The Los Angeles Chargers want to add some speed to the wide receiver position.
The Chargers are in the market for a third wide receiver to go along with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Los Angeles might be looking to solidify that via free agency.
According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, former Patriots wideout Phillip Dorsett said that the Bolts are among five teams that have shown early interest in him.
“I just want to come in and have a great opportunity to play and showcase how I can really flourish as a player,” Dorsett told Anderson.
There’s one element that the Bolts could be honing in on when it comes to the next player they bring in and that’s speed, which is something that the former Miami product brings to the table.
Coming out of college, Dorsett ran a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash.
Dorsett played his first two professional seasons with the Colts and the last three with New England.
In three seasons with the Patriots, Dorsett amassed 73 catches for 881 yards and eight touchdowns.
Even though it might be a smarter route to address the position in the draft where it’s one of the deepest groups, Dorsett likely wouldn’t cost that much to sign.
The Seattle Seahawks need more depth at wide receiver, and free agent Phillip Dorsett could be a nice, low-cost fit.
Just got off the phone with impending FA WR Phillip Dorsett. He told me, teams showing preliminary interest in him include the #NYJ, #SEA, #LAC, #SF, #LVR. He said, "I just want to come in and have a great opportunity to play and showcase how I can really flourish as a player."
The Seattle Seahawks are known for doing their due diligence on nearly every possible free agent or trade option on the market, especially at key positions of need.
That’s why it is no surprise to hear their name mentioned among the many interested in impending free agent wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.
Dorsett was a first round pick in 2015 by the Colts, where he spent two seasons before getting traded to the Patriots in exchange for Jacoby Brissett.
Dorsett had one of his best seasons last year in New England, recording 29 receptions for 397 yards and five touchdowns, serving as a depth option for Tom Brady.
That’s likely what he’d be competing for in Seattle. With Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf locked into the top two roles, Dorsett would compete with David Moore and Malik Turner for targets, as well as whomever else the Seahawks bring into camp via the draft or free agency.
Dorsett would be a low-cost option to bring into camp, and his recent performance would likely make him a front runner for a valuable role on this team next year – if Seattle is able to bring him in.
The NFL’s free agency period is slated to open on March 18 and the Buffalo Bills could be in business. The Bills signed cornerback Josh Norman last week, getting a head start on things.
The NFL’s free agency period is slated to open on March 18 and the Buffalo Bills could be in business. The Bills signed cornerback Josh Norman last week, getting a head start on things.
But despite that signing, the Bills moved from just the fourth-most to fifth-most salary cap space in the league, near $77.4 million, according to Spotrac. That’s a lot of room for more moves, and of course, room for big-named additions.
But in recent years, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have had a thing for finding diamonds in the rough. Could the 2020 offseason have more of the same?
With that, here are 12 under-the-radar free agents on offense the Bills could consider adding:
Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
WR Demarcus Robinson
The Bills have John Brown and Cole Beasley who are solid, but the talent that Demarcus Robinson was behind with the Chiefs has kept his opportunities very limited. At receiver, there’s Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Mecole Hardman, then there’s tight end Travis Kelce, who’s basically a No. 1 wideout.
But when Robinson did get some chances when Hill was out, he showed some skill. He caught 32 passes for 449 yards and four touchdowns last season. What could make him further appealing is his 14 yards-per-catch average last season. Over the past two seasons, he’s had eight total scores.
What many peg for the Bills is adding a wideout with size, though. Robinson isn’t overly big at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, but stretching the field is a plus with quarterback Josh Allen’s arm strength.
Drawing upon Andersen’s “The Ugly Ducking,” Touchdown Wire highlights eleven players who could thrive in a new situation come next season.
So they felt quite at home. But the poor duckling who had been the last one out of his egg, and who looked so ugly, was pecked and pushed about and made fun of by the ducks, and the chickens as well. “He’s too big,” said they all. The turkey gobbler, who thought himself an emperor because he was born wearing spurs, puffed up like a ship under full sail and bore down upon him, gobbling and gobbling until he was red in the face. The poor duckling did not know where he dared stand or where he dared walk. He was so sad because he was so desperately ugly, and because he was the laughing stock of the whole barnyard.
-Hans Christian Andersen: “The Ugly Duckling”
We all remember the tale, although perhaps some of us are more removed from elementary school than others. Back in 1843 Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen penned the tale of “The Ugly Duckling,” which told the story of a small bird born in a barnyard who suffered abuse from the others around him until he matures into a beautiful swan, stunning those who previously mocked and ridiculed him.
