Free agency can be such a monumental crapshoot. So I’m pleased to report that, through Week 6, four of the NFL’s Top 10 in receiving yards are wideouts who changed jerseys during the offseason. They are:
| Rank | Receiver, Team | Old Team | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | Steve Smith, Ravens | Panthers | 573 |
| T6th | Golden Tate, Lions | Seahawks | 495 |
| 9th | DeSean Jackson, Redskins | Eagles | 479 |
| 10th | Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos | Steelers | 473 |
Granted, there’s plenty of football to be played, but these guys have made a terrific first impression with their new clubs. Smith’s yardage total projects to 1,528 over 16 games. Sanders’ projects to 1514 (because Denver has played only five games). Tate (1,320) and Jackson (1,277) also are on pace for big years. So far, these free-agent dollars have been well spent – and hurray for that. Too often they aren’t.
Smith, in fact, has a chance to become the first receiver in NFL history to have a 1,500-yard season with two different teams. Only a handful of wideouts have had even a 1,200-yard season with different two teams. The list:
RECEIVERS WHO’VE HAD A 1,200-YARD SEASON WITH TWO DIFFERENT CLUBS
| Randy Moss | 1,632, ’03 Vikings | 1,493 ’07 Patriots |
| Henry Ellard | 1,414, ’88 Rams | 1,397, ’94 Redskins |
| Terrell Owens* | 1,451, ’00 49ers | 1,355, ’07 Cowboys |
| Brandon Marshall | 1,508, ’12 Bears | 1,325, ’07 Broncos |
| Irving Fryar | 1,316, ’97 Eagles | 1,270, ’94 Dolphins |
| Jerry Rice | 1,848, ’95 49ers | 1,211, ’02 Raiders |
| Laveranues Coles | 1,264, ’02 Jets | 1,204, ’03 Redskins |
*Also had a 1,200-yard season with the Eagles in 2004.
(Note: If a receiver had multiple 1,200-yard seasons with a team, I listed his best season. Also, as you can see, Coles is the only one to do it in consecutive years. That’s what Jackson is trying to do this year. He had 1,332 receiving yards with the Eagles in 2013.)
Just missed:
| Anquan Boldin | 1,402, ’05 Cardinals | 1,179, ’13 49ers |
| Keenan McCardell | 1,207, ’00 Jaguars | 1,174, ’03 Bucs |
| Keyshawn Johnson | 1,266, ’01 Bucs | 1,170, ’99 Jets |
