Eric Decker rumors: Top 3 landing spots
By Josh Hill
It’s been a few down years in a row for Eric Decker, who is looking to bounce back with the right team this offseason.
Bogged down by injury and poor circumstance, Eric Decker’s last few years have been rough. Since leaving the Denver Broncos in 2014, Decker has posted just one 1,000 yard season and two years ago finished with less than 200.
That’s bad.
However, Decker hits free agency with a handful of teams in need of someone like him. He’s no longer a top option but could slide nicely into an offense looking for another big-bodied receiver and a guy looking to earn his money.
Best fits
1. Detroit Lions
Right now, Jim Bob Cooter has two top receivers to work with in Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. Adding in Eric Decker doesn’t seem like something he might be thinking of, but consider what the offense might look like with another big body for Matthew Stafford to throw to. There’s no saying the running game wouldn’t open up more with defenses having to worry about the Lions Big 3, even if Decker is past his prime. Stafford can never have too many options, and Decker would come cheap enough that he’d be worth the flier.
2. Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton needs people to throw the ball too who aren’t named Greg Olsen. The Panthers tight end has been around forever but he’s watched a revolving door of receivers come and go over the last few years. Decker’s best years are behind him and he’s not going to be a No. 1 target to craft an offense around. But he’d give Newton a reliable downfield threat and might finally deliver on being a leader on what is currently a sad and basically nonexistent Panthers receiving corps.
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3. Baltimore Ravens
Assuming Mike Wallace isn’t back, the Ravens could view Decker as a slight upgrade. When healthy, Decker has proved to be more reliable than Wallace was and would compliment the young receivers Baltimore will roll with in 2018. If they drafted a Calvin Ridley alongside a presumably healthy Breshad Perriman, Decker would help round out a group of targets that Joe Flacco could do worse than.