Outside of quarterback, wide receiver is the biggest need for the Falcons as we sit here today. Some might look at cornerback and EDGE, positions the Falcons have had issues at for years, but Zac Robinson is expected to run a lot of three-wide receiver sets, and Drake London is the only NFL wide receiver currently on Atlanta’s roster. It needs to be completely overhauled this offseason, while EDGE and cornerback likely can get by with just one significant addition.
This continues my free agency wish list series for the Falcons. If you missed any of the previous editions, follow the links below.
- Falcons Free Agency Wish List: Quarterbacks
- Falcons Free Agency Wish List: EDGE
- Falcons Free Agency Wish List: Cornerbacks
Calvin Ridley
The top three wide receivers that could have become free agents are already off the board. Mike Evans re-signed with the Bucs, who the Falcons were rumored to have interest in, while Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. were both franchise-tagged.
That leaves old friend Calvin Ridley as potentially the best free agent wide receiver option. At the very least, he has the most upside of the guys on this list. Ridley was a legitimate #1 wide receiver in Atlanta before he was suspended for gambling. There appeared to be some rust this season with the Jaguars, but he still caught for over 1,000 yards after nearly two years away from the game.
Ridley would be a nice complement to Drake London’s game as well. Obviously, the Falcons may not be interested in bringing him back after everything that transpired, but things appeared to end on a good note in Atlanta. How ironic would it be if the Falcons traded Ridley for a couple of picks only to bring him back in free agency a couple of years later? That’s pretty good business, if you ask me.
Gabe Davis
Davis would add a vertical passing threat to the Falcons offense that they desperately need. In his four seasons with the Bills, he averaged 16.7 yards per catch, hauling in 27 touchdown passes. Davis will be 25-years-old next season, so there’s still some hope that he can improve some of the other areas of his game, but at the very least, he can help the Falcons stretch the field.
Darnell Mooney
Mooney might be the biggest dark horse of this wide receiver free agent class. In 2021, he caught for over 1,000 yards on 81 receptions and looked like he could be a budding #1 option. However, he’s dealt with some injuries over the last couple of seasons and hasn’t benefited from the play of Justin Fields, who hasn’t developed as a passer that the Bears hoped he would. With better quarterback play in the right offense, Mooney could be a bright addition to the Falcons.
Marquise Brown
Brown is a speedster with a slight frame, capable of stretching defenses as well as anyone. He’s put up some more than respectable numbers over five years in the league, amassing 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns over 313 receptions, and there’s reason to believe his best football could be ahead. Whether it be injuries to himself or Kyler Murray, Brown dealt with a lot in Arizona. It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers he could put up in a better offense over a full season.
Odell Beckham Jr.
I talked about him this week because of his connections to Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson, who he played under in Los Angeles. But Beckham would be a sneaky good option to the Falcons wide receiver room, and he likely won’t break the bank. I’m not sure he’s a #2 option anymore, but the Falcons need multiple pass-catchers, not just one.
Tyler Boyd
Boyd has flown under the radar in Cincinnati because he plays alongside arguably the best pass-catching duo in the league in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. I don’t think the Bengals will pony up to pay him, and he could experience a considerable spike in production in an offense that features him more.
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Photographer: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire
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