2016 NFL free agency: Where will Marvin Jones go?
In 2016 NFL free agency, Marvin Jones will be hot commodity for many teams needing of a wide receiver.
The Cincinnati Bengals should be interested in resigning Marvin Jones, but they have notably been one of the cheaper franchises in the league. They also have a long list of potential free agents, including four starters in their secondary, and fellow wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
After a season with a career-high 815 receiving yards, Jones showed some of his upside in athleticism and footwork. If Alshon Jeffery re-signs in Chicago, Jones could one of the hottest names on the wide receiver block this offseason for a group of teams.
Vitals
Age:25
Notable stat: Caught 10 touchdown passes in 2013
Pro Bowls: 0
All-Pro Teams: 0
Contract comparison
The team that will want to sign him will be a team with a number one receiver on the roster, looking for a high upside possession receiver. A guy you could compare Jones to at this point would be Golden Tate. In 2014, Tate signed a five-year, $31 million deal off a season with 898 yards. Jones went for 816 receiving yards last year and is a similar receiver.
Given that the cap is increasing by the year, five for $31M may end up being light, depending on how many teams want him. Jones has a bit of injury risk after missing the entire 2014 season due to an ankle injury, but with his age and upside he should be looking at a deal in which a team is paying for the upside.
Estimate: 5 years/ $35 million/ $17.5 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
As mentioned, the Bengals are typically not a team to spend up until the cap. They also have A.J. Green locked up and are staring down a decision on Tyler Eifert, who only has one year left on his deal. Those two can carry a pass game, and while the Bengals will definitely miss Jones, it will be tough for them to retain him. It isn’t to say the Bengals won’t try, they just won’t win a bidding war.
If he leaves?
It would be interesting to see if the Patriots came calling, how much it would take to get Jones to sign there. He would fit into exactly what the Pats need, and would be just another possession guy to pair up with Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Rob Gronkowski.
The Patriots could move on from Aaron Dobson, and Brandon LaFell to free a little cap, but if money is what Jones wants, he may move elsewhere. He is great fit, but the Pats will want him to fit into their cap, and wouldn’t be the team to overpay.
The Vikings are a team that can free up $11 million by moving on from Mike Wallace, and can use that money as a way to pay Jones. Jones has connections, as head coach Mike Zimmer was in Cincinnati for Jones’ first two years, albeit as a defensive coach. The Vikings have one of the worst receiving units in the league, and Jones may be their best answer via free agency.
Philip Rivers and the Chargers may be calling as well, and they are a team with a good amount of cap space. Jones went to college in California and grew up in the Los Angeles area, and may see Rivers as a better option than Andy Dalton. Jones also fits into the role that they would need, and a core of Keenan Allen, Jones, and veteran Stevie Johnson gives them a much better unit on paper.