With the arrival of wide receiver Amari Cooper in Cleveland comes the departure of fan-favorite Jarvis Landry. The eight-year veteran wideout spent the last four seasons in Cleveland after being traded by the Miami Dolphins. Based on news and rumors from around the league, here are some possible predictions and landing spots for the free agent WR.
Predictions for Jarvis Landry in 2022 NFL Free Agency
Landry was granted permission to seek a trade shortly after the Browns brought in for Cooper. Unable to find a suitable trade partner, Cleveland granted Landry his release. He’ll now hit the free agency market at the age of 29, for the first time in his career.
The five-time Pro Bowler will be a hot ticket for contenders around the league needing additional pass catchers. So, with free agency officially beginning today at 4 PM ET, here are three rumored options for Landry.
Landry missed his first-ever games through injury in 2021. The gritty wideout has made a name for himself with his toughness and leadership, but a sprained MCL finally sidelined him for four games last year.
He’s still got plenty left in the tank and showed no signs of slowing down while on the field. During a tough season for the Browns’ offense, Landry caught 52 passes for 570 yards and 2 TDs.
Potential landing spots for Landry
What are our predictions for Landry’s best fits? Let’s dive in.
Kansas City Chiefs
With Landry able to choose his preferred destination this time around, the Chiefs are a name that needs mentioning. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted out two teams to watch to sign Landry immediately after his release. One of them was the Chiefs.
Landry could go to Kansas City as the best third option to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce that they’ve had. The two are so difficult to cover that NFL franchises have taken to double-covering both of them, forcing Patrick Mahomes to turn to alternative options. Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle were just that in 2021, but Landry’s talent levels are superior to both options.
The question is whether Landry is comfortable being the designated third option on the roster in exchange for a strong shot at a Super Bowl ring. One would have to think that’s possible, as Landry will turn 30 in November this year during the season.
New Orleans Saints
The other name mentioned in a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are looking for talents to pair with wide receiver Michael Thomas, and Landry would get more looks here than he would with the Chiefs.
The problem? It’s difficult to get the commitment of a wide receiver without knowing who the quarterback is. Rumors are circling around certain players “holding out” until Deshaun Watson makes his decision. It wouldn’t surprise me if Landry were one of those when it comes to New Orleans.
Right now, the whole franchise is being overlooked because of poor options at the QB position. The rest of the roster is almost complete. Barring the potential loss of Terron Armstead, the Saints are in a strong position with talent across the board. If Watson lands there, I’d expect to see at least one top-tier wide receiver go and join him.
Green Bay Packers
While we don’t yet know what’s going to happen with Davante Adams, one would assume that Green Bay will retain him. You don’t pay your QB $150 million guaranteed only to let his No. 1 target walk away. That seems … counterproductive.
If Adams stays, Landry is a viable No. 2 option that the Packers have simply failed to find in recent years. They drafted Amari Rodgers in the third round of last year’s draft, only for him to contribute 4 receptions for 45 yards (those are his season stats, not game averages). While Amari Rodgers might need time to hit his stride, the time for the Packers to win is now.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is set to be a free agent, so Green Bay has even less help behind Adams. You know what you’re getting with Landry, and he’s exactly who the Packers should be looking for.