Post by MGB01 on Jun 20, 2019 21:07:21 GMT -5
We continue our FA series by taking a look at wide receivers
Golden Tate: After ten years, Tate might finally be ready to leave Orlando, as he is expected to have many suitors. Tate's 78 receptions led the league, and set a career high in yards per catch (16.8). All this during Orlando's quarterback transition, which often wasn't pretty.
Prediction: Carolina. The Colonels played most of the season with Aldrick Robinson as their default WR1 after Malcolm Mitchell suffered a career-ending knee injury, then with Corey Brown in the playoffs after Robinson got hurt in week 16. The Colonels see the impact that Tate had in Brad Kaaya's development and envision it for Kevin Hogan, who had a great season for his first as a starter but needs to cut down on his league-leading 16 interceptions.
Jamison Crowder: Crowder developed into a nice WR2 in Orlando with Tate drawing the coverage, also can work in the slot with good short-area quickness.
Prediction: Las Vegas. Crowder isn't the big play receiver that J.J. Nelson is, but is a better all-around receiver. The Outlaws have 2018 third round pick Deon Cain coming back off a knee injury to take over Nelson's speedster role, provided no setbacks, leaving Crowder to pair with Willie Snead.
Randall Cobb: We'll find out real quick whether teams think Cobb has anything left in the tank. His seven-game absence helped contribute to the Stampede's nosedive at the end of the season, so he should be motivated to show teams he has still has juice entering his tenth year.
Prediction: Chicago. Even if Demarcus Ayers comes back the Enforcers have question marks behind Brandon Coleman at wide receiver. Ricardo Louis' neck injury could be career-threatening, Artavis Scott and Michael Rector, both former undrafted free agents, are still relatively unproven entering their third year. If Cobb is healthy, he provides a nice short-term upgrade, especially with the Enforcers going from Hall of Famer Jimmy Clausen to Nate Sudfeld, who was up-and-down in his stint towards the end of the regular season.
J.J. Nelson: Was a decent WR2 with the Outlaws, but may be better utilized in the slot. Averaged 15.7 per catch the last three seasons, and had a career-high ten touchdowns in 2018.
Prediction: San Francisco. With the trade of Rod Streater, the Demons kind of left themselves a hole in their wide receiver corps, which will widen if they trade DeSean Jackson. The Demons were able to get more reps for Marcell Ateman and Allen Lazard, but would like more experience in the room. Nelson can also return punts, as Dres Anderson's injury forced Stacy Coley into the role.
Demarcus Ayers: Louis' neck injury moved Ayers into the starting lineup, and he finished with a reasonable 372 yards on 29 catches, scoring three times. But his bread and butter is returning punts, where he averaged 14.3 yards per return. He's really best-served in a reserve role.
Prediction: Pittsburgh. Quadree Henderson is decent as a kick returner, but subpar as a punt returner with just 7.6 per return. The Ironmen were also high on Jeff Badet, but a late-season groin injury set him back, so the Ironmen go out and get Ayers, which granted creates a logjam in the Ironmen's retooled post-Antonio Brown receiving corps, but having positional logjams will be part of Mike McCarthy's efforts at turning things around in the 'burgh.
Golden Tate: After ten years, Tate might finally be ready to leave Orlando, as he is expected to have many suitors. Tate's 78 receptions led the league, and set a career high in yards per catch (16.8). All this during Orlando's quarterback transition, which often wasn't pretty.
Prediction: Carolina. The Colonels played most of the season with Aldrick Robinson as their default WR1 after Malcolm Mitchell suffered a career-ending knee injury, then with Corey Brown in the playoffs after Robinson got hurt in week 16. The Colonels see the impact that Tate had in Brad Kaaya's development and envision it for Kevin Hogan, who had a great season for his first as a starter but needs to cut down on his league-leading 16 interceptions.
Jamison Crowder: Crowder developed into a nice WR2 in Orlando with Tate drawing the coverage, also can work in the slot with good short-area quickness.
Prediction: Las Vegas. Crowder isn't the big play receiver that J.J. Nelson is, but is a better all-around receiver. The Outlaws have 2018 third round pick Deon Cain coming back off a knee injury to take over Nelson's speedster role, provided no setbacks, leaving Crowder to pair with Willie Snead.
Randall Cobb: We'll find out real quick whether teams think Cobb has anything left in the tank. His seven-game absence helped contribute to the Stampede's nosedive at the end of the season, so he should be motivated to show teams he has still has juice entering his tenth year.
Prediction: Chicago. Even if Demarcus Ayers comes back the Enforcers have question marks behind Brandon Coleman at wide receiver. Ricardo Louis' neck injury could be career-threatening, Artavis Scott and Michael Rector, both former undrafted free agents, are still relatively unproven entering their third year. If Cobb is healthy, he provides a nice short-term upgrade, especially with the Enforcers going from Hall of Famer Jimmy Clausen to Nate Sudfeld, who was up-and-down in his stint towards the end of the regular season.
J.J. Nelson: Was a decent WR2 with the Outlaws, but may be better utilized in the slot. Averaged 15.7 per catch the last three seasons, and had a career-high ten touchdowns in 2018.
Prediction: San Francisco. With the trade of Rod Streater, the Demons kind of left themselves a hole in their wide receiver corps, which will widen if they trade DeSean Jackson. The Demons were able to get more reps for Marcell Ateman and Allen Lazard, but would like more experience in the room. Nelson can also return punts, as Dres Anderson's injury forced Stacy Coley into the role.
Demarcus Ayers: Louis' neck injury moved Ayers into the starting lineup, and he finished with a reasonable 372 yards on 29 catches, scoring three times. But his bread and butter is returning punts, where he averaged 14.3 yards per return. He's really best-served in a reserve role.
Prediction: Pittsburgh. Quadree Henderson is decent as a kick returner, but subpar as a punt returner with just 7.6 per return. The Ironmen were also high on Jeff Badet, but a late-season groin injury set him back, so the Ironmen go out and get Ayers, which granted creates a logjam in the Ironmen's retooled post-Antonio Brown receiving corps, but having positional logjams will be part of Mike McCarthy's efforts at turning things around in the 'burgh.