With the start of free agency in the National Football League upon us, there are some potential ugly ducklings waiting to hear the phone ring. Players who perhaps need a change or scenery, a new scheme fit, different coaching or just another shot to become the players they can be. The league’s own versions of the Andersen classic. Here are 11 potential swans for the 2020 NFL season, listed with either their current or their most recent team.
Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
As we await word on what Bruce Arians will do with his current quarterback, it is important to remember that if he moves on from Tampa Bay or not, Jameis Winston is going to need a bit more development to be a solid and consistent NFL quarterback.
Last season, in Arians’ vertical-based passing offense, Winston had quite the roller-coaster ride. Sure, he threw for 5,109 yards, the most in the league. Sure, he threw 33 touchdowns, second only to Lamar Jackson. But when you move away from some of these counting statistics you get the full picture of Winston’s 2019 campaign. His NFL quarterback rating of 84.3 placed him 26th in the league, behind Daniel Jones, Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Allen and even Joe Flacco. His Adjusted Net Yards Per Attempt (ANY/A) of 6.15 was good for 18th in the league, and his interception percentage of 4.8 was the highest in the league.
Due to another counting stat: His league-high 30 interceptions.
That big number might force Arians to move on from Winston, but when you pour through his film from a season ago, you might find some of what you see. For example, take this deep shot to Mike Evans against the Carolina Panthers:
Facing a first-and-10 against the Panthers, Tampa Bay lines up with Winston under center and with a tight bunch to the right. Evans is isolated to the left. The Buccaneers run a vertical concept sometimes termed 969, with dual go routes on the outside and a dig route in the middle of the field. Winston sees the Panthers in single-high coverage and comes to Evans on the go route. The receiver does an excellent job with his release off the line and gets to the outside, quickly beating the press coverage and getting open for his QB. Combine the release and route with a perfect throw, and Tampa Bay has a big play.
And yes, every route was open on this snap, just to be clear.
Then there was this read and throw in the red zone, also against the Panthers:
To the three-receiver side the Buccaneers run a Dino – or double post – concept with O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin. Evans runs a go route on the backside of the passing concept. Concerned with Evans, the one safety drops to help over the top of a potential vertical route. That creates dual one-on-one matchups backside, with no inside help on either post route.
The concern over Evans draws potential safety help away from the three-receiver side of the formation, and leaves both the backside safety and backside corner on islands with no help to the inside. Winston throws a strike, and the Buccaneers are in the end zone.
Winston might have racked up the interceptions a season ago, but reads and throws like this show he still has promise in a vertical-based passing offense. That would make him still a fit for what Arians runs, but if he does have to find a new home, there is a ton of potential for his next offensive coordinator to mold and sculpt.
WR Philllip Dorsett won’t be as easy to get in 2020.
New England Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett may not be with the team for much longer. He is a pending free agent, and seems open to a move.
Dorsett’s representation sat down with the Patriots at the NFL combine, and while those discussions went well, the receiver seems to recognize he needs to take an adjusted approach to free agency in 2020 when the new league year begins on March 18.
“I would say that will probably be a little different,” Dorsett told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Last year, I had my heart set on where I wanted to go and I didn’t have an open mind. This year, I know I have to go into it with an open mind.”
The Patriots’ additions of Mohamed Sanu, a midseason trade acquisition, and N’Keal Harry, a 2019 first-round draft pick, sent Dorsett plummeting down the depth chart last year. Sanu’s arrival put him at second on the depth chart, and Harry returned from injured reserve in time to play for Week 10. Dorsett wasn’t exactly pleased with his limited playing time, which will surely factor into his free agency decision.
“It’s just something that I feel like I need to be honest with myself about,” Dorsett told ESPN. “The way the roles changed in New England in the middle of the season out of nowhere … it took me off the field. So at the end of the day, I have to be smart about it and make the best decision.”
Dorsett finished the season with 29 catches, 397 yards and five touchdowns. Though he is one of Tom Brady’s favorite pass-catchers, Dorsett’s production hasn’t spiked since joining New England.
