What Free Agent WR fills that void now?

[top dawg]

Yes, who will fill the actual physical void is a question, but perhaps the bigger question is what veteran left in free agency can be that leader that this team so desperately needs now at the position.  At this point, we may as well realize that when the regular season begins, our leadership at WR is going to be a project, an experiment---basically a work in progress.  When I look at the list of free agents that are still available, I really don't see that guy.  Not one of the guys left has that kind of swagger.  You can argue until you're blue in the face, but if someone on the list had that kind of personality, then it would have already displayed itself on and of the field.  None of these guys has ever been that guy.  If I'm wrong, you tell me who. Santonio Holmes? The guy that seemingly would rather ride the bicycle than get in the game (Queue, Miles Austin).  Yeah, that's a good role model...And can guys with considerable injury issues like Sidney Rice and Danario Alexander be the leaders that they need to be from the sidelines?  Perhaps James Jones or Emmanuel Sanders?  Yeah, they may want to step up and be that guy but nothing really suggests that they can be that guy, as it appears that they definitely know their roles ("Know your role!") which is being the second and third fiddle. Do they really have it in them? Probably not if we are all honest.  Jerricho Cotchery seems like a stand-up guy, but when he had the chance to be the Jets go-to guy, things didn't exactly work out and he took a lesser role in Pittsburgh. Furthermore, it's not like Jones, Sanders or Cotchery aren't good candidates to be signed by their own teams, but even if we are able to acquire one of them, we will have acquired a WR2 or WR3 not only in terms of the field, but off the field as well.  Some of the remaining guys like Darrius Heyward Bey, Jacoby Ford, and Robert Meachem have had their chances to step up, so what are they really going to bring in terms of leadership?

 

Again, we are going to be a work in progress in that department this year. Hopefully it will only be for a season. Somewhere in this draft, some receiver is going to have to assume that role, earlier than they really should have had to.  Sure, it will probably all work out in the end, because there are no other options.  This year is going to be interesting with our wide receiving corps.  There will be lots of up and downs---highs and lows. As fans we may need to lower our expectations, be patient, and give the youngsters time to learn how to be "the man", and all of the receivers time to learn the offense and develop chemistry with Cam.  

 

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about Brandon LaFell. Pardon, me! That's easy to do. Remember that interview with him basically being relieved that he didn't have to be "the man", giving a big sigh of relief (so to speak) that 89 would be back...?

 

 

 

With thanks to rotoworld:

 

1. Eric Decker (Signed five-year, $36.25M deal with NYJ)

2. Jeremy Maclin (Re-signed one-year, $5.5M deal with PHI)

3. Hakeem Nicks (Signed one-year, $3.5M deal with IND)

4. Julian Edelman

5. Golden Tate (Signed five-year, $31M deal with DET)

6. Anquan Boldin (Re-signed two-year, $12M deal with SF)

7. Steve Smith (Signed three-year, $11M deal with BAL)

8. Santonio Holmes

9. James Jones

10. Andre Roberts (Signed four-year, $16M deal with WAS)

11. Emmanuel Sanders

12. Riley Cooper (Re-signed five-year, $25M deal with PHI)

13. Sidney Rice

14. Jacoby Jones (Re-signed four-year, $12M deal with BAL)

15. Dexter McCluster (Signed three-year, $9M deal with TEN)

16. Brandon LaFell

17. Kenny Britt 

18. Miles Austin

19. Damian Williams

20. Jerricho Cotchery

21. Ted Ginn (Signed three-year, $9.75M deal with ARZ)

22. Danario Alexander 

23. Lance Moore

24. Jerome Simpson (Re-signed one-year deal with MIN)

25. Jacoby Ford

26. Robert Meachem

27. Austin Collie

28. Jason Avant

29. Joe Morgan

30. Andre Caldwell (Re-signed two-year, $3.45M deal with DEN)

31. Santana Moss (Re-signed one-year deal with WAS)

32. Marc Mariani

33. Josh Morgan

34. Nate Burleson

35. Mario Manningham

36. Darrius Heyward-Bey

37. Domenik Hixon (Signed one-year deal with CHI)

38. Tiquan Underwood 

39. Devin Hester

40. Lavelle Hawkins

41. Dezmon Briscoe

42. Kevin Ogletree (Re-signed one-year, $795K deal with DET)

43. Louis Murphy

44. Davone Bess

45. Josh Cribbs

 

 

 

 

[AceBoogie]

I don't see anyone on that list still available that I would rather have over Steve Smith.

[top dawg]

Oh, yeah, another thing:

 

Perhaps it won't be as bad for whoever has to assume the role because Shula's inefficiency and ineptitude at using WRs probably will make it easy for them. Of course it could confuse the hell out of them.  Who knows?  fug Shula! And yeah, like Zod pointed out, there is Olsen. He is our number 1 receiver.  Great! ***sarcasm***

[Proudiddy]

I want Emannuel Sanders.  Bottom line.  He has playmaking/gamebreaking ability.  Everyone else is meh...

[stirs]

How big is Cotchery?

[Soul Rebel]

Sanders is a fringe #1 but a stellar #2. At only 26 and behind Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, he started to show flashes of #1 ability. Worst case, we sign him and LaFell and we probably field an equal or better 1-2 punch than last year. Grab a stud WR in the draft and Herron in the 3rd to be our slot guy. For me, the sum of Sanders/Draftee/Herron/LaFell > sum of Smith/LaFell/Ginn/Hixon.

[Kuech the Sneak]

James jones and lance Moore. Maybe ford for KR

[Matthias]

Our last hopes are Emmanuel Sanders and James Jones.  If we don't get either, then we will be in a real fix.  It seems like there should be more receivers wanting to come in and play with Cam.

[Rules&Regulations]

Knowing us, we'll get LaFell and Louis Murphy and Manningham...I wish I was joking.

[Proudiddy]

Sadly, that sounds more likely.

[JJman]

Looking at the list I fully expect our WR core next year to be

1. Marvin Mcnutt

2. Louis Murphy

3. Davone Bess

4. Josh Cribbs

[jtm]

I'd get a couple vet WRs for depth and competition, but I think LaFell is as good as any of the guys still available. Britt and Rice have the highest upside, but have major injury concerns.

I think Gettle can do better by doubling up in the draft with WRs, then overpaying for any of these guys still left. I wanted Nicks, but clearly Gettle didn't.

[carolina-chuck]

I heard we're done with FA.

[AceMan]

I think a lot of posters haven't seen Emmanuel Sanders last year..he took a step back and is more so a #3