Free Agent WRs

[JoeSixPat]

Everyone seems to recognize we've got issues at WR. Last year we had a clear #1 and #2 - and then many ifs after that. Although many were optimistic its pretty clear that no one overly distinguished themselves at 3-5.

As of now all we can count on is Branch. I have to think this is even a more pressing concern for BB this year than last when he went hard after Derrick Mason.

Obviously the two possibilties are the draft and FA.

Short of moving up into the top 10 in the draft, taking a college WR is quite literally a crap shoot. You might get lucky but you sure shouldn't count on any immediate help.

So that leaves us with Free Agency

So here are a few names worth considering, along with a guesstimate signing bonus courtesy of profootballtalk.com

Antonio Bryant, WR: $8.5 million.
Antwaan Randle El, WR: $6.5 million.
David Givens, WR: $4.5 million.
Koren Robinson, WR: $4.0 million
Joe Jurevicius, WR: $2.5 million
David Boston, WR: $2.0 million.

Not included in the list was Eric Moulds - who had a cap number in excess of $10 mil but was due a salary of $6 million this season

Out of this list Bryant is probably too costly. I wouldn't mind spending money on WR but not that much on that player

I'm not sure how much more Randle El gives us than Givens, and I'm not keen on Robinson and Boston

Signing Givens would probably be my top priority. I would take a long look at Moulds who with 81 catches still seems to be playing well (I'm not overly concerned about his spat with Mularkey either) - I just wouldn't want to sign him too long term and it depend on how much he demands.

I'm surprised that Jurevicius isn't commanding more - at a $2.5 mil signing bonus I think he'd be a good #3 and might be a likely target for the Pats.

If there are any additional cuts or FAs out there please weigh in.

 

[patsox23]

I question the idea that Givens' signing bonus is less than Antonio Bryant's and Randal El's.

 

[dhamz]

Any GM who gives Koren Robinson a 4m signing bonus should be fired immediately.

The guy is only a year removed from standing in those Seattle practice huddles drunk.

 

[JR4]

Time for BB/SP to find another Deion Branch somewhere in the draft.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

$8.5mil up front for Antonio Bryant? That seems mighty high. No way he ends up with the Pats for that kind of money.

 

[Miguel]

I question the idea that Antonio Bryant getting such a large signing bonus.
Since 2001 these are the wideouts who have gotten such a large signing bonus.
2001 - Randy Moss $12 million
2001 - Eric Moulds - $10 million
2002- Rod Smith - $11 million
2003 - Coles - $13 million
2003 - Holt - $12 million
2003 - Price - $10 million
2003 - Charles Rogers - $9.1 million
2003 - Andre Johnson - $9 million
2004 - Terrell Owens $8.5 million ($2.3 million signing bonus and a $6.2 million roster bonus)
2005 - no one

Is Bryant as highly regarded now as the other veterans were when they signed their contracts?? I do not think so. Would New Orleans trade the #2 overall pick for Bryant?? Heck, no. Would Tennessee trade the #3 overall pick for Bryant??

I will be shocked if any wideout this year gets such a large signing bonus.

Call me a cynic but I can't help but feel that it is not a coincidence that Bryant is getting that much love from PFT after he did an interview with them.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I question the idea that Antonio Bryant getting such a large signing bonus.

Yeah, that does seem nutty. I've been a big Bryant proponent but I can't see him getting that much. Especially with the Browns not really wanting him back. He didn't blow up there like he did in Dallas but his personality didn't endear itself to them.

Still, I have said all along that he's the top UFA WR, not Givens. I'm surpsrised to see Randal-El above Givens too but maybe they're going on athleticism and upside as Randel-El has more of both.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I guess we should start a "questioning profootballtalk.com's signing bonus guesstimate threads"

However my intent was to spark discussion of which free agent WRs we'd be interested


Mine are Givens, Moulds, and Jurevicius.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I guess we should start a "questioning profootballtalk.com's signing bonus guesstimate threads"

However my intent was to spark discussion of which free agent WRs we'd be interested

Mine are Givens, Moulds, and Jurevicius.

I think it'll be the best value, most likely a guy like Moulds who may be more interested in a ring than a big payday. Otherwise we're looking at low level guys or a draft choice.