The number of high-performance receivers on the open market took a hit with Tuesday's trades for Davante Adams and Amari Cooper. As it stands, two of the best teams in the NFL (Chiefs and Ravens) are in dire need of receiver help due to injuries and poor depth decisions, while several other teams are potentially at the top of the league. I'm looking for the last piece. play off.
If your team was hoping to acquire either Adams or Cooper but is currently on the fence, don't worry. Because there are some very good players available between now and the November 5th deadline.
DeAndre Hopkins — Titans
Nook leads Tennessee in receiving yards, but that's cold consolation. As it stands, there isn't much of a difference between the productivity of Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd, which could mean a change at 1-4 this season.
The Titans are a very structured team. In his first year under coach Brian Callahan, it remains to be seen whether Will Revis will be a long-term option at QB. This creates a hotbed for trades, especially if it means acquiring draft capital to fill out other parts of the roster.
Hopkins wouldn't normally command the same compensation as Adams or Cooper, but desperation could lead to a frenzy over the best WR available on the market. It's very likely that the Titans receive an offer they can't refuse and move on and try to find talent at the position through the draft.
Diontae Johnson — Panthers
Carolina signed Johnson this offseason in hopes of bolstering its passing attack. I'm sure he did that, but it's unclear what Carolina's motivations are for keeping him around, especially if they think Johnson will leave in free agency.
Coach Dave Canales wants to make this team a run-first team, which could make Johnson expendable. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the Panthers have depth receivers so young they don't know what to do with them. Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Leggett, and Jalen Coker are all competing for the national team, with Leggett having the upper hand so far, but future evaluation will be everything in the second half of the season, and Johnson could become disposable. There is sex.
What makes this an attractive prospect is the fact that this is the last year of Johnson's contract. He would be the perfect short-term rental for a team like the Chiefs who have long-term options but are in need of reinforcements due to Laci Rice's injury.
Mike Williams — New York Jets
Williams never fit into the Jets' offense and was unable to form any kind of connection with Aaron Rodgers. It's difficult to use him now that Davante Adams has been signed. This is another case of Williams trying to get through a difficult situation with a short-term rental to a playoff team.
A new environment with an emphasis on a longer development route will be a better home for the receiver, which could make him a big factor down the road.
If the Jets decide to trade Williams, and if they're smart, they'll likely want to keep him out of the AFC and find a spot on an NFC team that's in the playoffs.
Jordan Addison — Minnesota Vikings
Insert a wild card here. The Vikings are on the rise right now, but Addison seems to be lost in the shuffle. Not only has he underperformed this season, but he has also been a headache for Minnesota off the field.
This sets up a scenario where the Vikings try to trade Addison for secondary help or acquire more draft picks to offset recent trades, assuming the compensation is adequate. produce. This feels like an outside chance, but don't sleep on the Vikings potentially moving on from a very talented headache and improving in the process.
Cooper Kupp — Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are on the verge of a complete rebuild, depending on how long Matthew Stafford plans to keep playing. That makes Kupp a luxury the team doesn't really need, especially considering how many young receivers are playing well within Sean McVay's system.
Kupp has had a series of injuries over the past two years, but such a player hasn't forgotten how to play football. Kupp is a YAC monster and could easily slot into a number of offenses in the NFL and provide something unless he is relied upon as a No. 1 receiver at this point in his career.
There's a very good chance he lands somewhere as a second or third option and becomes a mismatch nightmare for teams in the playoffs, especially those with weak secondaries.
