Top five wide receivers still available this summer
The 2023 NFL offseason might be coming to close, and it is getting to the business end of roster building for teams looking to be competitive this year.
With preseason Week 3 in full swing there have been huge announcements across the NFL. On Thursday, NFL insider’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero announced that Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was carted away from practice following a hamstring injury.
The extent of the damage is yet unknown, but many expect Jeudy to miss multiple weeks but thankfully there is optimism that he has avoided a long-term injury.
On Wednesday the New York Jets receiver Corey Davis announced on Instagram that he would be stepping away from football. The former fifth overall pick in 2017 caught 66 passes for 1028 yards and scored six touchdowns during his time in the Big Apple.
With these two teams, and potentially others, now looking to fill positions in the offense, let’s take a look at the top five wide receivers still available in free agency.
1. Jarvis Landry
Jarvis Landry was one of the best receivers in the league a couple of years ago and is still very talented. For the Miami Dolphins he was their number one receiver for four years, including two seasons with over 1000 receiving yards and in his final season caught a career high nine touchdowns.
He was then traded to the Cleveland Browns to play alongside college teammate Odell Beckham Jr. and number one overall pick Baker Mayfield at quarterback. The team didn’t see the success many had expected, making the playoffs just once in Landry’s four years on the team.
Last season he was with the New Orleans Saints and only registered 25 receptions for 272 yards and one touchdown. However, his first game he managed to snag seven balls for 114 yards, showing he still has plenty of quality left in the tank. He only played nine games and had the fourth most receiving yards of all receivers on the team, that possessed rookie WR Chris Olave.
Landry still has talent and would bring experience to anytime as a solid third or fourth receiving option.
2. Julio Jones
Once regarded as the best wide receiver in the league, Julio Jones is now 34 and isn’t the number one option he once was but he can still aid a team. Six consecutive seasons of over 1300 yards with the Atlanta Falcons is the reason why Jones was the lead receiver across the NFL.
He was best known as a do it all receiver. His height and explosiveness made him a strong redzone threat whilst his route running allowed him to break away from defenders. With Matt Ryan having an MVP season in the 2016 season, the Falcons made it all the way to the Super Bowl before having a historically bad second half performance, throwing away a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots.
Those days are behind him and he has since played for the Tennessee Titans and last season teamed up with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 10 games for the Bucs he managed 299 yards on 24 receptions with two touchdowns.
The age may be a reason teams overlook Jones, but he can still add to a team’s receiving options and help mentor any young receivers.
3. Kenny Golladay
Potentially the most intriguing of all the receivers available as Kenny Golladay has huge upside and we know he has great quality, but a poor season with the New York Giants last season really let him down.
His 2019 season with the Detroit Lions saw him score 11 touchdowns on 1190 yards but has struggled since. In 2021 he signed a four-year $72 million contract with the Giants but never lived up to that contract. Golladay finished his first season there with 37 receptions for 521 yards but didn’t register a touchdown.
Last season he was criticized for a lack of production and missed games due to injury. He ended the season with just six receptions and 81 yards following him falling out of favor and other receivers being targeted more.
Golladay on a one-year deal would be fairly low risk for any team. He has shown he has real quality and at 29 is still in good shape. He could be a sneaky pickup even if he only provides a couple of touchdowns for a team.
4. Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins is another experienced receiver that can still be impactful. He has always been a 2nd or 3rd choice receiver on a team and even at 29 he showed he is still capable of this last season.
Drafted in 2014, Watkins spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where in his first two seasons he put up a total of over 2000 receiving yards. One season with the LA Rams was followed by three years with the Kansas City Chiefs where he was part of their 2019 Super Bowl winning roster.
Last season he had a total of 325 yards for the Green Bay Packers and then Baltimore Ravens, showing that he is still more than capable of playing in the NFL.
The experience and impact are still there with Watkins and he can definitely add something to an offense.
5. Denzel Mims
Finally, a former Jet (so they may not be looking at him) here but for the Broncos and others around the league, 25-year-old Denzel Mims is the youngest on this list but is still capable of making an NFL roster and seeing time on the field.
He was drafted 59th overall in the 2020 draft by the Jets and showed glimpses of ability in his rookie season, registering 357 yards on 23 receptions. This was followed up by 133 yards and then 186 yards last season. The Jets offense these past few years hasn’t been prolific and so in a new system and with a new roster he may be able to show those qualities more.
A 25-year-old and former second round pick with something to prove could see him find his way onto a roster and gain reps come the regular season. He has shown quality in his short time in the league and so a team may want to take a punt on him.
Overall, there are still some good quality receivers out there that can come in provide a different option for teams. With both the Jets and Broncos now down a receiver, expect to see them look at working out any of these guys over the final two weeks before the NFL season kicks off.
