By: Jeremy Trottier

The New Orleans Saints have had one of the more interesting offseasons in 2021, mainly because of the outgoing pieces more so than the incoming ones.  With the loss of Emmanuel Sanders in free agency and now Michael Thomas to injury for 12-14 weeks from now, they are in a real predicament at the WR spot.  In this article, I will be going over the three reasons as to why the Saints should look to trade for New York Jets receiver Jamison Crowder.

Contract Price

One of the biggest limiters for the Saints right now would be cap space, despite having roughly 11 million right now to spend, they have many holes to fill both in depth and in starting even with that amount of money.  Jamison Crowder only has one year left on his deal, which would allow the Saints to either work on an extension if he proves useful or let him walk after this season with no dead cap repercussion.  

Looking specifically at his contract details, Crowder’s cap hit for 2021 will be a little over six million dollars, which fits well within the Saints budget.  This would allow them to have no issue trading for him, especially if they were to offload extra cap space with players in the trade, potentially along the lines of Andrus Peat to help the Jets offensive interior.  

WR1 Potential

Jamison Crowder has played WR1 before, there is no doubt about that.  He has also played WR2 before, which would allow him to play alongside Michael Thomas when he returns.  This type of versatility from a receiver is highly valued, as they know that at any time they can be moved behind another receiver, and can accept that.

Crowder has been really effective with his targets, having a 66.3% catch rating and 11.6 yards per reception average shows he has the quality to produce at a high level if given the targets to do so.  The two seasons he had over 100 targets he had 750+ yards each season, a 64% catch rating, and more than 35 first downs each season.  Despite not being a big-name receiver in the league, his productivity and efficiency per reception is very good.

Scheme Fit

Crowder would really be an interesting fit on the Saints because he fits their old scheme with many short to intermediate passes across the middle.  With that said, the development of a new quarterback in NOLA may change that, Jameis Winston would likely look more to the deep ball than Drew Brees has in recent years, and Taysom Hill would focus more on play-action and reverses.  

Crowder fits each of these well, as his speed allows him to carry well into the deeper portions of the field and make big plays happen with little to no issue.  This speed also would translate well to end-around and reverses as he could get to the sideline quickly and open up a lane alongside it.  Being able to play in an offense tailored by Sean Payton, one of the more prominent offensive minded coaches recently would definitely be something to benefit Crowder as he would be used in every way possible to improve his stat totals and improve the team. 

The post Why the New Orleans Saints should trade for Jamison Crowder? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Sukhwant Singh

Intro

Elijah Moore couldn’t have asked for a better spot to have been drafted to. The New York Jets are on the way up. Yes, you heard that right, barring any injuries to its core players, this team is on the rise. The new coaching staff led by head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur will be installing their version of the West Coast system.

Falling into the second round of the 2021 draft, the Jets wasted no time in scooping up Moore. Moore had a fantastic junior season at Ole Miss. He amassed 86 receptions, 1193 yards, and 8 TDs. Moore also made the 2020 Consensus All-America team. In fact, the 1193 receiving yards were second in the SEC only to Heisman trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Now, onto why the Jets are a great fit for Moore and vice versa. Drafting rookie quarterback Zach Wilson with the second overall pick, the Jets needed to give Wilson weapons. They added Corey Davis and Keelan Cole in free agency. This is on top of already having Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder on the roster.

We all know that there are two types of best friends for a quarterback especially a young one. Either a tight end or slot wide receiver to work those short over the middle routes. This is where Moore excels. He is insanely good after the catch in the open field. This will help Wilson out tremendously to get rid of the ball quickly to a play-maker liker Moore.

Being that both Wilson and Moore are rookies, the two will develop an instant connection over the spring/summer both on and off the field. Moore has elite play-making abilities in the open field, exactly what the Jets have lacked over the last few years. Now, some of you will say what about Jamison Crowder, won’t he interfere with Moore’s development being both are slot wide receivers?

