Shortly after the Cleveland Browns traded for Amari Cooper, they granted Jarvis Landry’s request to seek a trade himself. When nothing materialized, the Browns released Landry. Nearly a week following Landry’s release, he remains unsigned. What are the latest rumors surrounding where might Landry play in 2022? Here are the teams that have been linked to the veteran WR in free agency.
Jarvis Landry Rumors
The rumor mill has been hard at work when it comes to Landry. Even before the Browns traded for Cooper, there were rumors about him being traded or released.
Now that Landry is a free agent, there are several teams that could use a receiver like him. What are the latest rumors surrounding Landry’s next team?
Cleveland Browns
One of the more surprising rumors to emerge recently has been a return to Cleveland. Just a couple of days after letting Landry go, the incredibly reliable Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported the Browns were trying to re-sign Landry.
At first, it may seem ridiculous. Why cut a guy only to re-sign him? But when you think about it more, it does make a lot of sense. The Browns’ circumstances changed significantly after trading for Deshaun Watson.
This is a team that now has a franchise quarterback capable of winning a Super Bowl. It’s also a team that can no longer draft a wide receiver in the first round. Cooper is locked in as their WR1, and Landry can play that complementary role.
The Browns have about $17 million in salary cap space and can afford to bring Landry back on a one-year deal. At 29 years old, I imagine Landry would prefer a three-year deal. If he can’t get one, a return to Cleveland for one year and something in the range of $8-10 million makes sense.
Buffalo Bills
Shortly after Landry’s release, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Chiefs and Bills were interested. Landry immediately being linked to the two teams with the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl was not the least bit surprising.
We can now rule out Kansas City as they signed JuJu Smith-Schuster. However, the Bills are still very much in play. It all depends on their confidence in Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie. I happen to like both of those guys, especially McKenzie, whose role would be more in jeopardy if they signed Landry.
Given the Bills’ recent two-year extension for McKenzie, though, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to then marginalize him with a 29-year-old clearly past-his-prime slot receiver. At the same time, Landry is a professional pass catcher. He’s trustworthy and reliable. Davis is young, and McKenzie is inexperienced as a true wide receiver. Wanting to put a veteran on the field with Stefon Diggs is reasonable.
With all that said, Landry feels like a complete luxury for the Bills, and that money going to him would be better spent elsewhere. Nevertheless, Landry signing with the Bills on a one-year deal certainly wouldn’t be shocking.
New Orleans Saints
Another team linked to Landry is the Saints, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out New Orleans’ interest in Landry.
This pairing would be quite different than Landry on the Bills. The Saints missed out on Watson. They’ve since re-signed Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, but they’re not gearing up for a Super Bowl run in 2022. What they can offer Landry that some other teams cannot is a more prominent role.
The Saints have very little behind Michael Thomas right now. Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harty, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey are all rotational WR3/4s. Smith is also a free agent and may not even be back.
Landry and Thomas would form one of the older wide receiver duos in the NFL, but they would mesh well together. Although neither is built like a prototypical outside receiver, both are route-running technicians with excellent hands. Landry would not be a redundant asset.
A two-year deal with the Saints would be a nice fit for both sides. Of the teams rumored to be interested in Landry, New Orleans is where he would have the most upside in terms of volume.
