Insider free agency preview:
Top 50 free agents | Best fits for top FAs | Riskiest FAs | Best values | Five teams for Mario Williams | Vincent Jackson | Six teams in danger in FA
As we approach free agency on March 13, the San Diego Chargers have decided not to franchise Vincent Jackson for the second year in a row and instead let him test the free-agent waters. He could be the most coveted wide receiver this offseason.
Here are the five best fits for Jackson in free agency:
1. San Diego Chargers
Hey, it's no surprise given the success in his career, right? Not only does Jackson fit well in this offense as a vertical receiver and a good red zone option, but he has a coach in Norv Turner and a quarterback in Philip Rivers who would love to have him back as the No. 1 option in this pass offense. While he has had some off-field issues in his past, which could be a red flag for some teams, the Chargers now have a comfort level with him and he seems to want to stay in San Diego. In all likelihood, this organization will let him establish his value with other teams and then get involved in a potential long-term deal after free agency starts. The offense would be significantly hurt if the Chargers lost him.
2. Chicago Bears
This is an offense with mostly complementary receivers; the Bears have lacked a true No. 1 receiver for years. Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester fill out depth in spread packages, but none are true playmakers. Roy Williams was brought in with the hope he could still be a difference-maker, but his numbers in 2011 were just average and he is likely to depart in free agency. Jay Cutler has expressed a desire for a receiver with size and physicality to give Chicago more production on third down and in the red zone, and because the Bears don't have a pass-catching tight end this need even becomes bigger. Jackson could stretch the field for Cutler and add a dimension to the Bears' offense that the team has lacked in recent years.
3. New England Patriots
The missing link in this dynamic pass offense is the ability to stretch the field with more vertical passing plays. The last explosive receiver in New England was Randy Moss, and Tom Brady really misses that component. Players with character question marks seem to adjust to the "Patriot Way" quickly and off-field issues shouldn't be a big concern for Bill Belichick. If the Patriots re-sign or franchise UFA Wes Welker, adding a big seam route guy like Jackson seems to be a perfect fit with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. With Jackson, this could become the toughest passing game to match up against in the NFL.
4. Cleveland Browns
The Browns desperately need explosive playmakers in their anemic passing game -- with whoever is at QB -- because this is one of the weakest group of wideouts in the NFL. They get some production out of Greg Little and Josh Cribbs in three-receiver sets, but too many dropped passes, missed assignments and few vertical routes lead to a huge need for a difference-maker in the passing game. If the Browns could attract a guy like Jackson and save their draft picks to fill other position needs, they could be a surprise contender in 2012. How about Robert Griffin III -- a very good deep thrower -- throwing the ball to Vincent Jackson in 2012? That would finally give Browns fan something to be excited about.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
In terms of need, the Jaguars have every reason to give Jackson everything he wants to upgrade one of the weakest units in the NFL. The Jags have one reasonably dependable receiver in Mike Thomas, but he's ideally suited for the slot and that leaves a huge need for outside guys who can stretch the field. The opportunity to be a star immediately in this offense with a potential for a huge payday is the attraction here. Playing on a sub-par team in a small market with a young, inconsistent QB are the drawbacks to Jacksonville landing a guy like Jackson.
Other possibilities:
Carolina Panthers: They need a complement to Steve Smith.
Washington Redskins: Their playmakers are getting old.
Minnesota Vikings: They need a No. 1 guy to pair with Percy Harvin.
St. Louis Rams: If Brandon Lloyd leaves in free agency, they'll need some playmakers at WR.
The free-agent list of receivers will likely shrink as teams either franchise or re-sign their guys before the market opens and that could make Jackson an even hotter commodity.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm, The War Room. He is a regular contributor to NFL Live, NFL32, Sunday Countdown and more.