NFL Free Agency 2017: Top 3 Wide Receivers, Ranked
By Dan Salem
As 2017 NFL free agency begins, there are a plethora of wide receivers hitting the market. We rank the top 3 receivers available.
The batch of wide receivers available in NFL free agency continues to grow. The group hitting the market, for a while, was just Terrelle Pryor, Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and that’s about it. Then the New York Jets released Brandon Marshall; San Francisco released Torrey Smith; the Chargers released Stevie Johnson. The group of available players at the position is suddenly quite interesting.
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Of the plethora of talent available at wide receiver through free agency, who are the top three guys? What players are can’t miss at their skill level and price? We rank them so your team can go shopping.
Two brothers from New York,Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss NFL Free Agency 2017 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
Todd Salem:
Since salary space is so vital, finding the best receivers to sign is more than just locating the best players. It’s about value. Who are the three wide receivers you would most want to sign, based on Spotrac’s market estimations for their contracts? Not every wide receiver has been given a market estimate, but most of the good ones have! We have enough here to form a legit top three.
I know he is coming off of a pretty terrible season, but Brandon Marshall is my No. 1 guy. He is a stud and remains such for at least another couple seasons. I don’t place much of the blame for his shaky 2016 on him, but rather on the Jets and their quarterback situation. To me, Marshall is the only receiver on the market who I know is a No. 1 guy week in and week out. And if that wasn’t enough, he should also come much cheaper than a lot of these other guys thanks to his age and miles. All the better! Marshall at under $5 million a year is way better than anything else on the market. And the Giants are taking advantage of that, agreeing to a two-year deal with him on Wednesday.
Pryor and Jeffery are the other guys who could fit that No. 1 receiver mold, but there is far more uncertainty. Pryor has barely played the position in his life and is already 27 years old; and Jeffery is too often injured and unavailable. They are also each expected to garner huge deals. No thank you.
Instead, for my second and third spots, I turn to two guys ready to breakout in big ways: Kenny Britt and Kamar Aiken. Neither is expected to make more than $7.5 million a year, which is a good chunk less than guys like Robert Woods, Pierre Garcon, Pryor and Jeffery.
Britt had a bit of a breakout in 2016, but I think he can be even better in 2017, depending on his situation. He is still only 28 and has only played something resembling full-time snaps in three seasons of his career.
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With Aiken, he had a huge 2015 before completing disappearing last year. But I relate this to a poor man’s version of what happened to Marshall. Aiken can be as good as he was in ’15 if he finds a better offensive home. And he won’t break the bank to be a team’s good second option.
Dan Salem:
Its pretty incredible how the wide receivers list has ballooned to such amazing proportions. If your NFL team needs a new target in the passing game, there are multiple great options available in NFL free agency. I’m looking at you Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Add depth and experience and overtake the conference. Look for the Patriots to make a move as well. Ranking the top three receivers is tricky, because if money wasn’t an option, you obviously go for the biggest and strongest player. Perhaps the fastest. But value is the key to winning free agency.
Kenny Britt is my No. 1 receiver because he is a steal right now. Britt is only 28 years old and nearly tops our list of free agent receivers in yards, touchdowns, and yards per reception last year. He put up those number on the Los Angeles Rams, a bad football team with a rookie quarterback. Imagine what Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady would do with Kenny Britt. His 1000+ yards and nearly 15 yards per reception are too good to pass up. The price is right as well.
Brandon Marshall is second because of his slightly advanced age, but I agree that he has a few more top seasons left in his tank. Last year was a mulligan and was practically a rest year for Marshall. He’ll have fresh legs and a hunger for a championship unmatched in this free agent class. As a Jets fan, I saw how dominant Marshall can be. When Ryan Fitzpatrick was quarterback, he only threw the ball to Brandon Marshall. This was last season, when New York had a ton of great young receivers to work with. It was because of Marshall’s reliability, size, and ability to make plays. He drops the ball too much, but otherwise he’s a great receiver at a great price for the Giants.
Terrelle Pryor ranks as our third wide receiver. He looked outstanding last year on a very bad football team. Transitioning from another position is incredibly difficult at the highest level, but then to be dominant as well? That’s a true accomplishment. Pryor will get paid accordingly, but he’s still cheaper than a few of the big names in free agency. He’s only 27 and comes in at second among free agent receivers in yards last season with over 1,000.
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It was a challenge to pick just three names, because the free agent class at wide receiver is very deep. I expect every playoff team from last season to sign at least one of these guys. Missing out means starting 2017 one step behind in the passing game. Injuries happen and depth is a necessity. This class of receivers is ripe for the taking.