The answer to that question is a resounding, NO! The Jets will save 10m by cutting Crowder and that money can be allocated elsewhere, primarily in getting help in the secondary. The reason why Crowder was not cut earlier in the off-season was because the Jets did not expect Moore to fall to them in the second round.

The Jets also still have Braxton Berrios on the team as well, who is also a cheaper option to keep compared to Crowder. Moore will have all the opportunity to become to take over the slot position and become the star receiver the Jets have been looking for since Keyshawn Johnson!

Fantasy Impact

Expect Moore to put up big numbers playing in the West Coast system. This system is tailor-made to suit his skill-set with play-action passing and taking those over the middle shots. I really do believe Moore barring any injuries is set to have a big year and great career ahead of him. He will be the more electric and dynamic version of Crowder.

Now in the fantasy football drafts, Moore will fall down the charts because he is playing on the Jets. There aren’t many believers out there in the Jets especially offensively. However, don’t be fooled by these assumptions. Wilson and Moore will form a good tandem for years to come and I fully seeing that taking off this year. Crowder put up 59 receptions, 699 yards and 6 TDs in 12 games. Expect Moore to beat those numbers easily and then some.

Conclusion

Moore set to dominate and the Jets for once have been fortunate to be on the right side of things. Growing pains will always occur to young players, especially rookies. I trust the Jets coaching staff will put Moore in the best situations to allow him to excel and bring him along slowly.

The post Rookie Elijiah Moore is in a fantastic spot appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The New York Jets can’t get out of their own way. They managed to lose the right to the number overall draft selection. Sam Darnold is still on the roster, and it looks like Jamison Crowder is on the chopping block. Here are three landing spots for Jamison Crowder.

I understand Crowder isn’t the most exciting player to watch or to talk about, but the fact is Crowder was the Jets’ most productive receiver leading the jets in both catches and yards. I understand it wasn’t pretty with 59 catches for 699 yards. Frankly, if that’s your top receiver, you have significant issues in the passing game.

Those issues aren’t going to disappear by keeping Crowder on the roster at the cost of $10 million this year. Not when the dead cap hit is one million dollars. What kind of contract will Crowder demand?

I don’t know if Crowder is going to have any negotiating leverage. He’s going to be 28 years old this summer, which isn’t old for a wide receiver by any means. That said, we know what Crowder is at this point. At 5’9″ and 178 lbs, he is not an “X” receiver in the NFL.

Jamison Crowder may not command the money or the ball like an NFL number one receiver, but he will improve an offense in the right role. There are a few teams that I believe Crowder would be an excellent fit with the systems those teams run.

New England Patriots

The first and most obvious place for me is the New England Patriots. Julian Edelman just has not been able to stay on the field, and he’s 34 years old. Edelman has only played 16 games twice in the last six years. He is at that point in his career where we often see a significant decline in performance.

Jamison Crowder is a perfect fit for this offense. I realize this isn’t the same Patriot offense that we have seen in the past with Tom Brady. That doesn’t change the fact, and the Patriots still prefer to attack the middle of the field. You do that with tight ends and slot receivers.

The New England Patriots will almost certainly address the tight end position, and there are a few players for them to target. The Patriots also need help at the wide receiver position. N’Keal Harry is starting to look more and more like a bust. Jakobi Meyers has flashed at times, but he needs support from other parts of the passing game to be effective.

Crowder also brings some veteran leadership with whatever team he would join. The Patriots could also use some help in that department, regardless of who the quarterback ends up being.

As far as what kind of contract would Crowder demand? It’s tough to say, but the Patriots have not spent much of the team’s salary cap on receivers. Currently, among nine receivers, the Patriots are paying just over $11 million.

Think about that for a second. Crowder was due to be paid $10 million this year, and his contract is on par with John Brown as an example. It’s not an outlandish contract, and the Patriots are paying a total of $11 million on nine players, half of which I challenge most diehard fantasy players to name.

