The Vikings just cut N'Keal Harry. He'd be another name to watch IMO. Not the greatest receiver and he's been wildly inconsistent in terms of run blocking (best PFF season run blocking grade was 84.8 in 21, worst was 42.0 in 20), but he's a 6'4" 225, former 1st round pick. I wouldn't hate it if they brought him in to compete for a roster spot over the next 2 weeks.
Thanks for putting these lists together… Some thoughts: Free Agents - none of those guys are exciting at all…I don’t think the older guys like Watkins or Jones have much left to give, and while Golliday was a hot commodity coming off the Lions, he absolutely sucked with the Giants, and I always liked Landry and thought he was underrated, but he’s been hurt I think. But honestly none of those names make us significantly better in my mind…I don’t know that any of them would be better than just going with the kids who have been here for training camp and seeing if one of them steps up Trades - clearly these guys are much better options, especially the pipe dreams of Adams or Evans, but I just don’t see us having enough trade capital to get those done…I’m less worried about the cap issues as I’m sure that shit can be worked out, but those guys would probably cost more than we would be willing to give up. After that, the next three guys are interesting in that they are not top tier guys, but I do think they would make us better…worth considering. Finally, not sure who will become available after cuts next week, so that may be a decent option But looking at our WR group now, we have a young and rising star in GW who has the potential to be a true #1WR, but after him, I look at Lazard as more of a #2/#3 guy, and Hardman as a #3/#4 guy, and we have no depth in case someone gets hurt. I do think we have a strong TE group which will help, and a superstar QB who will make receivers look better, so not doomsday, but I think we do need to make a move or two to bolster depth at least, and if we want to really improve the position, I think that would most likely have to come via trade
Pickings are slim. Honestly, I am not sure if any of these FAs just now are better than the guys we have battling for the spot. Which is why they are still FAs IMO, we go into the season with what we have and give opportunity to Brownlees, etc... Then once teams start losing and think of rebuilding there may be a chance to add someone really good in season via trade, like Bears did last year with Claypool for example.
My favorite Chris Burkett moment was 1991, when the jets played the Dolphins in Miami for the last playoff spot. During the week prior to the game, Dolphins WR Mark Clayton "guaranteed" a Dolphin victory (obviously copying Namath). The jets won in overtime and secured the last spot over the Dolphins. Burkett was interviewed in the locker room shortly thereafter and said "I was looking for Clayton on the field after the game to ask about his guarantee, but I couldn't find him."
not really a lot out there. jason peters is an option at OT. maybe take a swing at landry or julio as a WR4. I wouldn't expect much more then that from them but they bring value. Julio can at least be a red zone threat and maybe won't be as washed as a sub player. Making a trade for evans would be best though. He's in the final year and they are tanking this year and could use the draft capital to rebuild and get younger players. we are in win now mode. I'm thinking a 3rd this year and a 2nd next year would do it. He would only cost us 13mil this year. TB would have 21mil in dead cap but save 2 mil this year and 12mil next year to sign more players and have extra high picks in the next 2 drafts.
Thanks for putting this together. The only guys on that list I'd be excited about adding are Adams, Evans, Boyd, and Renfrow. I agree that Adams and Evans aren't likely, and would add Boyd to that, but Renfrow could be. IMO he's much better than Gallup. I'm surprised that Boyd might be available. Even if he is, I can't see the Bengals trading him to us. I think they'd trade him out of the conference. Boyd is 6'2', 203 lbs., is 28, has played 7 seasons, has been mostly healthy, and he's had 446 receptions for 5,333 yards (11.8 ypc) and 29 TDs. He has averaged a little over 4 TD receptions per season. Renfrow is 5'10, 185 lbs., is 27, has played 4 seasons, has been mostly healthy, and he's had 244 receptions for 2,229 yards (10.9), and 17 TDs. He has averaged a little over 4 TD receptions per season as well. Gallup is 6'1", 205 lbs., is 27, has played 5 seasons, has never played every game in a season and has missed more time. He's had 232 receptions for 3,326 yards (14 ypc), and 19 TDs. He has averaged under 4 TDs per season. I see Boyd as the best of those 3, but again, I can't see Cincinnati trading him to us, even if he is available. I believe that Renfrow is more of a possession-type WR, hence the lower ypc average. Gallup is more of a deep threat. But we have Hardman for that as well as Wilson, and with his injury history, I wouldn't have much interest in adding Gallup.
The problem is that the only guy that could be available would really be Renfrow and he makes no money so they have no need to move him. The NFC South is a bad division and the Buccs still have a roster with veterans that might see a path to winning the division at 9-8/8-9. Would’ve been nice to have Zay Flowers or JSN or Quentin Johnson. At least we have a a third string edge rusher though.
IMO, at this stage, the best solution is to keep the young studs. We kind of forget that we also have 4 TE that can catch the ball and create a lot of mismatches. I would not be surprised to see plenty of two TE formations called. They will have to pick their poison carefully.
Two tightends can only be effective if you can move the ball on the ground and create play action. But I agree, I want to see the boys on the edge move some bodies.
Remember that game well. After the game, I think it was James Hasty who said “Only Joe Willie guarantees victory”
