NFL free agency bargains: Bengals WR Marvin Jones
NFL Free Agency: Examining some of the best bargains in the NFL’s free agent period, including Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones…
The NFL’s free agent frenzy period is about to get underway in a couple of weeks, so we want to take a look at some players that might be of interest to teams that aren’t sitting atop the list of players available.
One such player could be Cincinnati Bengals receiver Marvin Jones, who had a career year in some aspects in 2015 after missing the entire 2014 season due to injury.
Jones does a lot of things well as a receiver that he doesn’t get credit for for a couple of reasons…
- A.J. Green is incredible.
- Tyler Eifert had a breakout year in 2015
Despite these two things, Jones has put together a heck of a resume, and because of the other players the Bengals have to focus on in the coming year/s, I think he’s going to bolt for another opportunity to be someone’s #2 receiver.
On a Cincinnati team that distributes the ball to about as many players as you possibly can in one offense, Jones has stood out to me for his big play ability, red zone ability, and of course, his impressive hands.
He saw a career-high 103 targets this past year, and cashed in with 13 plays of 20 or more yards and a season-high 65 receptions. On the whole, his 10 touchdown season back in 2013 was better than the campaign he put together in 2015, but he proved coming off of injury that his explosiveness and big play ability are still there.
Did I mention he doesn’t drop passes? He is credited with just two drops in his 103 targets last year, which put him among the best in the NFL in terms of drop percentage.
The Bengals would certainly be sorry to lose Jones in 2016, and if Mohamed Sanu is not retained, they very well could keep him on a team friendly deal but I imagine teams are going to come calling for this young receiver with a lot of untapped potential. Given more opportunities, I think he could be a stud for someone in 2016 and beyond.