I don’t know if New England could bring Crowder in for six to seven million a year, but they should consider paying him the $10 million Crowder was on scheduled to be paid. He would elevate this wide receiver room instantly. Jamison Crowder is a perfect fit for this system.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Another team that could use a little bit of a veteran presence on the team and gains a dependable wideout like Crowder is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Dede Westbrook is currently a free agent. Laviska Shenault and DJ Chark are very much different receivers than Crowder, but they all could compliment each other well.

The Jags have the number one overall pick, and it looks like they will be selecting the highly acclaimed Trevor Lawerence. There are three things the Jags need to do for Trevor Lawerence to help ensure his success.

One, be sure to protect him with a solid offensive line, don’t be like the Cincinnati Bengals. Two, have a decent run game to lean on, don’t ask Trevor to do more than he needs to; he is a rookie. Lastly, get him weapons to throw to.

Shenault is a very talented rookie that Jacksonville can move around and find creative ways to get him the ball. I think Chark is an excellent receiver, but I don’t think he’s talented enough to be a passing game’s focal point. Chark needs a capable receiver on the field to help take the pressure off of him.

Crowder can do all the things the Jags are missing in the passing game and bring a veteran’s presence to a very young team. With his quick and precise route running, Crowder will improve the players in that wideout room.

Miami Dolphins

The last team I will mention here is the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are another young team that could use some veteran experience on the ball’s offensive side.

Devante Parker has mainly been a letdown and, at the same time, flashed with brilliance. It appears to me Parker flourishes with volume, but forcing your passing game through one receiver never works.

Preston Williams is still a wild card, and he has also looked very good at times. That in itself isn’t all that surprising; Williams fell in the draft due to off-the-field issues.

Regardless of all of this, Crowder would be replacing the work that Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson perform. Just like their teammates, both players have looked good on the field. Yet, neither has been able to stay on the field.

Crowder would give the Dolphins some in the passing that would demand targets with his skill set and ability to get open regularly. He would compliment the work that Parker and presumably Williams would do.

Miami is in the same boat as the Jags are; the Dolphins have a young quarterback with many unknowns at the skill positions. The positions you want to make sure you have quality players at for your young quarterback to lean on.

Crowder has found success playing on bad teams for the most part, but it wasn’t from his lack of quality play. Crowder has had only one season where he didn’t receive at least 78 targets and 59 receptions. That one season, he only played nine games.

Crowder is a complimentary player in any offense, but he is a high-quality player at that position. I don’t know if anyone is willing to pay Crowder what he believes he is worth. I struggle to believe that any of these teams will pay Crowder $10 million for this year, especially with the reduced salary cap.

I can’t speak for Crowder, and I will not pretend I know what he is thinking. I do know that he is going to want to play. Crowder is only going to be 28 years old at the start of the season, and he looks like he still has some good years ahead of him. After all, he is six years younger than Edelman, and I believe Crowder could have been as effective in that Patriot system.

I think a team should take a shot on Crowder, and my money says if Crowder wants a chance to play and show what he has, these three teams are excellent landing spots. The other thing all of these teams have in common? All these teams are well below the salary cap and have the luxury to spend some money. So far below the cap, they have the luxury even to take a risk with a player like Crowder.

Please be sure to check out my other pieces along with all things football by the team at Profootballmania.com. Follow me on Twitter for other fantasy football thoughts and questions, and feel free to hit me up there! @BodaciousBeer

The post 3 Potential Landing Spots For Jamison Crowder appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Tom Ayling (@flanker546)

The New York Jets rookie wide receiver out of Baylor University, Denzel Mims, entered the NFL  with size, speed, and a great set of hands. The question for all rookies is, how do they adjust to life in the NFL facing elite defenders each week? I have reviewed the film from his rookie season and will break down what I have seen, and what I think he could be going forward.  

Before getting into what we saw during the season, let’s take a look at his physical characteristics  as measured in the NFL Combine.  

