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The bulk of NFL free agency is out of the way, but that does not mean there aren’t quality players still on the market. After premier wide receivers like Calvin Ridley, Marquise Brown, and Gabe Davis found new homes, the next group of impact players is still looking for their next landing spot.
All of the remaining receivers have reasons that they are unsigned, whether it be age, injury history, or recent production; however, each could make an impact in the right spot.
From Mike Williams to Hunter Renfrow, here are landing spots that make sense for the remaining veterans on the market:
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Mike Williams - Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Williams is hands down the most coveted receiver still on the market following a release from the Los Angeles Chargers. After trading Keenan Allen, a return to Los Angeles on a lesser contract cannot be ruled out but Williams is taking his time with his free-agent visits.
An X-famous New York Jets fan attempted to recruit him to town by DoorDashing a breakfast sandwich to the facility during his visit on Tuesday, which very well could have sealed the deal.
got it https://t.co/KG0cBPuZNE pic.twitter.com/ZS4FEHC2sF
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 19, 2024
However, my top landing spot for Williams is in Pittsburgh as a downfield threat. After trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina, the Steelers’ wide receiver room is insanely thin behind George Pickens. Adding a talented veteran like Williams in a room with no deep threat makes loads of sense, and he will visit Pittsburgh on his free-agency tour.
Odell Beckham Jr. - New York Jets
After a year off of football following his ACL tear in the Super Bowl, OBJ returned as a role player with Baltimore. He grabbed 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns on the season, far from the numbers he once put up but still a more than serviceable role receiver.
Now 31 years old, Beckham would look good in New York green. With Aaron Rodgers returning and the offensive line patched up during free agency, the Jets offense is expected to take a step forward. The problem is that the top receiver behind Garrett Wilson is currently Xavier Gipson.
Pairing Beckham and a first- or second-round rookie would instantly fix this receiving corps up while giving the veteran a chance to play with a legendary quarterback in the same stadium he himself became a legend in.
Tyler Boyd - Miami Dolphins
After eight seasons in Cincinnati, Tyler Boyd is still on the free-agent market as he looks for a potential new home. While he could return to Cincinnati, especially if Tee Higgins is traded as rumored, plenty of other teams could use his services.
The Miami Dolphins lacked a third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and Boyd provides an instant upgrade over Braxton Berrios. He would take on a similar role as the one he played in Cincinnati as the third option behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and could step up into an elevated spot should Hill or Waddle miss any time. Miami’s cap situation is a mess, but Boyd would likely be inexpensive at this point in his career.
Michael Thomas - Houston Texans
Michael Thomas has played 20 total games since 2019, and for that reason alone, he will net a veteran’s minimum contract on the open market should a team take a swing at bringing him in. Prior to his steep fall due to injuries, Thomas was the best receiver in the NFL.
Now 31 years old and four seasons removed from elite production, Thomas is set to move on from New Orleans. If his career isn’t over and a team takes a swing on him, I like the Houston Texans to do so. Thomas could slot into a role behind Tank Dell, Nico Collins, and Noah Brown as more of a mentor to the young receiving corps and could provide a pair of trustworthy veteran hands for second-year pro C.J. Stroud.
Thomas is also a proud Ohio State Buckeye -- why not go pair up with C.J. Stroud with a shot to revitalize your career?
D.J. Chark - Cincinnati Bengals
Injuries have derailed D.J. Chark’s career ever since his 1,000-yard season in 2019, but he has still shown spurts of production when healthy and would step into an exciting role if he were to go to Cincinnati.
Tyler Boyd is a free agent, Tee Higgins is on the trade block, and Cincinnati’s receiver room is suddenly barren behind Ja'Marr Chase. With a plethora of talented incoming rookies, Cincinnati could look to the draft for a Higgins replacement and could deploy Chark as their WR3. While offering less stability than Boyd, he brings loads of upside and would come at a cheap cost.
Another tidbit: Chark has only played for teams with cats as their mascot. LSU Tigers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers. Cincinnati just makes sense as his next destination.
Gotta respect DJ Chark for only playing football on teams with a cat mascot meow pic.twitter.com/J5Pcwjoe9w
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 11, 2023
Michael Gallup - Carolina Panthers
Michael Gallup is the third straight receiver on this list that just has not produced since his 1,000-yard season in 2019. He was cut after six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and is now searching for his next destination at 28 years old.
Between injuries and limited utilization, Gallup’s production has not been at the level it was early on in his career. However, he showed in the playoff loss to Green Bay that he can still make plays when called upon as he grabbed six receptions for 103 yards, his first 100-yard game since 2021.
As the #Panthers continue to look to add weapons, source says they are bringing in former #Cowboys WR Michael Gallup in for a visit next week.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2024
The best landing spot for Gallup is a spot he’s scheduled to visit: the Carolina Panthers. Carolina returns Adam Thielen and second-year receiver Jonathan Mingo while also adding Diontae Johnson via trade, but this corps is still underwhelming. Gallup would step in as a depth piece with a chance to show he still has juice left while working with second-year pro Bryce Young.
Hunter Renfrow - Dallas Cowboys
Aside from his Pro Bowl season in 2021, Hunter Renfrow has not shown much NFL production. The Raiders’ receiving corps was weak in 2021, paving the way to opportunity for Renfrow to go for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. After adding Davante Adams to the fold, his production fell below his pre-breakout numbers.
Where could Renfrow land and potentially carve a role out? Dallas. The Cowboys lack much of anything behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks in the receiver room, and Renfrow could add a Cole Beasley-esque slot receiver profile that this roster is missing. At 28 years old, it is unlikely that he returns to Pro Bowl form, but he still has the potential to carve a role out if he lands in the right room.
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