CLEVELAND — The NFL's legal tampering period will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 14, marking the unofficial start of free agency in the league.
Here are five wide receivers the Cleveland Browns could target when negotiations are permitted to begin next week.
Allen Robinson II, Chicago Bears
One of the top wide receivers on this year's market, Allen Robinson II is coming off the least productive season of his career. Appearing in 12 games, the Penn State product caught 38 passes for 410 yards and one touchdown.
Nevertheless, Robinson is expected to cash in; Spotrac projects the 2015 Pro Bowl selection to sign a four-year, $65.5 million contract.
At 28-years-old, Robinson is older than most free agents the Browns front office has been willing to commit big money to. But he could also provide Cleveland with the established wide receiver that its passing game currently lacks.
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals
Despite being a member of a crowded wide receivers room in Arizona, Christian Kirk put together his best career season in 2021. Playing in 17 regular-season games, the former second-round pick caught 77 passes for 982 yards and five touchdowns.
A former five-star prospect who's still just 25-years-old, Kirk checks a lot of the boxes that the Browns front office often looks for. His price tag, however, could prove expensive, with Spotrac projecting him to receive a four-year, $47.5 million contract.
D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars
D.J. Chark's NFL career got off to a strong start, as the LSU product earned Pro Bowl honors after catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in his second season. That production, however, dipped in 2020, with injuries limiting him to just four games in 2021.
Still just 25-years-old, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Chark remains an attractive option for teams looking to add a big-bodied receiver with proven production. It doesn't appear that last year's injury-plagued season will affect his market, with Spotrac projecting him to receive a four-year, $47.6 million contract.
Will Fuller V, Miami Dolphins
The Browns' wide receiving corps could use some speed and Will Fuller V has plenty of that. He wasn't able to display it last season, however, as injuries resulted in him playing just two games.
Last offseason, Fuller signed a one-year deal worth $10.6 million with the Miami Dolphins. Considering how his season played out, the Notre Dame product could prove to be one of the more affordable low-risk options for Cleveland to target.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
While the Packers placed their franchise tag on Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is set to hit the open market. And although his box scores might not inspire much confidence, his speed should make him an attractive target for multiple teams.
Spotrac currently projects the South Florida product to receive a three-year deal worth $26.3 million. Considering he's still just 27-years-old, that could be a fair price for the Browns to add the player who led the league in yards per reception (20.9) in 2020.
Other potential targets
- Cedrick Wilson, Dallas Cowboys
- Byron Pringle, Kansas City Chiefs
- Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
- JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jamison Crowder, New York Jets
- Keelan Cole, New York Jets
- Braxton Berrios, New York Jets
- Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts
- Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders