2018 NFL Free Agency: The Top 5 Wide Receivers Available

The 2018 NFL free agency class has a chance to be a strong one at the wide receiver position. Stronger than at any time in the past five years.

It’s unclear where extensions or franchise tags might fall, but it’s still a strong group with both star power and depth. Not only that, it’s also diverse. There will be an intriguing mix of the big body types and the shorter, quicker types. Best of all a number of them haven’t even reached their physical primes yet. Combine that with an array of teams that will be in desperate need of help at that position and it could create quite the frenzy next March.

#1:  Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins)

It’s not every day that a two-time Pro Bowler he isn’t even 25-years old yet can become available on the open market. Jarvis Landry is a quick, fast and agile weapon. He’s arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL, and the augmentation of spread offenses makes his services more valuable than ever. All it requires is landing in the right system, something which changed for him since Adam Gase came to town. Throw in the fact the Dolphins may not have the money to meet his demands and it’s a good chance he’s gone.

#2:  Allen Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars)

He’s coming off a torn ACL following what was a down year in terms of production. So why is Allen Robinson so high on the list? He’s 24-years old and anybody who can get 1,400 yards receiving out of Blake Bortles must be graded on a curve. Robinson has the total package. He’s big with strong hands but also quick with enough speed to threaten defenses down the field. Truth be told it’s hard to imagine the knee issue being much of a deterrent from signing him.

#3:  Alshon Jeffery (Philadelphia Eagles)

For a time it looked like his one-year gamble with the Eagles wasn’t going to pay off. Over the past two weeks though he has 146 yards and three touchdowns. If that continues then there’s no reason to think he won’t get that massive payday he’s been seeking for three years now. If the Eagles aren’t willing or able to meet it, smart money says he’ll go out and find a team that will. He has the size and hands that defenses can’t ignore.

#4:  Paul Richardson (Seattle Seahawks)

Few players are making themselves more money of late than Paul Richardson. It looked for a time like the former 2nd round pick looked like a bust. Over the past year though he’s begun to catch fire. Through the past eight games he has 415 yards and five touchdowns. Injury concerns aside he’s showing that dynamic playmaking potential that made him so coveted. He has speed and strong hands, along with a natural instinct for finding and getting the football regardless of coverage.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Browns Muck Things Up Again

#5:  Josh Gordon (Cleveland Browns)

How can one justify putting a player who hasn’t logged a regular season snap for three years on this list? The simple fact that Gordon is at a talent level that few other receivers are. He produced over 1,600 yards in 2013 with scrubs and backups at quarterback. He’s big, fast and hard to stop. The fact he was able to do that when he was either drunk, stoned or both is a scary thought considering he’s now sober after a successful stint in rehab. He’ll be just 27-years old too without the mileage on his body that goes with it.