The best landing spots for 5 available NFL veterans
The best landing spots for 5 available NFL veterans
The new league year doesn't begin until next month, but these well-known players will probably all be on the move.
The NFL Combine starts this week, which means all eyes will be on the young fellas in this year’s draft class. But we have plenty of time to talk about the incoming rookies — judging by some of the headlines I’ve seen lately, arguably too much time.
Right now, I’d like to focus on a few “old” guys who are either free agents or potential trade candidates. These five veteran players will all likely be playing for a new team in 2023, and I’ve picked a landing spot for each one.
This isn’t where they will necessarily end up, just where I think they should go. So if any general managers are reading, you’re welcome to take my advice, free of charge.
Derek Carr, QB
My suggestion: Jets
In 2023, for the first time in his nearly decade-long career, Derek Carr will be playing for a team not named the Raiders. TBD on which team that’ll be.
The Saints, Bucs, Jets, and Commanders have all been bandied about as possible destinations for the 31-year-old quarterback since his release a couple weeks ago. All lack quarterback depth — and the draft positioning to select one of the top passers in the 2023 class.
Carr is coming off a strange season. In certain categories, his numbers were on par to 2017, statistically his worst non-rookie year, such as his low completion percentage (60.8), yards per game (234.8), and passer rating (86.3). He also struggled mightily in the red zone.
In other respects, his numbers improved from the previous season, when he led Vegas to the playoffs, like his 4.8 TD percentage, 55.6 QBR, four fourth-quarter comebacks, and an NFL-high 30+yard TD passes. Yet the Raiders regressed, losing nine one-score games and blowing five double-digit halftime leads.
That was not all Carr’s fault, of course. The defense, which ranked No. 31 in DVOA, deserves a large share of the blame, as does coach Josh McDaniels. But the final straw for Carr came in a dismal Christmas Eve loss to the Steelers. On a freezing Saturday night in Pittsburgh, Carr threw three interceptions, the last of which sealed the game with 23 seconds left. That ended up being his final play ever in a Raiders uniform.
Carr has been a solid quarterback for most of his career and though he can’t be considered a long-term solution anymore, he could help one team stabilize its QB room and act as a mentor to the younger guys.
In part, that’s why I think the Jets are the right match for Carr (assuming they don’t trade for Aaron Rodgers). At least based on what Robert Saleh has said, NY isn’t ready to give up on Zach Wilson just yet. If true, the Jets can take the approach they should’ve used in Wilson’s rookie year: let him sit and learn behind an established quarterback.
The Jets likely would’ve made the playoffs this past season if they even had competent play under center. Carr can give them that, and in return the Jets can surround him with a great defense and the dynamic playmakers, like Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, he needs to succeed.
The Jets, who hired Carr’s one-time OC as their new passing game coordinator, are interested too … so much that they’re trying to sell him on some BS:
No one is buying that, not even Carr, but I’m sure after his breakup with the Raiders, it feels nice to be wanted.
Robert Woods, WR
My suggestion: Lions
While with the Rams, Robert Woods tore his ACL midway through the 2021 season. Though he earned a Super Bowl ring, Woods didn’t get the chance to play in the championship game. A month later, he was traded to Tennessee.
Woods led the offensively challenged Titans in receiving this past season … with just 53 catches for a career-low 527 yards. Last week, Woods was one of the team’s several cap casualties, a fate he seemed to welcome:
At almost 31, Woods’ most productive days are probably behind him, but he is still an excellent route runner:
And he can still be a reliable contributor, as both a blocker and receiver, in the right offense. A reunion with one of his former teams, either the Rams or Bills, makes a lot of sense, but instead, I’d like to see him join up again with Jared Goff, this time in Detroit.
Woods enjoyed the most prolific seasons of his career with Goff as his quarterback, while Goff just wrapped up a bounce-back year with the Lions’ surprisingly good-in-every-way offense. OC Ben Johnson is set to return, as is most of the starting offensive lineup, to build off of what they started. As of right now, receiver DJ Chark, who was third on the team in receiving yards, is not one of those players as he heads into free agency.
Woods wouldn’t have to be “the guy” in Detroit. He could be a steady veteran presence alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is holding down the WR1 spot, and Jameson Williams, a breakout candidate.
Even though the Lions are on the rise, they could stand to add a little more experience to their ranks, considering their oldest current player is Taylor Decker … who is 29. TWENTY-NINE! Sheesh.
Bobby Wagner, LB
My suggestion: Eagles
Last offseason, when it seemed like the Seahawks were in full-on rebuild mode, they released longtime linebacker Bobby Wagner, despite him wanting to remain in Seattle. Wagner quickly signed a big-money contract with the NFC West rival LA Rams.
