Receivers are the strength of a weak free-agent class

Sporting News, The, Jan 25, 1999 by Dan Pompei

If you believe this will be the year your team finally will find the free agents who can energize your franchise and close the gap between your team and the league's best teams, you probably also are the kind of person who looks at weeds and sees flowers. The 1999 class will be the weakest since the advent of free agency in 1993.

Of the 84 players selected to the Pro Bowl, only four have a chance to be free agents this year. Among them are two guards who are practically old enough to have played in Super Bowl I: Bruce Matthews of the Oilers and Nate Newton of the Cowboys, both 37. The other Pro Bowl free agents are Packers receiver Antonio Freeman and Vikings middle linebacker Ed McDaniel, both of whom were accorded Pro Bowl honors for the first time this year.

As it stands, receiver will be far and away the best position when free agency begins February 12. However, some of the best free-agent receivers may never hit the open market, because they may re-sign with their current teams before the start of free agency, or be tagged. But the position also could be enhanced if several teams decide to cut receivers whose salaries are deemed out of line. Among the players who could join this list are Jake Reed of the Vikings, Curtis Conway of the Bears, Michael Jackson of the Ravens and Jeff Graham of the Eagles.

We present the best free agents who figure to be available at the best position of 1999:

1. Terrell Owens, 49ers. He may be the best value of all the receivers, even when considering the team signing Owens probably would have to compensate the 49ers with first- and third-round draft picks, since Owens is a restricted free agent.

Owens is special because of his size (6-3, 217) and strength. He doesn't have great speed, but he makes yards after the catch and produces big plays as well as almost any receiver in football. Owens was the best receiver the 49ers had last year, and here's the best part--at 25, he has the potential to improve markedly.

Owens' agent said he expects his client to sign with the 49ers before the start of free agency, but he's dealing with a team with a fractured front office and salary-cap problems. There had been no talks as of late last week. A scenario in which Owens falls through the cracks is quite plausible.

2. Antonio Freeman, Packers. This was the league's most productive receiver in '98. Freeman doesn't have the special qualities some of the other top receivers have, like unusual speed, and he might not have been a Pro Bowl player this year if not for Brett Favre. But Freeman can get open, catch the ball and make yardage after the catch.

No way does Ron Wolf let this guy play elsewhere, especially when you look at the Packers' lack of depth at the position. If Freeman doesn't sign before the start of free agency, he will get hit with the franchise tag.

3. Rocket Ismail, Panthers. His value is skyRocketing, and you can bet Ismail won't be playing for $401,540 again. Seven years into his pro career, Ismail finally has developed toughness and become a premier receiver. He has what you can't teach--a takeoff like the Concorde and the ability to get behind just about any defensive back. If it's speed you want, this is your man. He forces defenders to do two things--give him a big cushion and commit pass interference.

Ismail never will be a great inside receiver. But you wouldn't want him running over the middle any more than you'd want a $200 pair of loafers tracking through mud. He has, however, gained about 10 pounds and even became the best blocking receiver on the Panthers this year.

Ismail mined down a more lucrative offer from the Eagles last year because he wanted to stay with the Panthers. This year, the Panthers may not be able to keep him if they can't sign him before the start of free agency.

4. Carl Pickens, Bengals. He is the most gifted of the free-agent receivers, with a rare combination of height and speed. He can run by cornerbacks and then outjump them, too. Pickens probably is the closest thing to Randy Moss. Scouts wonder what this guy would be capable of in a stable environment with a solid quarterback throwing to him.

If physical skills were the whole equation, Pickens may be first on this list. But he has a reputation around the league for being selfish, and some teams are scared to death of him.

He says he won't play for the Bengals again, which is fine with them. They've given Pickens' agent permission to shop him, and they're asking for two No. 1 is in return. They won't get it, so if a deal isn't consummated before the start of free agency the Bengals will make Pickens a franchise player and then try to move him.

5. Rob Moore, Cardinals. This is a nice tall target with very good hands. Moore runs good routes and can jump. He's a better outside receiver than inside and doesn't have great speed. At 30, he should have a few good years left.

The Cardinals don't want to lose the productive Moore--who led the NFL in reception yardage a year ago--but there's a good chance he'll hit the free-agent market. The Cardinals may be forced to use their franchise tag on line-backer Jamir Miller, leaving Moore exposed.