As teams prepare to execute their free agency plans come Tuesday, a window into what kind of money it will take to sign this year’s class of wide receivers is beginning to open. Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson offered a series of glimpses into the potential markets of the 2017 wideout class.
Of those, Alshon Jeffery and Terrelle Pryor are expected to receive the most per-year money. Robinson hears both are slated to receive offers exceeding $10MM per year (Twitter links), with the breakout Browns pass-catcher possibly seeing a deal extend into the $12MM-per-year range. A $10MM-AAV agreement would probably be disappointing for Jeffery given the 2016 franchise tag that paid him $14.599MM. He’s said to want a contract that includes $14MM per year, but Robinson reports (on Twitter) teams have investment concerns regarding the oft-unavailable wideout.
Jeffery put together a dominant 2013 season that sent him to the Pro Bowl, and the former second-round pick surpassed 1,100 yards as an overqualified No. 2 wideout with the 2014 Bears. But injuries and a suspension limited Chicago’s top target, once Brandon Marshall was traded away, to 21 games over the past two seasons. The Browns would obviously be able to afford a Pryor accord with their $102MM-plus in cap space.
As for the second-tier players on this market, Kenny Britt‘s 1,000-yard season in the league’s worst offense could help him see a substantial raise. Robinson notes the former Titans and Rams receiver is expected to draw an offer between $6-$8MM per year (Twitter link). He earned barely $4MM in 2016. Terrance Williams‘ ensuing pact looks to be in the same realm, per Robinson (on Twitter). The $6-$8MM range these UFAs could be looking at falls on the Golden Tate/Mohamed Sanu/Travis Benjamin/Torrey Smith tier. The Cowboys want to retain Williams, but on a deal pushing $8MM per year, that might be high for a team that possesses barely $3MM in cap space.
Finally, Robinson assessed the value of kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, placing his second contract (Twitter link) on the level of a top-flight return specialist rather than a receiver. Patterson is expected to see an offer exceeding $4MM per year after seeing the Vikings not pick up his fifth-year option last May. That’s slightly more than Giants specialist Dwayne Harris earns for his niche role.
Both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson have been linked to deals exceeding $9MM per season, with Jackson’s price going above $10MM AAV.