Latest news with #wideReceivers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 WRs Raiders Should Consider Adding After June 1st
3 WRs Raiders Should Consider Adding After June 1st originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the worst quarterback situations in the entire NFL during the 2024 season. Fortunately, new general manager John Spytek upgraded by trading for veteran Geno Smith this offseason. Advertisement However, there are still a few question marks at the wide receiver position heading into the next phase of the offseason program. Jakobi Meyers is a surefire starter, but it is currently unknown who will emerge alongside him. Third-year Tre Tucker as well as rookies Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Tommy Mellott will look to make a case, but Las Vegas could stand to add a veteran into the mix. Former Jacksonville Jaguars WR Gabe Davis (0).Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images 1. Gabe Davis Davis was just released by the Jaguars last month after signing a three-year, $39 million deal with Jacksonville last offseason. This release came on the heels of a 20-catch, 239-yard campaign in which he missed almost half of the season due to injury. Advertisement Fortunately, Davis showed that he can be a solid supporting receiver in the first four years of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills. He just turned 26 years old as well, so there is plenty of time for him to still develop and grow. His base salary this season will only be $1.5 million, so he could be a cheap and young option for the Raiders to add. 2. Amari Cooper Cooper was drafted by the franchise with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Although fans were upset about the way he left in 2018, a reunion could be in play for what is a completely new Raiders team. Last season, Cooper struggled to find his footing after being traded from the Browns to the Bills, but he still put together 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. He may not be the receiver that he once was, but he is just one year removed from a Pro Bowl campaign and has plenty of gas in the tank to help Las Vegas in 2025. 3. Keenan Allen Allen was a longtime foe of the Silver and Black, but he has a chance to redeem himself to Raider Nation by signing a deal with the team this season. His market value is just $11 million according to Spotrac, which should be well within the wheelhouse for Las Vegas. Advertisement He also has a strong connection to the Raiders, as wide receivers coach Chris Beatty has coached Allen at each of his last two stops with the Chargers and Bears. His 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns last season is the most of any player on this list, so despite being 33 years old already, Allen could be a strong short-term investment. Related: Greg Olsen Sends Strong Message on Raiders' TE Brock Bowers Related: 3 Raiders Players Who Need Contract Extensions After A.J. Cole Deal This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Commanders Star Gives Shocking Take on NFC East Wideouts
Former Commanders Star Gives Shocking Take on NFC East Wideouts originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When the Washington Commanders traded for All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, the team hoped they finally had a receiving group that could compete pound for pound with the Philadelphia Eagles and their elite duo of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Advertisement Not everyone is as high on the Samuel acquisition as the Commanders are, however. On the latest episode of the Up and Adams podcast, former Commanders and Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson spoke out in his belief that while the Commanders did bolster their receiving room, they didn't supplant another team in their decision. 'Obviously, Deebo - I think he's a good (addition) over there. Jayden Daniels had a heck of a year as well too. Dak (Prescott) … you know Dak, he's a regular-season hero. I just don't know how it's going to transition into the playoffs,' Jackson said. 'But as far as regular season, I think the Cowboys will have better production from CeeDee (Lamb) and George Pickens if we're just talking about receivers.' Jackson's comments about the Cowboys receiving room might be shocking to some. Dallas added George Pickens to the room in an offseason trade with the Steelers. Pickens is set to join a unit with an All-Pro in Lamb. Advertisement One argument: Is Samuel is a better player than Pickens at this time in their careers? The other, and we can settle this: As good as Terry McLaurin is, he isn't better than Lamb. And that's the demarcation point that the NFC East legend Jackson is speaking of here. In at least this one area, the Cowboys may have moved themselves up and over Washington. Related: Commanders Trade Paying Off As A Steal as Deebo Stars at OTAs Related: Commanders Rookie Putting On Show for Kingsbury at OTAs This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
With Stefon Diggs, did the Patriots do enough to upgrade at wide receiver?
Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series breaking down lingering questions for the New England Patriots. Part I: Has the O-line improved enough? A year ago, no NFL team got less production from its wide receivers than the Patriots. It didn't matter that Drake Maye emerged as a promising young quarterback in the second half of the season. The crazy throws didn't matter. It didn't even help that the Pats were often trailing, which meant more passing. Advertisement Despite all of that, the Patriots' group of wide receivers was still the worst in the league. New England had only two receivers with more than 305 receiving yards — Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte — and neither put up more than 621. Change, of course, has come. There are some new veterans, a Day 2 draft pick, new coaches and a new coordinator. Now, the question is: Did the Patriots do enough to improve at wide receiver? The Patriots have lacked a true No. 1 outside receiver for decades. Julian Edelman, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski covered up a lot of their woes with developing receivers. Some guy named Tom Brady helped, too. But the Patriots' receiver group has been a total mess since Brady left. No receiver has put up 1,000 yards since Brady left for Tampa. (No one has put up 900, either.) Only one — Jakobi Meyers — has even gone over 800 yards. In short, it's been bleak for years. That has to change. Everything for the Patriots right now is centered around the 22-year-old Maye. If he thrives, the season will be seen as a success. And to give Maye the best chance of becoming a franchise quarterback, the Pats need to get a lot better at wide receiver. This was never going to be an easy fix, considering this offseason brought a weak group of available free-agent wide receivers and the draft wasn't anything special at the position. So the Patriots went in a slightly surprising direction to find their top option. They signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year contract even as he recovers from an ACL tear that could cause him to miss the start of the season. The hope with Diggs is twofold. First, the Pats need a veteran leader to help a position that came with plenty of drama and complaints a year ago, even as their production cratered. Second, they need someone who can be a top option for Maye. Advertisement Diggs, now 31, is no longer the receiver of 2020 who led the NFL in receiving yards. But the hope is he can be a steady, reliable option for Maye while getting eight to 10 targets a game. The Patriots also added Mack Hollins in free agency and then picked Kyle Williams in the third round. There are a lot of players who could fit here. Diggs could certainly be the X-factor. Same for Ja'Lynn Polk if he can come back from a historically terrible season. Maybe it's Douglas if he becomes the kind of slot receiver that gets tons of looks in Josh McDaniels' offense. But I'll go with Williams. The Patriots took the receiver with the 69th pick. The franchise's trend of draft busts at the position has to end at some point, right? Williams excels off the line of scrimmage, was great against man coverage in college and wins downfield. Those are three traits the Patriots sorely lacked last season. Given that, a lot rides on Williams' development. If he can become one of their top three options in 11 personnel, that would go a long way toward helping this offense, giving them Diggs on one side, Williams on the other and Douglas in the slot. If Williams lives up to the hype, that's a trio you can have success with. Rooks first look 🤩@TreVeyonH4 | @k_mmoneyyyy — New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 20, 2025 We got into it above, but the best-case situation involves Williams turning into a solid outside receiver who can put up at least 600 yards this season. But for the true best-case scenario, Diggs has to come back from injury (maybe reasonably in Week 4) and be a reliable top target for Maye, the kind of guy a young quarterback can turn to behind a potentially shaky offensive line. Diggs may not be the All-Pro he was earlier in his career, but it was just two years ago that he totaled 1,183 yards for the Bills. Advertisement The other factor here is Douglas. He was so impressive as a sixth-round rookie in 2023. That season, he ranked fifth among NFL wide receivers in yards after the catch per reception. Put the ball in his hands, and special things happened, despite the offense routinely being stuck in the mud. His advanced numbers dipped last season. But McDaniels' offense is best with a shifty slot receiver who can beat defenses over the middle. If Douglas can be that kind of reliable weapon, this group of receivers can rank among the middle of the pack in the NFL. And we haven't even mentioned Boutte, who can be a solid No. 4 after being one of a handful of players who exceeded expectations last season. This might be a painful exercise for a group that has already been the worst in the league for several years, but here we go. Diggs is 31 and is coming off a significant injury. He might deal with nagging effects from the ACL tear and never look like the guy he was before as his 32nd birthday looms during the season. Veteran Kendrick Bourne turns 30 during training camp, and his own ACL tear might've taken some speed from a receiver who couldn't afford to lose any. Polk looks like a total bust. Javon Baker hardly saw the field last year despite very little competition ahead of him. And while I'm high on Williams and think he'll be good, he's still a Patriots draft pick at wide receiver, and there's a fair chance it's another whiff there. This spot is similar to the offensive line. After having the worst group of wide receivers in the league, did they transform it enough that it should be set for the next couple of years? Absolutely not. Wide receiver will probably be a focus for them with their first-round pick next year. But the additions they made should be enough to improve the position meaningfully, even if it's still a below-average group. And — just like the O-line — even if they're a bottom-10 unit, it's probably enough for Maye to feel like his life has gotten significantly easier than a year ago.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Wide receiver
