The Vikings.com 2017 Free Agency Primer series uses ***NFL.com’s Top 101 Free Agents list** to break down this year's class. We will count down the player position groups until March 9 when free agency is scheduled to open.*
Note: The rankings may end up changing prior to free agency opening, but this breakdown is updated to the time of post.
Schedule:
LB, DB – Thursday, March 9
OL, DL – Wednesday, March 8
WR, TE – Tuesday, March 7
QB, RB –**Click here**
This year's pending free agency group of wide receivers and tight ends includes several field-stretching targets and matchup problems who have made their way into household name status with highlight-reel catches. A total of 18 players at the positions are listed in the top 101.
NFL.com's writing staff put three receivers in their top 12 available players, considering Alshon Jeffery the best catch on the market as his time with the Chicago Bears appears to be concluding. The crew also liked the progression that Terrelle Pryor (ranked ninth overall) made as a receiver in Cleveland after beginning his career as a quarterback in Oakland. DeSean Jackson was rated at 12th after continuing to be a big-play threat for three seasons in Washington.
Here's the full list:
Receivers
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears | No. 1
63 games played, 56 games started; 304 receptions, 4,549 yards, 15.0 yards per catch, 26 touchdowns, 4.8 receptions per game, 72.2 yards per game
The second-round pick of the Bears in 2012 has done considerable damage to the Vikings over the years. In nine games, Jeffery has 45 receptions, 685 yards, seven scores and averaged 76.1 yards per game.
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns | No. 9
A third-round pick by the Raiders in 2011, Pryor went 3-7 as a starting quarterback, completing 170 of 302 passes (56.3 percent) for 1,953 yards with nine touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a passer rating of 69.3.
With Cleveland (2015-16): Pryor played in 19 games (17 starts), caught 78 passes for 1,049 yards (13.4 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. He averaged 4.1 receptions per game and 55.2 yards per game.
DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins | No. 12
127 games, 123 starts, 498 receptions, 8,819 yards, 17.7 yards per catch, 46 touchdowns, 3.9 receptions per game, 69.4 yards per game
With Philadelphia (2008-13): 87 games, 86 starts, 356 catches, 6,117 yards, 17.2 yards per catch, 32 touchdowns, 4.1 receptions per game, 70.3 yards per game in six seasons
With Washington (2014-16): 40 games, 37 starts, 142 catches, 2,702 yards, 19.0 yards per catch, 14 touchdowns, 3.6 receptions per game, 67.6 yards per game in three seasons
The 2008 second-round pick continued to worry opposing secondaries with his speed at double moves in his second stop.
Pierre Garçon, Washington Redskins | No. 22
132 games, 115 starts, 564 catches, 7,068 yards, 12.5 yards per catch, 37 touchdowns, 4.3 receptions per game, 53.5 yards per game
With Indianapolis (2008-11): 58 games, 43 starts, 188 catches, 2,519 yards, 13.4 yards per catch, 16 touchdowns, 3.2 receptions per game, 43.3 yards per game
With Washington (2012-16): 74 games, 72 starts, 376 catches, 4,549 yards, 12.1 yards per catch, 21 touchdowns, 5.1 receptions per game, 61.5 yards per game
Garçon delivered on the investment by Washington, posting 68 or more catches in four of five seasons, including 113 in 2013 when he led the league.
Kenny Britt, Los Angeles Rams | No. 31
104 games, 71 starts, 309 catches, 4,881 yards, 15.8 yards per catch, 30 touchdowns, 3.0 receptions per game, 46.9 yards per game
With Tennessee (2009-13): 57 games, 30 starts, 157 catches, 2,450 yards, 15.6 yards per catch, 19 touchdowns, 2.8 receptions per game, 43.0 yards per game
With St. Louis/Los Angeles (2014-16): 47 games, 41 starts, 152 catches, 2,431 yards, 16.0 yards per catch, 11 touchdowns, 3.2 receptions per game, 51.7 yards per game
The former first-round pick didn't pan out quite as planned in Tennessee but will only turn 29 years old this fall but made the most of his opportunity with the Rams. Britt posted career highs of 68 catches and 1,002 yards in 2016.
