Devante Parker - Made of glass, plays like soft serve vanilla ice cream Preston Williams - Undrafted free agent with hands of stone Jakeem Grant - Special Teams player who can't catch Isaiah Ford - Practice squad player who Belichick traded for clearly knew he can't play football immediately Lynn Bowden - A college quarterback failed receiver experiment who Gruden took one look at and decided he can't play football either Malcolm Perry - A college option quarterback who played at Navy Mack Hollins - Special teams gunner who also cannot catch a ball
I'd keep Parker, Preston and Albert Wilson. Draft a WR with the 2nd 1st rounder unless Sewell is off the board. In that case I trade down and use the pick for a WR. I'd also pickup a veteran WR via FA.
Question becomes, who do you roll the dice on? https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/wide-receiver/
I think they have to keep Parker because he is the only receiver they have when actually on the field he shows some semblance of being an NFL wide receiver. He isn't a #1 wide receiver in my eyes though. Preston Williams I can see them keeping because he's cheap. But they cannot rely on him being the #2/3 guy with his injury history and lack of catching skills. Albert Wilson I like as a slot guy very much. I hope he returns to that role. He's a guy that can take a 6 yard catch to the house. Something they didn't have on the field this season.
Allen Robinson is probably the safest signing. No real injury history despite missing a season a few years ago. Very professional looking wide receiver. He's going to run his routes and catch the ball.
I agree with your assessment. I am totally fine with a project player, but the fact that we had 3 (Perry, Bowden, Grant) at one position is disturbing. I feel like you are right about keeping Parker because when he plays, he is good. You are right, he is a #2 guy. I think Bowden has shown enough improvement to become optimistic, but after that, I don't think any of those guys should be guaranteed a roster spot. I think A-Rob will be expensive, but he will probably be worth a premium.
I like Robinson as well for a free agent pickup. I think keeping Parker and Williams as his depth makes sense for a lot of reasons. I prefer Bowden over Wilson, but it's simply personal preference. I think he could do well at punt and kick return next year.
I agree nearly completely with the exception of Bowden. For one thing the Raiders tried to make him into a Running Back and 2nd I thought he was the only guy that showed any ability to get open and his hands seemed good. I keep him and probably Perry too. Parker has been a complete disappointment. Outside of the end of last year when has he ever played like a #1 receiver? and more the guy is seemingly always dinged up. Williams who the heck knows another guy that can't stay on the field. Looked great the beginning of last year then was hurt. Not so good this year and then he got hurt. Again. Grant. Well if we have the room we can keep him as the punt returner and emergency WR. His hands are terrible and haven't improved. Ford. Just No. He signed what should be his ticket out with multiple drops in the Bills game. Unfortunate. I thought he had a little potential prior to that. I have been saying and will keep saying that we should draft Smith at 3 and grab Harris at 18. I dont care if we would be overdrafting either guy. They will help Tua tremendously. Bring whichever WR in FA that they want as long as he can run proper routes and get separation.
Agree that both players would be great additions but don't like the idea of overdrafting two players that high though. What if both become injury prone or don't live up to the hype - Grier will then be getting killed for overdrafting them next offseason.
This plus as has been said by TI and t8, keep Bowden. Also Grant will take the odd one to the house on returns but as a receiver, he has hands of stone, so shouldn't be more than the 6th receiver
Preston Williams is cheap, he is worth a roster spot. He plays well when he is in there and isn't slowed with knee injury. Devante Parker is underrated by many on this board. He is worth his salary. Grant, it might be time to move on. Too many drops, too many injuries. Ford is alright. Needs to be upgraded. Bowden was a surprise. I thought he played well for coming on the team late and spending the entire offseason working as a runningback. For a converted QB, RB he did really good as a rookie WR who came to the team late. Perry is a developmental player. I am hoping he can replace Hollins as a special teams player as he develops. He has great quickness that shows on the field. Hollins is a special teams player and probably should be converted to tight end. IMO Bowden and Perry are two developmental players and it takes time for these type of players to play well. Took Edelman for instance until his 5th year. They should be special team gadget players who come in and maybe catch 20 to 30 catches until they really get down the system if they do. Both seem worth trying.
Agree with a lot of what you say. My only problem with Parker is the guy can’t stay healthy. He’s played one full season since he’s gotten here.
This year Parker's cap hit was 42nd in the league. Next season he is in the 20s but will probably get down to 30s after free agency. Staying healthy is a problem for him. however I still contend that most tall big wide receivers have health issues and lingering injuries.
If Parker is counted on to be the #1 receiver here then no darn way. He is not a #1 more like 2 or even 3. Keeping him just because he is cheap isn't a solution really either.
It is not just because he is cheap, it is because he is a good wide receiver. I don't believe in #1 #2 wide receiver stuff. I think that is fan stuff.
Trade back 2-3 spots with who??? IF Penei is at 3 we will probably end up taking him (although I would want Smith) If anybody will want to move to #3 it would be for Fields or maybe the BYU QB #4 Atlanta would maybe go QB but they can get one at 4 #5 Cincy already has a QB and if the do trade up it would be to #2 with Jets for Penei #6 Philly has Hurts and wont go QB BUT they are probably looking at WR #7 Detroit or #8 Carolina are our best bet and can be called QB needy but we dont know how bad and if they like them enough to give up the farm We can "maybe" get Smith or Chase at 7 if it works out - depending on who Philly takes
I actually don't think we take Penei at 3 because we have greater deficiencies at WR than at OL, though I'm not complaining if they do as long as they address WR sufficiently in FA and in the draft. Either way, one of the top 3 QB's or Penei will be there at #3. If it's Penei you can bet Cinci will be willing to give up a LOT to get him. If it's Fields or Wilson one of the QB needy teams (I'm thinking best bet is Detroit) might be willing to give up a decent amount — we are talking QB. And we should be able to get Smith or Chase within the top 8 so we're sitting pretty good IMO. Can't wait!
2017 he tore his ACL in the season opener with the Jags. In 2018 he signed with the Bears for 14 Million per year. Over 1K yards receiving the last two years. Not real fast but very capable. Not going to be cheap if he is coming off 14 Mil a year and he is only 27. He is in line for one more good payday.