WR Percy Harvin Free Agency Fits: Raiders, Bears, Bengals
By Erik Lambert
One of the more polarizing players set to hit NFL free agency yet again is Percy Harvin. Nobody is disputing the talent of the young wide receiver. His mix of athleticism, speed and strength are rare and why teams continue to covet his services despite repeated instances of him being a locker room problem.
What it comes down to is two things, at least based on past history that will keep him under control. He’ll want a team that can give him good money and a team that will throw him the football with regularity. Based on those two factors here are some teams to watch in the coming weeks.
Oakland Raiders
Pretty much every free agent will be connected to the Oakland Raiders moving towards the deadline because they have over $55.7 million to spend. That is the second-most among all teams. One area they’d love to get some help is at wide receiver, hoping to better arm their promising young quarterback in Derek Carr.
Harvin is experienced but still young enough to grow with him and possesses a speed element that can take proper advantage of Carr’s impressive arm strength. Head coach Jack Del Rio also has a reputation for maintaining good discipline of his players without losing their support in the locker room.
Chicago Bears
Having Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery may look like a luxury from the outside, but the Chicago Bears learned in 2014 that having two big receivers, talented as they might be, without a speed threat to compliment them actually makes life easier than harder on defenses. That was a big reason why the Bears offense went off the rails last season.
Harvin can be that speedy option who can create mismatches in the slot and also take it over the top, allowing Jay Cutler to use his well-documented arm to make big plays. Head coach John Fox has a sturdy reputation of his players loving him and the Bears will have close to $29 million in cap space.
Cincinnati Bengals
This might not be a team that people would expect to be in play for Percy Harvin. Then again, there are some reasons to think they will be. Anybody who watched their latest playoff defeat saw how lost the Bengals passing game was without A.J. Green. It’s clear they need another option who can force defenses to deal with him.
They also have over $40 million in cap space — more than enough to handle a contract for Harvin and also a head coach in Marvin Lewis with a reputation for being able to handle players with troubled backgrounds. Ask Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict.
Sure, there are other teams out there with reasons to get him like New England, Indianapolis and Cleveland, but some don’t have the money and others don’t have the need for his specific talents. If one were to make an honest evaluation of it, he will go to the highest bidder.