Brandon Marshall, New York Jets | No. 33
167 games, 151 starts, 941 catches, 12,061 yards, 12.8 yards per catch, 82 touchdowns, 5.6 receptions per game, 72.2 yards per game
With Denver (2006-09): 61 games, 45 starts, 327 catches, 4,019 yards, 12.3 yards per catch, 25 touchdowns, 5.4 receptions per game, 65.9 yards per game
With Miami (2010-11): 30 games, 30 starts, 167 catches, 2,228 yards, 13.3 yards per catch, nine touchdowns, 5.6 receptions per game, 74.3 yards per game
With Chicago (2012-14): 45 games, 45 starts, 279 catches, 3,524 yards, 12.6 yards per catch, 31 touchdowns, 6.2 receptions per game, 78.3 yards per game
With New York Jets (2015-16): 31 games, 31 starts, 168 catches, 2,290 yards, 13.6 yards per catch, 17 touchdowns, 5.4 receptions per game, 73.9 yards per game
The player with the most prolific numbers among the group, Marshall has delivered consistent production at all four of his stops. Can he go 5-for-5?
Michael Floyd, New England Patriots | No. 36
78 games, 47 starts, 246 catches, 3,781 yards, 15.4 yards per reception, 24 touchdowns, 3.2 receptions per game, 48.5 yards per game
With Arizona (2012-16): 76 games, 46 starts, 242 catches, 3,739 yards, 15.5 yards per reception, 23 touchdowns, 3.2 receptions per game, 49.2 yards per game
With New England (2016): two games, one start, four catches, 42 yards, 10.5 yards per reception, one touchdown, 2.0 receptions per game, 21.0 yards per game
Floyd landed with the eventual champion Patriots after the Cardinals released the Minnesota native.
Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers | No. 40
92 games, 86 starts, 266 catches, 4,521 yards, 17.0 yards per catch, 37 touchdowns, 2.9 receptions per game, 49.1 yards per game
With Baltimore: 64 games, 62 starts, 213 catches, 3,591 yards, 16.9 yards per catch, 30 touchdowns, 3.3 receptions per game, 56.1 yards per game
With San Francisco: 28 games, 24 starts, 53 catches, 930 yards, 17.5 yards per catch, seven touchdowns, 1.9 receptions per game, 33.2 yards per game
Smith led the NFL with 20.1 yards per reception in 2015 but had only 20 catches in 2016. His two-season totals of catches and yards with the 49ers were below his since-season bests with the Ravens in 2013.
Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins | No. 53
63 games, 41 starts, 164 catches, 2,738 yards, 16.7 yards per reception, 20 touchdowns, 2.6 receptions per game, 43.5 yards per game
With New Orleans (2013-14): 31 games, 17 starts, 95 catches, 1,572 yards, 16.5 yards per reception, eight touchdowns, 3.1 receptions per game, 50.7 yards per game
With Miami (2015-16): 32 games, 24 starts, 69 catches, 1,166 yards, 16.9 yards per reception, 12 touchdowns, 2.2 receptions per game, 36.4 yards per game
A vertical threat with the Saints and Dolphins, the fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft found the end zone nine times in 2016.
Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans | No. 59
66 games, 41 starts, 280 catches, 3,244 yards, 11.6 yards per reception, 18 touchdowns, 4.2 receptions per game, 49.2 yards per game
The 20th overall selection of the 2012 NFL Draft, Wright turned in his best season in 2013, when he caught 94 passes for 1,079 yards. Wright posted 65 for 824 with six scores in the past two seasons combined.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings | No. 65
64 games, 22 starts, 132 catches, 1,316 yards, 10.0 yards per reception, seven touchdowns, 2.1 receptions per game, 20.6 yards per game
31 rushes, 333 yards and four scores; 134 kickoff returns, 4,075 yards (30.4 average), five kickoff return touchdowns
Patterson is second in NFL history in kickoff return average behind Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (30.6) and has led the NFL in the category in three of four seasons. The 2013 first-round pick posted a career-high 52 receptions in 2016 with an expanded offensive role over the previous two seasons.
Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills | No. 74
57 games, 48 starts, 203 catches, 2,451 yards, 12.1 yards per catch, 12 touchdowns, 3.6 receptions per game, 43.0 yards per game
The former second-round pick in 2013 had at least 40 receptions and 552 yards in each season with the Bills.
