Alec Pierce (Colts – WR) | ADP – 167.7 | WR67

Alec Pierce had a somewhat quiet 2022. You can say that about the Indianapolis Colts offense overall. Jonathon Taylor was a letdown and Michael Pittman couldn’t build on his breakout 2021 season. You could partially blame that on bad quarterback play and offensive play calling. Matt Ryan and Frank Reich are no longer there and Anthony Richardson looks poised to take over the QB1 role.

If you go back and watch the tape, Pierce showed flashes of talent, especially as a down-the-field threat. He averaged 11.8% air yards per reception and had a 13.5% target share. He was clearly the #2 wide receiver behind Pittman. In steps Richardson and new coach Shane Steichen to try and help revive the stagnant offense. The Colts also drafted Josh Downs and recently signed journey receiver Breshad Perriman. I am not too worried about these two jumping ahead of Pierce as the WR2. Expect some early lumps from Richardson but once the offense revs up Pierce will benefit.

Cordarrelle Patterson (Falcons – RB) | ADP – 209.3 | RB63

If you drafted Cordarrelle Patterson last year you are probably screaming at your screen right now. Before his knee injury, Patterson had two 20+ fantasy point outings including rushing for 141 yards in week 3. He was not able to replicate the early success post-injury. Patterson has become the forgotten man with the arrival of Bijan Robinson and the emergence of Tyler Allgeier.

I am not yet ready to give up on Patterson despite the now crowded backfield. He is a true position flex player which many teams are now coveting. Robinson is still a rookie and the gadget role will be Patterson’s for the foreseeable future.

Curtis Samuel (Commanders – WR) | ADP – 198.3 | WR75

We recently brought up Curtis Samuel in our latest best ball rankings and it’s worth bringing up again. Samuel has a similar type of role to Patterson where you will see him lining up in the backfield a good amount. Last year, he had 92 targets and 68 of those were catchable. Sam Howell although raw will be an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke. On top of better quarterback play, the Commanders now have Eric Bieniemy who will find creative ways to get him the ball.

Tank Bigsby (Jaguars – RB) | ADP – 159.3 | RB51

When the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Tank Bigsby in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL Draft it got our attention. Travis Etienne is clearly the lead back and James Robinson was no longer there. The Jaguars brought in Jamycal Hasty and D’Ernest Johnson this offseason and they now have a crowded RB room. I am not worried about those two backs jumping Bigsby for the #2 role. Bigsby will get his chances in the red zone for reasons we pointed out in this article. At this current ADP, he is worth grabbing late in your draft as the upside is too big to ignore.

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The Green Bay Packers have a very mysterious outlook at quarterback and wide receiver this offseason. When the 2022 NFL draft kicks off, they may not have Aaron Rodgers or Davante Adams (or both). I have a feeling that if Tae is gone, Rodgers won’t be very thrilled to finish his career in Wisconsin, unless they have a serious plan to add weaponry and replace Adams in free agency.

If the Packers don’t have Tae (or Rodgers), I still expect LaFleur to sign a quality WR in free agency. He may not attract a WR like Allen Robinson or JuJu Smith-Schuster, but he will make sure that he has some explosion available for A-Rod or a potentially new signal-caller. So, who could they sign in 2022? Well, here are a few free agent WR options for the reigning NFC North champions.

• Jamison Crowder

The New York Jets have Denzel Mims, Corey Davis, and Elijah Moore. It’s safe to say they will let the veteran Jamison Crowder, who was a hot trade candidate in 2021, exit in free agency. According to Heavy., the Jets are projected to let him leave, as well.

I’d love to see the underrated slot WR Crowder sign with the Packers. He’s ousted a 699+ yard and 6+ touchdown season in two of the past three seasons. He can be a productive mismatch and safety net for Rodgers or a new QB especially. The Packers should be aggressive to sign a WR to please Rodgers and he would be a nice second-tier WR that the Packers could reel in early in free agency.