The Atlanta Falcons offense has the pieces in place to be one of the most prolific units in the NFL this season. While Drake London and Darnell Mooney put together solid seasons in 2024, they're still waiting to get the recognition they deserve. Atlanta's dynamic receiver duo combined for 2,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. The Falcons added a few players to their wide receiver room, signing return specialist Jamal Agnew and undrafted free agent Nick Nash. The team also re-signed special teams ace KhaDarel Hodge, who's coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. Advertisement Check out Atlanta's post-draft wide receiver breakdown for the 2025 NFL season below. WR Depth Chart (13): Drake London Darnell Mooney Ray-Ray McCloud KhaDarel Hodge Jamal Agnew Casey Washington Chris Blair Nick Nash David Sills Dylan Drummond Makai Polk Jesse Matthews Quincy Skinner Jr. London, Mooney and McCloud will again serve as the team's top three wideouts. The team signed Agnew to take over the kick/punt return duties from former Falcons running back Avery Williams. Outside of the top guys, look out for Chris Blair, David Sills and Nash to be in the mix for a spot on the 53-man roster. Don't sleep on second-year wideout Casey Washington, who played a role on special teams last season as a rookie. 2025 salary cap hits Mooney: $14,480,000 London: $6,851,878 McCloud: $4,120,000 Hodge: $2,135,000 Agnew: $1,730,000 Washington: $1,008,399 Sills: $1,100,000 Blair: $960,000 Polk: $852,500 Nash: $846,666 Skinner: $842,000 Drummond: $840,000 Matthews: $840,000 Mooney has the highest cap hit of the team's wide receivers in 2025. The former Bear finished with 992 receiving yards last season and that was without playing in the final game. London has the second-highest cap hit as he enters his fourth season in Atlanta. The team just picked up London's fifth-year option, assuring he'll be with the team through the 2026 season at least. Hodge signed a two-year, $6 million contract to remain in Atlanta. Top free agents available: Keenan Allen Amari Cooper Gabe Davis DJ Chark Brandon Powell Advertisement Atlanta has a nice wide receiver core, so we don't foresee the team bringing in any of the big-name players available at the position. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper will probably only be considered if the team suffered an injury to one of its top receivers. Predictions/expectations for 2025 The Falcons did not draft a single wide receiver, nor did they make any significant additions in free agency. The group will continue to be led by an ascending London, who's firmly established himself as the No. 1 option, and Mooney, who quietly had a nice season as the team's No. 2 wideout. Agnew likely won't play a major role on offense but is a huge special teams signing. McCloud returns as the team's slot receiver after a career year in 2024. Atlanta should have one of the better wide receiver rooms in the NFL this season. Around Falcons Wire This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons wide receiver breakdown: Drake London, Darnell Mooney return
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: The big question at wide receiver
The Indianapolis Colts will begin Phase III of the offseason programs on May 28th, which means the start of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Rather than only doing individual drills as the Colts have been doing, they will now be permitted to do 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, although no live contact is allowed. Advertisement So with this important part of the offseason schedule about to begin, I wanted to highlight one big question facing each position group. Up next are the wide receivers. Below you can find our previous position previews. Indianapolis Colts big question at wide receiver: Can AD Mitchell make a big jump in Year 2? After the Indianapolis Colts' 2024 season ended, GM Chris Ballard noted that AD Mitchell had some "really strong moments" during his rookie season, but ultimately, more consistency was needed moving forward. Mitchell would finish his rookie season catching just 23-of-51 targets (45.1%) at 13.6 yards per catch with no touchdowns. At times, he and the quarterback weren't on the same page. There were also dropped passes and the timing of routes were off. Advertisement However, we also saw flashes of the big-play potential that he brings, along with Mitchell's ability to create separation, specifically against man coverage. With his combination of speed and nuanced route-running abilities, Mitchell has the potential to win at all levels of the field and make an impact in a variety of ways. But the majority of his targets last season came on downfield throws. In order to get more of those opportunities in other parts of the field, refinement and consistency are needed. The challenge for Mitchell is that the Colts aren't lacking options in the passing game. He's currently the fourth option on the receiver depth chart and likely the fifth option overall with Tyler Warren now in the mix. Earning more of those pass-catching opportunities this season and having the chance to impact the game in different ways starts with the consistency he shows as a route runner and pass-catcher during OTAs, training camp, and the preseason. Advertisement "That he's exactly who we drafted," said Reggie Wayne about Mitchell's ability to create separation. "A guy that can constantly get open. A guy that's a threat and is special when it's man-to-man. The next step is finishing catches. Making sure you're on the same page as the quarterback. I think we spread it pretty evenly. Everybody contributes a certain way, but different from everyone else." This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' OTAs: More consistency needed from WR AD Mitchell
