2007 NFL Free Agent WRs

Top 2007 Free Agent WRs

By: Greg Davis

Donte Stallworth, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Stallworth hits the market, voiding the final year off of his contract by reaching minimum playing time benchmarks. The receiver missed four games this season, but was still able to post 725 yards and five touchdowns, including three games in which he surpassed the 100-yard mark. When healthy, he was one of the league’s best during 2006, whether it was Donovan McNabb or Jeff Garcia throwing him the ball. The former Saints player has never had a 1,000 yard season, but he will certainly be looked at as a number one receiver and may command money that reflects. Teams like New England and Buffalo—among others—would benefit greatly from a receiver of Stallworth’s caliber. It is unclear to what extent the Eagles will pursue an extension.

Drew Bennett, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Bennett might not be considered a special wide receiver in NFL circles, but the UCLA product has great size and good hands as a second receiving option. An uncanny connection with quarterback Billy Volek in 2004 helped Bennett to 1,247 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. With Vince Young being named the starter, production was up and down for Bennett, but he managed to reach triple-digit receiving yards in three different games, and totaled 737 yards with three scores. The Titans are closer to competing than previously though, it appears, but Bennett may look for work in a system focused more on the pass and with a chance to seriously compete sooner. Several teams could use Bennett to compliment a smaller and faster receiver, and if used properly, Bennett can put up strong numbers once again.

Kevin Curtis, UFA, St. Louis Rams
It is likely that Curtis hangs around St. Louis. He’s being used regularly in the offense and Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are only getting older. He caught fewer passes this season, but the team used him to return kicks at times to get him more touches. If Curtis leaves the Rams, it will be because he doesn’t feel utilized enough and another team wants his services with a nice pay check offer. The Rams may just work an extension and save the trouble of Curtis looking around in the off season, but if Curtis does hit the market, he’ll make a solid second wide receiver for a team willing to use his speed in the right way.

Patrick Crayton, RFA, Dallas Cowboys
Crayton benefits from the talent around him, but he’s also a solid option in the passing game. Terry Glenn missed the Cowboys week ten game this season, so Crayton filled in and caught five passes for 104 yards and a score. He posted more than 60 receiving yards in five games this season as the third-string wide-out. He totaled 516 yards and four touchdowns in the passing offense. His RFA status will make his move out of Dallas more unlikely, but with his potential, there will definitely be teams looking to bump him into the number two receiving slot.

Bobby Wade UFA Tennessee Titans
2006 was a breakout year for Bobby Wade, and the arrival of rookie quarterback Vince Young played a major role in that breakout. While Wade’s 461 receiving yards are not overly impressive, his offensive unit was not all that effective in the passing game, leaving his numbers on the low side. And, he also contributed nearly 1,200 kick return yards with a solid average of 23.9 yards per return. His ability to return kicks and be a solid second receiving option means that there should be a good deal of interest in Wade on the market. The talent is there and teams know it.

TE Eric Johnson, UFA, San Francisco 49ers
The tight end free agent options are appealing. Johnson tops the list because it is almost absolute that he will be on his way out of San Francisco. The 49ers drafted Vernon Davis early in the first round, and Johnson won’t see the field next season—when Davis is healthy and more adjusted to the NFL. Davis’ freakish athletic ability will make that a quick process, so Johnson is going to be looking for a new place to play on Sundays. In 2005, Johnson caught 82 passes for 825 yards and a pair of touchdowns and he added 292 yards two scores in 2006, so a team looking for a pass catching tight end will take a chance on Johnson in the hopes that he can repeat that production—particularly his 2005 numbers.

Eric Moulds, UFA, Houston Texans
Moulds was able to grab 57 passes for the Texans in 2006, but he hit pay-dirt on just one occasion, and was slightly disappointing overall. Moulds, who showed promise in Buffalo earlier in his career, should have little trouble finding a new team to play for. The Vikings are rumored to have interest, and whoever signs him has to hope that he can show some flashes of greatness on a more consistent basis once again. Moulds spent just a single season playing for the Texans, and his next contract probably won’t be long-term, but he’ll be a decent second or third option for someone.

Daniel Graham, UFA, New England Patriots
Graham has scheduled interviews with a handful of teams, and the tight end is known for being a team player. He watched on as Ben Watson began taking more reps away in New England, but did his job well when called upon. The Patriots won’t likely be able to keep Graham, as other teams showed immediate interest in him when the market opened. The Broncos may have an inside shot at him since Graham considers the area of Denver his hometown.

Other Free Agent Wide Receivers
Marc Boerigter, UFA, Green Bay Packers
David Boston, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tyrone Calico, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Andre' Davis, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Justin Gage, UFA, Chicago Bears
D.J. Hackett, RFA, Seattle Seahawks
Joe Horn, UFA, New Orleans Saints
Keenan McCardell, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Shaun McDonald, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Samie Parker, RFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Jerome Pathon, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Willie Ponder, UFA, New York Giants
Edell Shepherd, RFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Travis Taylor, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Scottie Vines, RFA, Detroit Lions
Peter Warrick, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Kelley Washington, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Alvis Whitted, UFA, Oakland Raiders
Ernest Wilford, RFA, Jacksonville Jaguars

Other Free Agent Tight Ends
Kyle Brady, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Daniel Graham, UFA, New England Patriots
Ben Hartsock, RFA, Indianapolis Colts
Zach Hilton, UFA, New York Jets
Reggie Kelly, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Jerramy Stevens, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Boo Williams, UFA, New York Giants