There are currently 70 wide receivers that are set to be free agents according to Spotrac. There’s a chance some of these pass-catchers will get the franchise tag, but most of them will end up testing the free agency market. Some may end up on a practice squad or out of the league, while others will end up cashing in. It’s the latter group we are focusing on here. These eight wide receivers are the best on the market.
A.J. Green
It doesn’t matter that Green didn’t play last year and has been hobbled by injuries two years in a row. We’re talking about A.J. Green here. He was drafted fourth overall in 2011. He’s made the Pro Bowl seven times. He has physical abilities that wide receivers can only dream of having. He makes big plays. He can stretch the field. He can be a possession wide receiver. Yes, his injuries are a concern, but no one should have rushed back to get on the field for that Bengals team last year. There’s a good chance Green is franchise tagged. There’s no way Cincinnati lets him leave without compensation.
Emmanuel Sanders
The Niners want to bring Sanders back but it may cost them. Sanders will be looking to cash in on his final big contract and there will be a few suitors out there. The Patriots have shown interest in Sanders multiple times and if they bring back Tom Brady they need to get him some weapons. Sanders would be a good fit. Sanders made the Pro Bowl twice while he was in Denver.
Amari Cooper
There’s a chance that Dallas uses the transition tag on Cooper this offseason to keep him around for one more year. This sounds weird to say, but Cooper was a bit of disappointment last season. He was unstoppable when he was first traded to the Cowboys. Last year didn’t feel that way despite 79 catches and over 1100 yards receiving. Sometimes it just looks like Cooper is going through the motions. He has all the skills in the world so someone will offer him a contract and try to figure out how to make him more consistent.
Breshad Perriman
Perriman exploded toward the end of last season in the Bucs offense when he was the top option for Jameis Winston due to injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Someone will look at the tape of the last few weeks and figure that Perriman can replicate that wherever he plays. This is a buyer beware situation. Perriman did very little his first three years in the league. He’s a former first-round pick with all the measurables. Maybe he figured things out in Tampa Bay.
Randall Cobb
Cobb is the opposite of Perriman. He is a high-floor, lower-ceiling wide receiver who will give his next team consistent production. It’s kind of odd that the Packers even let him walk. Cobb had 55 receptions for over 800 yards last season. He has something left in the tank. A team looking for veteran leadership would be smart to bring Cobb into the fold. He has an almost 70 percent catch percentage at balls thrown his way. That means he either gets open a lot or he’s making contested catches.
Robby Anderson
Last year was supposed to be Robby Anderson’s breakout year where he went from an interesting wide receiver with a ton of potential to a true number one receiver. It didn’t happen. Anderson was fine. He wasn’t bad. He wasn’t great. He has the ability to be a big play pass-catcher, and maybe he needs to get out of New York to truly reach his pinnacle. Of course, maybe he is what he is and that means someone will end up overpaying.
Danny Amendola
Danny Amendola was supposed to be done once he left New England. He was a very good player for the Lions and complemented their other two wide receivers very well. The problem is that Amendola usually can’t be relied upon for a full season of work — which is why New England would limit his snap count in the regular season. He’s smart. He’s a great veteran presence. He’s also extremely clutch and seems to always come up with a play when his team needs him to.
Kendrick Bourne
Here’s why Kendrick Bourne makes the list even though he’s not the most familiar name. He’s only 25 years old. He didn’t start a game for the Niners this season but somehow had 5 touchdown catches. He’s 6 foot one inch and can make plays in the red zone. He seems ready to breakout. There’s one tiny problem for teams interested in Bourne and that’s the fact that he’s a restricted free agent. If the Niners plan to let Emmanuel Sanders walk, there’s no way Bourne gets out the door.