Brandon LaFell, Cincinnati Bengals | No. 86
103 games, 70 starts, 342 catches, 4,715 yards, 13.8 yards per catch, 26 touchdowns, 3.3 receptions per game, 45.8 yards per game
With Carolina (2010-13): 60 games, 36 starts, 167 catches, 2,385 yards, 14.3 yards per catch, 13 touchdowns, 2.8 receptions per game, 39.8 yards per game
With New England (2014-15): 27 games, 20 starts, 111 catches, 1,468 yards, 13.2 yards per catch, seven touchdowns, 4.1 receptions per game, 54.4 yards per game
With Cincinnati (2016): 16 games, 14 starts, 64 catches, 862 yards, 13.5 yards per catch, six touchdowns, 4.0 receptions per game, 53.9 yards per game
LaFell is another experienced player on the list who has consistently produced for multiple teams.
Ted Ginn, Jr. Arizona Cardinals | No. 95
151 games/61 starts, 309 catches, 4,285 yards, 13.9 yards per catch, 25 touchdowns, 2.0 receptions per game, 28.4 yards per reception
With Miami (2007-09): 128 catches, 1,664 yards, 13.0 yards per catch, five touchdowns, 2.7 receptions per game, 34.7 yards per game
With San Francisco (2010-12): 40 games, three starts, 33 catches, 384 yards, 11.6 yards per catch, one touchdown, 0.8 receptions per game, 9.6 yards per game
With Carolina (2013, 2015-16): 47 games, 23 starts, 134 catches, 2,047 yards, 15.3 yards per catch, 19 touchdowns, 2.9 receptions per game, 43.6 yards per game
With Arizona (2014): 16 games, no starts, 14 catches, 190 yards, 13.6 yards per catch
The ninth pick of the 2007 draft's most dynamic season occurred in 2015 when he averaged 16.8 yards per catch and caught 10 touchdowns.
Tight ends
Martellus Bennett, New England Patriots | No. 16
135 games/100 starts, 403 catches, 4,287 yards, 10.6 yards per reception, 30 touchdowns, 3.0 receptions per game, 31.8 yards per game
With Dallas (2008-11): 60 games/31 starts, 85 catches, 846 yards, 10.0 yards per catch, four touchdowns, 1.4 receptions per game, 14.1 yards per game
With New York Giants (2012): 16 games/16 starts, 55 catches, 626 yards, 11.4 yards per catch, five touchdowns, 3.4 receptions per game, 39.1 yards per game
With Chicago (2013-15): 43 games, 41 starts, 208 catches, 2,114 yards, 10.2 yards per catch, 14 touchdowns, 4.8 receptions per game, 49.2 yards per game
With New England (2016): 16 games, 12 starts, 55 catches, 701 yards, 12.7, seven touchdowns, 3.4 receptions per game, 43.8 yards per game
Jared Cook, Green Bay Packers | No. 34
117 games, 47 starts, 303 catches, 3,880 yards, 12.8 yards per reception, 17 touchdowns, 2.6 receptions per game, 33.2 yards per game
With Tennessee: 59 games, 11 starts, 131 catches, 1,717 yards, 13.1 yards per reception, eight touchdowns, 2.2 receptions per game, 29.1 yards per game
With St. Louis: 48 games, 31 starts, 142 catches, 1,786 yards, 12.6 yards per reception, eight touchdowns, 3.0 receptions per game, 37.2 yards per game
With Green Bay: 10 games, five starts, 30 catches, 377 yards, 12.6 yards per reception, one touchdown, 3.0 receptions per game, 37.7 yards per game
Cook made an impressive catch along the sideline to set up the game-winning field goal for the Packers at Dallas, but will it be his final grab for Green Bay?
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts | No. 60
63 games, 21 starts, 94 catches, 793 yards, 8.4 yards per reception, eight touchdowns, 1.5 receptions per game, 12.6 yards per game
Doyle's fourth season in Indianapolis was a breakout year. He caught 59 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns on 75 targets. The undrafted player has a career catch percentage of 79.7 (94 receptions on 118 targets).
Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins | No. 86
164 games, 154 starts, 505 catches, 6,424 yards, 12.7 yards per catch, 57 touchdowns, 3.1 receptions per game, 39.2 yards per game
With San Francisco (2006-15): 139 games, 136 starts, 441 catches, 5,640 yards, 12.8 yards per catch, 55 touchdowns, 3.2 receptions per game, 40.6 yards per game
With Denver (2015): nine games, four starts, 20 catches, 201 yards, 10.1 yards per catch, 2.2 receptions per game, 22.3 yards per game
With Washington (2016): 16 games, 14 starts, 44 catches, 583 yards, 13.3 yards per catch, two touchdowns, 2.8 receptions per game, 36.4 yards per catch
The sixth overall pick in 2006 showed he still had gas in the tank last season, contributing nicely in a multipronged pass attack.
