Piece by: Lou Pastor
1. Allen Robinson WR Age: 28, Former Teams: JAC, CHI
Robinson is an excellent all-around receiver who has yet to play with an above-average quarterback in his NFL career. Allen Robinson consistently gets open at all areas of the field, and he can win jump-ball situations.
Best Fits: New England, Jacksonville, Miami
My Prediction: New England Patriots 1 year, $18 M (Franchise Tag & Trade)
2. Chris Godwin WR Age: 25, Former Teams: TB
Chris Godwin is a skilled route-runner who has enough speed to shake away from corners downfield. Godwin’s decrease in productivity from 2019 to 2020 is largely a function of Tom Brady preferring to check the ball down more than Jameis Winston did. Also, the Buccaneers played from behind much less frequently in 2020. Godwin can play inside or outside as a receiver.
Best Fits: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New England, Baltimore
My Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year, $16 M (Franchise Tag & Trade)
3. Kenny Golladay WR Age: 28, Former Teams: DET
Golladay had gotten better in each of his first three NFL seasons, but a nagging injury hampered his 2020 campaign. His high yards-per-reception makes him an intriguing number one receiver, but Golladay doesn’t corral a high enough percentage of his targets to top either Allen Robinson or Chris Godwin.
Best Fits: Indianapolis, NY Jets, Jacksonville, Cincinnati
My Prediction: New York Jets 4 years, $77 M
4. Will Fuller V WR Age: 27, Former Teams: HOU
Despite being an incredibly talented and speedy downfield threat, Will Fuller will likely not get paid as much as he could due to a lack of durability. In the past four seasons, Fuller has only played in 39 of a possible 64 regular-season games. I would love to see Will Fuller go to a team that has a good quarterback and won’t rely on him as a number one receiver; Fuller could thrive against easier coverage-matchups.
Best Fits: Kansas City, Seattle, Cleveland, Jacksonville, LA Rams
My Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 1 year, $12 M
5. Antonio Brown WR Age: 33, Former Teams: PIT, OAK, NE, TB
Antonio Brown, despite being a mercurial individual, holds a lot of value, as he is still a crafty route-runner and former elite wide receiver. Brown was Tampa Bay’s best receiver in 2020 but his numbers didn’t reflect it due to Brown’s primary usage in shorter routes. Antonio Brown needs to be in a steady situation with great locker-room leadership rather than an unproven roster.
Best Fits: Tampa Bay
My Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 year, $10 M
6. Juju Smith-Schuster WR Age: 25, Former Teams: PIT
Juju is a nice second receiver, but I’d be concerned if he was getting primary attention from opposing secondaries week-to-week. Even though he’s been a lot better from the slot, I could still see Juju playing adequately as an outside receiver running deeper routes.
Best Fits: Seattle, Kansas City, Washington, Carolina
My Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 2 years, $26 M
7. Corey Davis WR Age: 26, Former Teams: TEN
Corey Davis has developed into a solid number two receiver, despite his label of being a bust after getting drafted 5th overall in 2017. Davis is a smooth route-runner with surprisingly good speed. Corey Davis is best suited for a team that already has a clear number one wideout.
Best Fits: Tennessee, Washington, Cleveland, Green Bay
My Prediction: Cleveland Browns 2 years, $23 M
8. Curtis Samuel WR Age: 25, Former Teams: CAR
Curtis Samuel was used as a Percy Harvin-like gadget player in Joe Brady’s offense this past season, but I’m optimistic that Samuel could continue to round out his game into an even more complete overall receiver. The nice thing about Samuel is that he’ll fit well into many offensive situations around the NFL.
Best Fits: Carolina, Tennessee, Miami, Baltimore
My Prediction: Carolina Panthers 3 years, $26 M
9. Sammy Watkins WR Age: 28, Former Teams: BUF, LAR, KC
Sammy Watkins is often considered a talented but disappointing receiver who has yet to translate all of his physical gifts into production. I like Sammy Watkins, though, as he offers a tactical advantage to whichever offense he’s a part of with his downfield speed. Sammy Watkins played an integral role in Kansas City’s 2019 Super Bowl victory, and one could argue that Watkins being injured this past playoff-run was a major reason for the Chiefs’ disappointing Super Bowl performance. Watkins will likely sign a cheap, short-term contract.
Best Fits: Kansas City, Tennessee, Cleveland, LA Rams
My Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 1 year, $7 M
10. Marvin Jones Sr. WR Age: 31, Former Teams: CIN, DET
Marvin Jones is still a solid number two receiver, as he’s a slick, intelligent route-runner with good hands. Jones tends to outperform his expectation.
Best Fits: Indianapolis, LA Chargers, Washington, Cincinnati
My Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 2 years, $15 M
11. Nelson Agholor WR Age: 28, Former Teams: PHI, LVR
Nelson Agholor erased his career legacy of being an unreliable and inconsistent slot receiver in 2020, as he was the Raiders’ best downfield weapon. Time will tell if Agholor is anything more than just a one-year-wonder, though.
Best Fits: Las Vegas, Miami, Jacksonville
My Prediction: Miami Dolphins 2 years, $13 M
12. TY Hilton WR Age: 32, Former Teams: IND
TY Hilton looks like he’s on his last legs, but he did come through with a respectable second-half of the 2020 regular season.
Best Fits: Indianapolis, Baltimore
My Prediction: Retire
13. Tim Patrick WR Age: 28, Former Teams: DEN
Despite being a no-name player through 2019, Tim Patrick emerged as a competent wide receiver in 2020, posting respectable numbers despite Drew Lock’s struggles at quarterback.
Best Fits: Denver, Cincinnati, LA Chargers, Washington
My Prediction: Denver Broncos 2 years, $15 M
14. Breshad Perriman Age: 28, Former Teams: BAL, CLE, TB, NYJ
Breshad Perriman has been an inconsistent and generally unreliable player thus far, but his speed and size combination makes him intriguing. Perriman looked best when playing with Jameis Winston in 2019; Perriman is better off playing with a downfield-oriented quarterback.
Best Fits: New Orleans, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Kansas City
My Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 year, $5.5 M
15. Damiere Byrd WR Age: 28, Former Teams: CAR, ARI, NE
Damiere Byrd is approximately as good as about fifteen other free-agent wide receivers that didn’t make this list, but he’s on this ranking because he put up surprisingly competent statistics playing for a stagnant Patriots’ offense last season. Byrd is a decent vertical route-runner who offers some value as a team’s third receiver.
Best Fits: New England, Miami, Denver, Washington
My Prediction: New England Patriots 1 year, $4 M
Citations
2021 NFL free AGENTS TRACKER. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/wide-receiver/
NFL 2021 salary Cap Tracker. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2021/
NFL active player contracts. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/wide-receiver/
Will fuller stats. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FullWi01.htm