The New Orleans Saints must pursue New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney, an elite talent in free agency, if they’re serious about improving
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There could be a mass exodus out of the New England Patriots this offseason, with franchise quarterback Tom Brady among a crowd of pending free agents who might play elsewhere in 2020. That creates several interesting opportunities for the New Orleans Saints to improve. Here’s who might become available in March:
DE Keionta Davis (RFA)
DT Danny Shelton
DT Adam Butler (RFA)
FS Devin McCourty
FS Nate Ebner
K Nick Folk
LB Jamie Collins
LB Shilique Calhoun
LB Elandon Roberts
LB Kyle Van Noy
OC James Ferentz
OC Ted Karras
OG Joe Thuney
OG Jermaine Eluemunor (RFA)
OT Marshall Newhouse
QB Tom Brady
TE Benjamin Watson
WR Matthew Slater
WR Phillip Dorsett
Naturally, the wish list of Saints targets on this list starts with Joe Thuney. He’s one of the NFL’s elite guards, an ironman at the position who rarely leaves the field, and figures to get paid like it. The Saints have shown a willingness to invest tons of salary cap resources to guards in the past (which is vital with a smaller-statured pocket passer in Drew Brees), so they can’t be ruled out in the Thuney sweepstakes. It would be great to pair him up in practice with nose tackle Malcom Brown again, as two upper-tier trench players with real playoffs experience.
Also, keep an eye on linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy. The Saints are hazardously thin at the position with both Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso returning from season-ending injuries, and either of the Patriots veterans would make sense as dynamic additions next to Demario Davis. The only concern is that their market prices may be prohibitive (especially in Van Noy’s case, as he doesn’t figure to lack for suitors).
Phillip Dorsett shouldn’t be overlooked. The Saints were very high on him in the 2015 NFL Draft, but the Indianapolis Colts snapped him up a few picks before New Orleans settled for Stephone Anthony. Neither player has really impressed in the NFL, but another change of scenery could be what Dorsett needs to revitalize his career before it’s too late.
Jets Wire takes a look at five wide receivers that the Jets’ front office should steer clear of in free agency.
The Jets need to find some receivers this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they should just go after any free agent pass-catcher.
Following a 2019 season that showed minimal production outside of Jamison Crowder and Robby Anderson, the Jets really didn’t get enough production from the position. Now, Anderson could walk in free agency, leaving the team even thinner at the position.
Joe Douglas has to do a better job than his predecessor in targeting playmakers who will help Sam Darnold. This year’s wide receiver free agent class is top-heavy, with Emmanuel Sanders being the prize target after Amari Cooper and A.J. Green are both likely tagged. With that, there are also players at the receiver position that the Jets shouldn’t touch.
Let’s take a look at five receivers the Jets should avoid come free agency.
Paul Richardson
(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
On Valentine’s Day, the Redskins elected to part ways with Paul Richardson just two years after signing him to a massive five-year, $40 million deal.
The Redskins hoped Richardson could stretch the field for them. In two seasons, however, Richardson played just 17 of 32 games, catching 48 passes for 507 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2019, he was shut down with a shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve for the second consecutive season after dealing with a nagging hamstring injury throughout 2018.
If the Jets allow Robby Anderson to walk in free agency, which seems more possible by the day, someone like Richardson could catch their attention. They’re better off either re-signing Anderson, targeting someone like Breshard Perriman or finding his replacement in the draft. It’s a hard sell to fans that you’re banking on an injury-hampered wideout — who seems like a product of Russell Wilson — to be your deep threat.
When the Patriots have badly needed a standout WR, Phillip Dorsett has been quiet.
The New England Patriots have been in a few situations over the last two seasons when they’ve needed a receiver (or three) to elevate his game. In every one of those trying circumstances, receiver Phillip Dorsett has been on the roster, and has been unable to prove a difference-maker.
At the start of the 2018 season, he and Chris Hogan were unable to carry the offensive load while Julian Edelman served a suspension and Rob Gronkowski turned into a diminished version of himself. Throughout the 2019 season, the Patriots needed production from anyone not named Edelman. No one showed.
Dorsett has acted as an offensive tutor for the receivers that have come and gone in recent seasons. The Patriots seem happy to let Dorsett, a hard-worker on the practice field, in the gym and with independent film study, assist in the development with wideouts, like Josh Gordon, N’Keal Harry and Mohamed Sanu. By all accounts, Dorsett has done a nice job setting the tone in the receiver room. But coaches coach, players play. New England doesn’t really need to retain Dorsett because he’s helpful in the locker room.
The Patriots are going to be looking for bigger things from their receivers in 2019, largely because Tom Brady is reportedly pleading that they do just that. New England will stick with Edelman, Harry and Sanu. But the Patriots will also likely add another talented wideout who would shoot to the top of the depth chart. Because incoming talent will need reps (along with Sanu and Harry), the Patriots may decide it’s time to move on from Dorsett, who made big plays on occasion but couldn’t develop into the consistent threat the Patriots hoped he’d be when they acquired him.
How did the Patriots wideouts fare throughout the 2019 campaign?
In 2019, the Patriots passing game was held under a magnifying glass for the entire season. Pundits questioned whether or not they’d ever reach their full potential while fans pined for the days when they were going full throttle.