Unexpectedly, it was the Rams, not the Seahawks, who had a down year and missed out on the playoffs. Not that Wagner was to blame. The 32-year-old put together his ninth All-Pro season and was one of the lone bright spots for LA:
Nevertheless, Wagner and the Rams have decided to move on from each other once the free agency window officially opens. A return to Seattle is possible, but perhaps the lifelong West Coaster would prefer to try to win one more ring. In that case, his best bet could be relocating to the East Coast.
The Eagles, fresh off a closely fought Super Bowl loss, have a long list of pending free agents, particularly on the defensive side. That includes two starting linebackers: T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White. Although Wagner is older and more expensive than both, he’s also got a longer, more proven track record.
The defense already saw its coordinator leave for a new job and could be losing several veterans this offseason. Wagner is the kind of leader who could come in immediately and guide younger players like Nakobe Dean, all while helping keep Philly’s defense near the top of the NFL ranks.
Jalen Ramsey, CB
My suggestion: Dolphins
Unlike Wagner, Jalen Ramsey has not parted ways with the Rams yet. However, he’s rumored to be on the trading block as LA continues to try to free up cap space.
After back-to-back All-Pro seasons, Ramsey was a little “boom or bust” in 2022. He was a ballhawk who forced a career-high six turnovers (4 INTs, 2 FF) and recorded his first two sacks, but he also gave up a career-worst seven TD catches in coverage.
While he might want to burn the tape from the Chiefs game, Ramsey still looked like his shutdown self at other times, including the final week of the season:
Ramsey is only 28 and doesn’t have much of an injury history. He might not be worth two first-round picks anymore, but his trade value should be fairly decent for the resource-deficient Rams — and he’d be a major upgrade for most secondaries.
The Lions have already emerged as a potential destination as certain members haven’t been shy about trying to recruit him. These two teams have a history of making blockbuster trades, too. But maybe the Rams now see the Lions as actual competition in the NFC.
As such, I’m proposing the Rams send Ramsey back to the AFC and back to Florida: with the Dolphins, not the Jaguars. Despite making the playoffs, Miami’s defense took a step back this past season, especially against the pass. It allowed the sixth-most passing yards in the NFL and ranked just No. 25 in pass DVOA.
New defensive coordinator, the venerable Vic Fangio, is inheriting a front seven that’s in good shape. What he could use most of all is a proficient cornerback opposite Xavien Howard who just so happens to be an ideal fit for his scheme, as Ramsey is. (That was true even before it was clear that Byron Jones would not be back with the Dolphins.)
Ramsey wouldn’t come cheap, but the Dolphins haven’t hesitated to make a big move like this, whether trading for Tyreek Hill or Bradley Chubb, in the past year. He could be just the piece that Fangio needs to turn the defense around.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR
My suggestion: Patriots
The Cardinals aren’t getting a complete teardown, but they’re going through a bit of a remodel this offseason. A new coaching staff has come in, as has a new GM. J.J. Watt, A.J. Green, and Chris Banjo have all retired. Kyler Murray is recovering from an ACL tear and should miss time at the beginning of the season.
There’s really no need for a former All-Pro, and an expensive one at that, like DeAndre Hopkins to stick around … which is why he could be on the trade market. It might not take much draft capital for a team interested in the receiver, either. Hopkins appeared in just nine games in 2022 due to injury and a suspension, and he’ll turn 31 this summer.
Even so, Hopkins led the Cardinals in receiving with 717 yards, and yep, he can still make the kind of snags that would require Stickum for mere mortals:
As long as he stays healthy, Hopkins remains a No. 1-caliber WR. That’s the kind of help the Patriots could use, this offseason and seemingly every offseason. Their top receiver was free-agent-to-be Jakobi Meyers, who finished with 802 yards and is best remembered for his embarrassing brainfart in the season’s most gut-busting play.
One week before that, the Patriots faced the Cardinals, and the Hard Knocks camera captured Bill Belichick and Hopkins professing their platonic love for each other (two different times, actually):
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Belichick so happy, except perhaps when he’s talking about his dog. And I’m powerless to resist the charms of a good “will they or won’t they.”
Unfortunately, the chances of Hopkins playing for Belichick took a hit when the Patriots brought Bill O’Brien, who has a turbulent history with Hopkins, back to be their OC. That said, New England’s offense, quarterback Mac Jones most of all, would benefit from Hopkins’ services.
So maybe there’s hope that O’Brien and Hopkins can work out their old issues, make peace, and put a rare smile on Belichick’s face.