Measurables:  

Age: 23 

Height: 6’3 

Weight: 206 

Arm Length: 33.8” 

Hand size: 9.38” 

Wingspan: 78.5”

NFL Combine Scores/Percentile by Position: 

40 Yard Dash: 4.38 seconds (95 percentile) 

10 yard Split: 1.54 seconds (89 percentile) 

Bench Press: 16 (66 percentile) 

Verticle: 38.5” (88 percentile) 

Broad Jump: 131” (96 percentile) 

Three Cone: 6.66 seconds (94 percentile) 

The Combine scores are certainly impressive; but, as everyone knows, the Combine is simply a  measure of what physical characteristics a player has. Good Combine results do not always equal good NFL production. Mims’ performance simply indicates that his college reputation of size and speed was accurate and could serve him well in the NFL.  

So he looked good at the Combine, so what? Is he any good? The short answer is yes, I do think  he has a bright future in the NFL; but, he needs to improve in some areas to become one of the  best.  

Mims finished the 2020 season with 23 receptions on 45 targets for 357 yards and zero  touchdowns in nine games. He started the season on IR due to a hamstring injury and did not  start until week 7. Let’s break down what I saw on film.  

Great Hands 

Denzel Mims has great hands and a very good catch radius. Throughout the season, we saw him adjust very well to the ball, be it back-shoulder catches, high-pointing the ball, or simply fighting off a defender and making the contested catch. The two best film sessions that show-off his hands were in week 11 and 12 vs the Chargers and Dolphins, respectively. 

In the third quarter of the Chargers game, he had to stretch his arms out overtop of Hayward and  make a great over the shoulder catch on a fade route. Mims’ catch radius and spectacular  concentration to track the ball into his hands is why he is able to make this type of catch, where  many other receivers would not.  

Denzel had four catches in week 12 vs Miami. The first catch on the day was another example of stretching out to make a grab over the middle and continuing for a very good gain. He ran a  crossing route and caught the ball on the run with exceptional concentration. In the same game,  he made a great contested high-point catch over the middle vs zone coverage. In order to make this type of catch on a hard thrown ball, your catching technique needs to be on point. His thumbs and fingertips were together forming a perfect triangle for the tip of the ball to slide into.  This is the difference between making the catch or having the ball simply go right through your hands for an incompletion. 

Footwork 

While Mims has great hands, the one thing that he is lacking is great footwork. When he faces press/man coverage from opposing cornerbacks, he lacks the ability to freeze defenders and gain separation right off the line. Quite often what we see on film is the cornerback sticking with him from the snap of the ball all the way to the end of the play. If you watch players like Calvin  Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons or Michael Thomas with the Saints, you will see their first steps are explosive and almost always make the defender freeze for a half-second before exploding out off of the line and gaining separation. Denzel Mims is very fast and should be able to gain separation better than what we saw in 2020.  

The second area of concern is his lack of precision cuts during route trees. When he is cutting into the middle of the field, what we see from him is a rounded off route instead of dig and go.  Very often the difference between a breakaway run for a touchdown and a good gain on a deep crosser is the ability to make a defender misstep or even fall down when trying to adjust to the change of direction from the receiver. When wide receivers round out a route, it gives the safety or cornerback time to recognize what is happening in front of them and track the receiver without any sudden stops or cuts. Because defenders have to react to any movements the receiver is making, they need time to process what is happening in front of them and change direction accordingly. The speed and suddenness with which the ball carrier can change direction directly equate to the amount of separation he gains.  

Potential 

Entering the film session, I had a basic idea of who I thought he could become. Based on his size and speed, I thought he was a slightly lesser version of D.K. Metcalf. The film from Metcalf’s first season is actually very similar to what Mims showed in terms of catching ability and separation from press coverage. Neither player surprised defenders with their footwork, but both have spectacular hands and better than average speed for their size. The reason the stat sheets look so different is who they had throwing them the ball.  

Final Thoughts 

Denzel Mims has a very bright future ahead of him and has the potential to become one of the top “X” receivers in the NFL. His size, speed, and natural catch ability, already separate him from many other wide receivers in the game today. If he can improve his footwork and route running technique, he could be one of the truly elite receivers in the game.

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