As is the case with the wide receiver class coming into the 2015 NFL Draft, the 2015 free agent class of wide receivers is fairly strong as well. The top of this class is absolutely loaded and there’s a lot of value to be had further down. With the amount of talented receivers entering in the draft and with this free agent class, the market is going to certainly be saturated with wide receivers.
10. Harry Douglas
Douglas doesn’t have breakaway speed but he has enough quickness to hurt teams on underneath routes. He’s a smaller receiver who makes a lot more catches in his body than he probably should. In 2013 he was thrown into a starting role due to injuries and caught 85 passes. He could be a good signing for a team looking for a quality receiver.
9. Kenny Britt
Britt has all the potential in the world but has yet to do much with that potential. He likely won’t be able to capitalize on a majority of it but could be a solid addition to a receiving corps who might need a big bodied target. He drops more than you’d like him to but with his physical tools he always poses a threat to the defense and is someone they have to pay attention to.
8. Reggie Wayne
Wayne is coming off a string of pretty bad injuries. In 2013 he tore his ACL and in 2014 he fought through a multitude of injuries including injuries to his triceps, knee, and elbow. At his age and with his recent injuries there’s a chance he retires this offseason. However, if he decides to come back and can remain healthy he’ll be able to add a lot of experience to a team and help out some young players. He isn’t what he use to be but he still brings a lot to the table when healthy.
7. Wes Welker
Welker is another veteran wide receiver with some recent injury problems who will be looking for a new team in 2015. Welker reinvented the slot receiver position and can still play. His biggest problem is his history of concussions. His recent concussion problems might prevent him from passing a physical or could end his 2015 campaign very suddenly and teams know this. He won’t get a big contract but if he can stay on the field he can contribute a lot.
6. Michael Crabtree
Throughout his career Crabtree has shown he has very good hands. But in 2014 he dropped entirely too many passes and seemed to regress in that area. He isn’t fast by any stretch of the imagination but runs very good routes. He doesn’t have the skill set to be the top receiver on a team but is a top level second wide receiver. He’s extremely dangerous on underneath and intermediate routes and is a menace after the catch. 2014 was one of his worst seasons to date but he’ll be looking to prove that it was just a fluke.
5. Jeremy Maclin
Maclin missed the entire 2013 season with an ACL injury and came back in 2014 with vengeance. He had the best season of his career and showed everyone what he’s made of. He’s not a burner but runs solid routes and has dependable hands. He can beat a lot of cornerbacks in the NFL but has a problem against the top tier cornerbacks. If he’s the top receiver on a team that can be a serious problem, especially once a team gets into the playoffs.
4. Torrey Smith
Smith is a true deep threat. He has speed that’s hard for defenses to account for. Once the ball is in the air, there are few wide receivers who are able to adjust their body and hands like Smith does. While Smith isn’t talked about with some of the other elite receivers in the league, you could certainly make a case for him being up there with any of them. In the past few seasons he’s also developed into a very good route runner as well.
3. Randall Cobb
Cobb’s biggest advantage is that he can line up anywhere on the field. He can line up in the slot, out wide, on the line of scrimmage, at half back, and even behind center in the Wildcat formation. He has good hands and is aggressive when the ball is in the air. Coming off the line or once he has the ball few defenders are able to keep up with his speed or catch him in space. He’s an offensive coordinator’s dream and a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.
2. Demaryius Thomas
Thomas has an incredible catch radius and has decent hands. He makes catches no one thinks to be possible but will drop the easy one on the very next play. His combination of size, strength, and speed make him almost impossible for a defender to cover. He can catch passes in traffic and can also take the top off of a defense if you need him to. If he can improve on his drops and route running he could very well be the best wide receiver in the league.
1. Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant is an incredible talent. His off the field problems will always be a reason to worry for whoever signs him but when he gets on the field he’s one of the best receivers in the game. The obvious positives for Bryant are his incredible catches, enormous catch radius, and his ability after the catch, but something he doesn’t get nearly enough credit for is his route running. He runs smooth, crisp routes and gets separation from the defensive back more often than not. Bryant has the rare ability to change games even if he doesn’t get the ball.