• Tre’Quan Smith

Tre’Quan Smith is one of the most underrated free-agent wideouts in my opinion. When Smith wasn’t being underthrown for wide-open touchdowns from Taysom Hill or playing with the 32nd ranked passing offense at any point in 2021, he was playing like a modest WR in his career. The 26-year-old hauled in 448 yards and 4 touchdowns in 14 games in 2020, but his numbers could skyrocket with Rodgers or just a starting role in Green Bay in 2022.

Smith would be a nice WR to pick up after Crowder or potentially Tae. I expect Smith to look for a one-year prove it deal in a great offense and Green Bay would be a slam dunk destination for him.

• Cordarralle Patterson

I have a feeling that A-Rod would find the acquisition of Cordarralle Patterson really cool. Drew Brees was given Darren Sproles late in his career and now Rodgers could get Patterson.

It would be only fitting if Patterson went to his third NFC North team in his career. Let’s face it — the Packers have to get creative to please Rodgers. Patterson, who’s made the All-Pro team as a return specialist, can be effective at RB/WR/KR. Patterson is the top RB on the market, but I trust LaFleur to make the pennies toward signing him count by getting him involved with screens, deep passes, tosses, and special teams. If the Packers retained Tae, Rodgers, and brought in Patterson, Rodgers should be pleased and the Pack would look like Super Bowl favorites.

The post Free agent wide receiver targets for the Green Bay Packers: who can potentially replace Adams? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Las Vegas Raiders made the playoffs last season, but they had a tough (and cringy) loss against the AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard matchup. Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow were outmuscled by Joe Burrow and the 2021 Offensive Rookie of The Year Ja’Marr Chase, but the Raiders should hold their heads high this offseason.

The Raiders have plenty of room to improve on offense and their ceiling is sky-high. Derek Carr has been phenomenal with Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, and Hunter Renfrow, but the offense can really lift off with a big addition at wideout. The Desean Jackson experiment won’t last forever, as the Eagles legend is 34 years old. With that said, here are a few free agents that Josh McDaniels should strongly consider signing.

Michael Gallup

The buzz surrounding JuJu Smith-Schuster and Las Vegas has been hot and cold. Furthermore, JuJu seems in love with the Dallas Cowboys in numerous ways and there’s also a strong possibility he reunites with the Steelers. I foresee JuJu taking a prove-it deal with Dak and replacing Michael Gallup, while Gallup looks for a new home.

I honestly believe that the shiny and overly popular free agent wide receiver Michael Gallup is the perfect fit for the Las Vegas Raiders. Josh McDaniels ought to be the most aggressive buyer for Michael Gallup in free agency.

Gallup had a single-season career-high receiving yards mark in 2019 (1,107) and 11 touchdowns in 2019 and 2020 combined. He can be a consistent, big catch WR on the outside, while Renfrow mows down defenses from the inside.

The Raiders have the 16th most cap space in the NFL, but they should really prioritize Gallup to ensure that they give him the best offer among any interested teams in his services. I believe they are simply the best combination of fit, riches, and ascending culture to attract him.

Cordarralle Patterson

If Gallup re-signs with Dallas or heads elsewhere (potentially a Top 5 team on a prove-it deal), the Las Vegas Raiders could really get creative with Cordarrelle Patterson in their offensive attack. The combination of Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, and Patterson at RB would be entertaining, but quick screens and deep shots to Patterson at WR across from Darren Waller would be more thrilling. The methodical scheme with play-action shots deep down the field by McDaniels would be firing off all cylinders with Patterson in the offense.

Patterson is a much younger version of Desean Jackson and he can be a more versatile athlete. Patterson was named second-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus at the flex position.

Tre’Quan Smith

The Saints young wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith had to suffer from a brutal passing attack in New Orleans with a half injured Taysom Hill (and Ian Book) for a large chunk of 2021. I believe he would be the perfect value signing for Vegas this offseason.

I don’t expect him to join the Saints and their mysterious QB situation long-term, especially with Michael Thomas returning and Deonte Harris possessing a unique role as the reliable deep threat WR. He would provide excellent depth at the Raiders WR position and he would surely help the Raiders passing game late in the season.

The post Top free agent wide receivers the Raiders should target appeared first on Pro Football Mania.