crayton
douglas
weems

by itsvon on Feb 10, 2012 11:04 AM CST reply actions

Others.

I don’t think any of them are really what were looking for. Braylon drops too many passes and is too much of a character risk. At 29 he’s not going to get a big contract anywhere.

Weems is a great special teamer, but not really a starter at WR. Douglas hasn’t really done anything in his short career. If Atlanta thought anything of either of them they wouldn’t of paid so much to trade trade up in the draft last year for Jones.

Crayton is in his 8th year and never had 700 yds receiving, no reason to believe he’s gonna finally figure things out next year.

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 12:43 PM CST reply actions

thanks

im with you on these other guys. i guess i just mentioned weems because of his special teams. have heard other people talk about braylon being a fit, but i have the same outlook on him as you. i wasnt really thinking of any of these guys as wr1, just cheaper option role players for the rams.

by itsvon on Feb 10, 2012 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

wait wait wait a minute

all you guys saying WR needs 3 years to mature and be great. Weems is in this window. Not only would we get a fantastic return man. But maybe a Jordy Nelson in disguise. I didn’t know of Jordy until this last year. I saw he was drafted in 08 after Avery and before DeSean. Weems may be a cheap welker one day. I’m not giving up on Weems just yet. Welker wasn’t welker until he got to NE. Brady…..Bradford……anyone……Bueller? Bueller?

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 10, 2012 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

Weems has 5 years under his belt.

Given he only played in one game his rookie year and caught no passes. The other 4 years he’s gotten a total of 205 yards and 2 td’s.

His specialty was kickoff returns, but he of course took a huge hit in value there this year with the ball being moved up to the 30.

It’s possible he just needs a change a scenery and a chance but to get it he’s going to go into somewhere as a 4rth and 5th guy and perform well in camp/preseason.

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 6:21 PM CST up reply actions

Great points

I’m saying he may be cheap, a fifth guy WR. OK, he pushes Petis to #6. He will be able to compete in camp. But like you said, could just need the change to be able to perform the voodoo, he do, (maybe) so well…….

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 10, 2012 6:28 PM CST up reply actions

Derek Hagan

Is a very physical WR. Meahem could be a good pick up as well.

by ValdezY on Feb 10, 2012 2:32 PM CST reply actions

Hagan drafted 82nd overall in 2006

Never mounted up to his College stats. Unfortunately, he was with Miami who was missing a QB. I say NO. I think he is turning 28 this Sept. Not even close to a Mike Sims-Walker potential type of guy. worse IMO.

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 10, 2012 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

Not Looking At Hagan

As a #1 WR. He is what he is; a physical possession WR that likes to mix it up with DB’s. He is a violent player on offense; a WR that does the dirty work.

by ValdezY on Feb 11, 2012 7:46 AM CST up reply actions

Another guy for depth

Chaz Schillens. Been very impressed while watching him in black and silver. He’ll star wherever he gets his change of scenery.

Very under-rated!

by 81 Witness on Feb 10, 2012 3:36 PM CST reply actions

doesnt he have a bad injury history?

by itsvon on Feb 10, 2012 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Give me Garcon and Stevie J

two for the price of one

by DCRamFan on Feb 10, 2012 3:51 PM CST reply actions

i would be totally cool with this

by itsvon on Feb 10, 2012 3:58 PM CST up reply actions

Was just doing some more research looks like Stevie J going for at least 7.5 mil. He turned down an offer at that it sounds like. I’d really look for Buffalo to franchise him and make him perform one more year if he wants that kind of contract. If he does hit free agency I’d rather pay a little extra over that and get Colston or Jackson. We should be able to sign Lloyd for less than that as well.

Garcon could be the best deal out there when it’s all said and done though. I’d love to see him as a Ram.

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

no chance we pay him that!

moving along then….absolutely go for Colston or either Jackson if that’s the going rate for Johnson

by DCRamFan on Feb 10, 2012 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

Man

We have lots of choices. I’d be thrilled with VJAX, Bowe, or Colston (thats the 3 best realistically I think.. Thats with some of these guys re-signing).

I think Wallace and Welker go to their current teams. That leaves a lot of options.

by SosaRams on Feb 10, 2012 6:56 PM CST reply actions

Not sure I put Bowe up there with Colston and VJax. I’d say he’s second tier like Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd. Personally I’d rather keep Lloyd than sign Bowe.

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 10:21 PM CST up reply actions

Updates

According to Rotoworld today the Steelers are releasing Hines Ward to free up 4 mil in cap room. He’s their number four and number four receivers pretty much have to play special teams which Ward isn’t going to do at this point in his career.

The Steelers had almost no cap room before this though. If someone wanted to give up the first rounder and structured a contract right, there’s pretty much no way the Steelers could match it. Their’s no way we’d give up the second pick with what we’d have to pay him. But if we traded for say both of Cleveland’s picks I could see him worth the late one. Were talking about a guy that has just under 2450 yards and 18 TD’s in the last two years and he’s just 25.

Reggie Wayne it sounds like is pretty much gone from Indy, there have been no talks at all. He looked like a man who had given up at times this year and they are going to say goodbye. At 33 he’s probably not going to get the kind of contract he wants. The only way I could see making him a Ram though is if we did draft Blackmon or another receiver with an early pick and we gave Reggie a one or two year deal to mentor him.

by Scato on Feb 10, 2012 10:18 PM CST reply actions

Reggie is a very interesting option

WR is a position that can play deep into their early to mid 30s. A better production career than Lloyd. More durable than VJax. Can get at a min. NFL salary for the years he has played. Like we did with C. Williams. Could we possibly do this:

1. Lloyd
2. R. Williams
3. Blackmon
4. Danny or Salas whoever can mend and regain their step.
6. DX
7 Weems

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 11, 2012 1:12 AM CST reply actions

Too many needs

Talking about Reggie, then put R. Williams, assuming you mean Reggie White and not Roy Williams. So ignore this if I’m wrong.

Basically we just have too many needs to get two big names like Lloyd and White, and then draft a third receiver in the draft. That’s dreaming. Maybe if Mike Martz were still around, but that’s just not gonna happen with Fisher.

Honestly my best case scenario for this year and I would be very happy with it is:

1. Resign Lloyd
2. Sign Pierre Garcon or Jerome Simpson
3. Ammendola
4. DX
5. Later round receiver in draft, or resign Clayton
6&7 Salas and Pettis

by Scato on Feb 11, 2012 4:22 PM CST up reply actions

OK

2. Reggie W.

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 11, 2012 8:46 PM CST up reply actions

I like your wish list, but reality is

Lloyd is not signed, he should be leaning towards NE but, we don’t know
Garcon or Simpson, good #2
Ammendola is broken, should return but…….how effective? Only camp will tell
DX always broken but what a heart.
Later round WR or clayton,,,,well, Clayton if healthy is a gem. Rookie this late is another Pettis
Salas and Pettis, Salas much better, but again, broken. has he mended? Only camp will tell…….SO, if we don’t sign Lloyd we have no number 1. and I say what is a Bradford without Weapons of Mass Destruction…..I tell you what he is……a Sanchez….
Need a Reggie and VinJax a Mario a sumptin sumptin for Sammy….Come on MAN! I just like saying…..COME ON MAN!!!!

by fearsomefoursum on Feb 11, 2012 8:45 PM CST reply actions