Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper among free agent wide receivers Saints should consider
Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper among free agent wide receivers Saints should consider
In a shocking twist in the NFL wide receiver landscape, the Pittsburgh Steelers recently traded receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for some mid-round draft capital earlier this week. Rumors had swirled for weeks about the possibility of Pickens being moved, but the reality of seeing him line up alongside CeeDee Lamb only added to the intrigue.
One of the teams still in need of a big-body possession receiver is the New Orleans Saints. A team that is filled with tremendous speed at the top of the depth chart, but lacks a player with great size who can work the intermediate area of the field. A crucial roster need that wasn't addressed in this year's draft.
The free-agent market at wide receiver isn't loaded with big names that would electrify the fanbase, but there are still a few veterans who could provide a much-needed spark to this offense. If the team decides to explore options before training camp, here are several players worth considering:
Keenan Allen
The obvious name of the bunch who has direct ties to head coach Kellen Moore from their time in L.A. together. In 2023 under Moore, Allen had one of his best seasons statistically catching a career high of 108 passes for 1243 yards and 7 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, Allen fits the mold of what the Saints need as someone who can work the intermediate area of the field and make contested catches.
Tyler Boyd
At 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Boyd also brings some size with him. As the former sure-handed slot receiver for Cincinnati, Boyd has made a career out of working the middle of the field as a security blanket for Joe Burrow. This past season with the Titans, Boyd still showed he has some left in the tank although living in a poor situation offensively.
Gabe Davis
A new name added to the list of free agents as he was just released a few days ago, Davis is a young player who excelled as a tall, vertical option for Josh Allen in Buffalo. An injury-plagued year in Jacksonville drove his stock down, but Davis would be a great low-risk, high-reward value if he can pass a physical.
Amari Cooper
Cooper isn't the player he once was as a former perennial Pro Bowler, but the ties to Kellen Moore make him an intriguing possibility. Coming off career-lows in almost every category, Cooper may be worth the look at a relatively low price.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers to reportedly release 2-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers are cutting ties with cornerback Jaire Alexander. The two-time Pro Bowler will reportedly be released Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It marks quite the fall for Alexander, a former first-round draft pick who was one of the team's best players as recently as the 2022 season, when he was selected to his second Pro Bowl. But injuries have plagued Alexander over the past two years. Back and shoulder issues limited Alexander to seven games in 2023. A knee issue caused Alexander to play in just seven games in 2024. Advertisement Prior to those injuries, Alexander had emerged as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. After a promising rookie season in 2018, Alexander started in all 16 games in his second season. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and was second team All-Pro. He was limited to just four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury, but bounced back in 2022 to play in all 16 games, once again earning Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro team honors. After signing a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022, Alexander was set to make over $16 million in 2025. The Packers reportedly offered Alexander a restructured deal in May, which would have resulted in Alexander taking a pay cut. It appears Alexander did not want to take that deal, leading to his reported release. The last two seasons in which Alexander played double-digit games, he made the Pro Bowl. That should give the 28-year-old multiple options now that he's reportedly hit the free-agent market. Given his injury struggles, Alexander may need to settle for a short-term deal. If he can stay healthy and return to form, Alexander could fetch a much larger contract on the market next season.
Washington Post
24 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Jim Irsay's three daughters will take over ownership of the Colts, team says
The three daughters of late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will take over ownership of the franchise, the team announced Monday. Irsay's eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will succeed her father as the team's principal owner and will have the title of chief executive officer, the Colts said. The Colts said that 'all three sisters will share leadership duties for the club,' adding that the ownership transition was being done 'pursuant to longstanding plans set forth by Jim Irsay.' The new roles and titles for the three women are 'effective immediately,' according to the team.
USA Today
35 minutes ago
- USA Today
Packers officially release CB Jaire Alexander
Packers officially release CB Jaire Alexander The Green Bay Packers officially announced the release of cornerback Jaire Alexander on Monday. The roster move was initially reported on Monday morning and is now official with the league office as of Monday afternoon. Alexander's release ends a seven-year run for Brian Gutekunst's first draft pick as general manager of the Packers. "In his seven seasons with the Packers, Jaire established himself as one of the premier players in the NFL at one of the game's most challenging positions," Gutekunst wrote in a press release. "His contributions to our organization were felt on the field, in the locker room and in our community, and he will be missed. We appreciate all he gave and we wish him all the best moving forward." Alexander, a first-round pick of the Packers (18th overall) in the 2018 draft, played in 78 games (76 starts) over the last seven seasons in Green Bay. He intercepted 12 passes, returning one for a touchdown, and produced 70 total passes defensed. Alexander was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022, and he was named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team in 2018. Alexander also appeared in seven postseason games. He intercepted three passes in the playoffs -- two on Tom Brady in the 2020 NFC Championship Game and one on Dak Prescott in the Packers' upset win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round in 2023. Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million contract with the Packers in 2022. However, he played in only four games in 2021, seven games in 2023 and seven games in 2024 due to injuries or suspension. The Packers now have an open roster spot as mandatory minicamp -- the final event of the offseason workout program -- begins on Tuesday.
