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Mike Fanelli breaks down which NFL teams need the most help at wide receiver this offseason. Which teams can become stronger contenders with the addition of receiving help?
The NFL franchise tag window opened on Tuesday. That means free agency is only a few weeks away. However, many backroom deals will get done during the NFL Combine next week in Indianapolis.
While teams can’t make deals official until March 13, there will be plenty of discussions and agreements before that date. After the free agency period cools off, the 2024 NFL Draft will only be a few weeks away.
This year, there are several appealing veteran wide receivers in free agency and multiple elite prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Let’s look at which NFL teams need help at the wide receiver position heading into the 2024 offseason.
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New York Giants
There might not be a team more desperate for help at the wide receiver position than the Giants. The team opted against adding a No. 1 caliber wide receiver last offseason. Instead, they traded for Darren Waller. That decision massively backfired on them. While 2022 second-round pick Wan'Dale Robinson and 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt have shown potential, neither is the No. 1 caliber wide receiver the Giants need.
While New York likely won’t pursue a big-name free-agent wide receiver this offseason, they are in an excellent position to land one during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Giants hold the sixth overall pick in the first round. Marvin Harrison Jr. won’t be available when they pick. However, Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze should be available when New York is on the clock.
1-Round Mock Draft from @TonyPauline ✍️
1. Williams, Bears
2. Daniels, Commanders
3. Maye, Pats
4. Harrison Jr., Cardinals
5. Bowers, Chargers
6. Nabers, Giants
7. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Titans
8. Dallas Turner, Falcons
9. Joe Alt, Bears
10. Odunze, Jets
11. Byron Murphy II,… pic.twitter.com/EIUe2ByFIj— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) February 14, 2024
Carolina Panthers
Last year was a nightmare for Bryce Young and Carolina’s offense. While the offensive line needs work, the team must add a difference-maker at wide receiver in the offseason. Adam Thielen was the only reliable wide receiver on the roster in 2023, and his production fell off a cliff in the second half of the year. Jonathan Mingo should improve in his second NFL season. Yet, the Panthers must add another young wide receiver to go with the former Ole Miss star.
The team could look to sign a veteran in free agency, especially with DJ Chark Jr. being a free agent next month. However, Carolina should focus on the options in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the team doesn’t have their first-round pick because of the Young trade. Their first selection is at the top of the second round. Hopefully, they can land an impact wide receiver with that pick.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee’s wide receiver core has been a disaster since they traded away A.J. Brown two years ago. They lacked depth at wide receiver with the superstar on the roster, but the former Ole Miss star made up for it. The pick the Titans got from Brown traded was used to select Treylon Burks. He has struggled to stay healthy and make an impact during his short NFL career. While the team isn’t ready to call him a bust, they must give Will Levis some additional weapons.
DeAndre Hopkins had a solid first year in Tennessee. However, he turns 32 before the start of the 2024 season and is entering the final year of his contract. The veteran might want to leave for a contending team since the Titans are starting a rebuilding process. Even if Hopkins returns next year and plays at a high level, Tennessee should explore using at least one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a wide receiver.
Buffalo Bills
On paper, the Bills have a solid wide receiver corps. Stefon Diggs has been one of the top wide receivers in the NFL over the past several years. Meanwhile, Gabe Davis has been a productive downfield weapon for Josh Allen. Unfortunately, both players could be playing elsewhere in 2024. Davis is a free agent next month and is expected to find a better offer on the open market.
Buffalo Bills Gabe Davis is expected to leave the team in free agency. pic.twitter.com/ZHUALEdtkD
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) February 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Diggs’ future is up in the air. There are rumors that he and the team are heading for a divorce. Even if the star receiver remains in Buffalo, Diggs is on the wrong side of 30 and has struggled to end the regular season in back-to-back years.
The Bills could be aggressive in free agency, signing someone like Mike Evans to replace Davis. However, the more likely outcome is for the team to select a wide receiver with their first-round draft pick.
New York Jets
Last year, New York made two significant moves at wide receiver, trading away Elijah Moore and signing Allen Lazard. They also added Mecole Hardman Jr. in free agency before sending him back to the Kansas City Chiefs at the trade deadline. Lazard was signed to help convince Aaron Rodgers to join the Jets. Unfortunately, he was such a massive bust free-agent signing that he lost his game-day roster spot to Jason Brownlee several weeks to end the year.
The team is in a rough spot heading into the offseason. They don’t have much salary cap space until they make some roster moves. More importantly, their second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft belongs to the Green Bay Packers as part of the Rodgers trade. With several more pressing needs on the roster, the Jets must find a bargain in free agency or hit on a mid-round pick to improve their wide receiver corps.
Kansas City Chiefs
Despite many calling for Kansas City to use their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on a wide receiver, the team waited until Day 2 to add a pass catcher. Rashee Rice looks like a star in the making. With Travis Kelce returning in 2024, the Chiefs shouldn’t be desperate to overpay for a big-name wide receiver in free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the depth behind Rice is embarrassing.
Kansas City has swung and missed on multiple wide receivers over the past few years. The trade for Kadarius Toney hasn’t worked out, while Skyy Moore has struggled to make an impact as a second-round pick in 2022. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson played meaningful snaps this past season. That alone is enough reason for the Chiefs to pursue Mike Evans or another veteran in free agency.
Chicago Bears
Despite adding DJ Moore in the Bryce Young blockbuster trade last offseason, the Bears still need help at wide receiver. The team traded a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for Chase Claypool, only to deal him to the Miami Dolphins for a late-round pick swap less than a year later. Meanwhile, Moore was the only wide receiver on the team with more than 415 receiving yards last season.
Furthermore, Darnell Mooney joined Moore as the wide receivers on the roster to have more than 168 receiving yards in 2023. That is unacceptable. Unfortunately, Mooney is a free agent next month and might not return. Chicago has the first and ninth overall picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fans should be shocked if they don’t come away with one of the top rookie wide receivers in the draft class.
Notable free agent WRs:
• Tee Higgins
• Michael Pittman Jr
• Mike Evans
• Marquise Brown
• Calvin Ridley
• Darnell Mooney
• Gabriel Davis
• Odell Beckham Jr
• Tyler Boyd
• Curtis Samuel
• Michael Thomas
• Josh Reynolds
• Noah Brown
• Kendrick Bourne— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) February 18, 2024
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