Week 1 against the Steelers looked like a completely different team than the one that took the field every week following, and in the end, they didn’t have enough to make a deep run.
It didn’t help that there were multiple factors that hampered the receiving corps. Julian Edelman spent the whole season dealing with a shoulder injury. Josh Gordon was placed on injured reserve before eventually being cut, signed by Seattle, and then suspended. N’Keal Harry missed the first nine games of the season. Defensive back turned punt returner and wide receiver, Gunner Olszewski missed half the year with multiple leg injuries.
Oh, and who could forget Antonio Brown’s tumultuous 11-day Patriots tenure that’s still negatively affecting the club to this day.
The wide receiver group was one of the most interesting to follow this season. How did they grade out?
Julian Edelman
Grade: A
At 33, Edelman proved, once again, that his name deserves to be up there with some of the best wide receivers in the game. Fighting through injuries, he put up 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 100 receptions. He also threw for a touchdown. Without him, this offense was going nowhere.
Phillip Dorsett
Grade: C+
Dorsett had his most productive year in New England in 2019. His fifth season saw him produce 397 yards and five touchdowns on 29 receptions. He did a decent job filling in as that third and even second option for stretches of the season, but it’s clear he’s not suited to be an every day WR2.
Mohamed Sanu
Grade: C
Sanu was acquired midseason in a trade from the Atlanta Falcons. He was expected to come in to make a quick impact. However, after his second game in New England where he had 10 receptions, Sanu was mostly underwhelming. He finished his half-season with the Patriots with 207 yards and one touchdown on 26 receptions. A few timely drops hurt his reputation, but he was learning on the fly, so a full offseason should help him become a solid contributor in 2020.
N’Keal Harry
Grade: C
Harry’s rookie campaign didn’t get off to the best start when he went down in training camp with an ankle injury. It wouldn’t be until Week 10 that the Patriots got to see their first-round pick in action. The former Sun Devil ended the year with 12 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He flashed a bit, but he also had some rookie mistakes like his effort on a pass that got intercepted against Houston that left him on the bench for the remainder of the game.
Josh Gordon
Grade: C-
It was a surprise to most that Gordon got to play at all in 2019 after another suspension cut short his 2018 season. He never really lived up to the projection of being the second wide receiver, but he still had the athleticism and some semblance of production that endeared him to fans. His last play was him giving maximum effort to trying to chase down a defender following a turnover. At the end of the day, he was cut after an injury just six games into the season after putting up 287 yards and a touchdown on 20 catches.
Jakobi Myers
Grade: C-
Myers produced well for a rookie wide receiver in New England, never mind the fact that he was an undrafted rookie. His 26 receptions for 359 yards were respectable. It was evident that he had some skill after leading the whole NFL in yards and receptions during the preseason. Some of that carried over into the regular season, but it was obvious that he was still at the bottom of the depth chart. If these grades were scaled upon expectations, Myers would certainly move up.
Gunner Olszewski
Grade: D
As just a wide receiver, Olszewski had a lot of room to grow and learn. However, his season was cut short just halfway through. He only brought in two receptions for 34 yards as the literal last guy on the roster. If he’s to make the team in 2020, he’ll likely make it as the punt returner again.
Antonio Brown
Grade: F
Brown has to be looked at as a whole. He was paid $10 million to be in New England, and he lasted 11 days. The Patriots cut him after he faced allegations of sexual assault and separate accusations of sexual harassment and sending intimidating text messages. While he looked impressive on the field in his one game against Miami, he was nothing more than a waste of money and energy.
The Lions are painfully thin at WR. Free agency can help.
The Detroit Lions are in dire need of wide receiver help for the offense. With Marvin Jones coming off a second consecutive season-ending knee injury and in the final year of his contract, Danny Amendola and Jermaine Kearse both free agents no longer on the roster and practice squad refugees Marvin Hall, Chris Lacy and Travis Fulgham the depth behind Jones and deserving Pro Bowler Kenny Golladay, the Lions would have a hard time filling out a formation with more than two WRs.
Free agency is a good place to find some help. While it’s not a great free agent class at WR, there are several who can step right in and help the needy Lions offense.
Here are six the Lions should at least consider signing once free agency opens up in March.
Emmanuel Sanders, 49ers
2019 stats: 66 receptions, 869 yards, 5 TDs
Sanders quickly rebounded from an Achilles injury to emerge as the best receiving weapon for a team that made the Super Bowl. He’s a one-year bandage in the slot, but Sanders still offers speed, hands and an infectiously positive attitude. At 33, he’s a proven commodity in a variety of different offenses, showing he adapts quickly.
