The free agency frenzy produced quite a shuffle at the offensive skill positions, including wide receiver. NFL Network analyst and former WR Nate Burleson has surveyed the recent relocations of nine wideouts, answering one question for each: Will the player post greater, similar or lesser production with his new team in 2020 than he did with his previous club in 2019?
GREATER PRODUCTION
*Old team: Philadelphia Eagles *
Agholor will fit in well as a WR2 behind Tyrell Williams -- that's familiar territory for the former first-round pick having been in this same situation with Alshon Jeffery on the Eagles. Agholor received so much criticism in Philly for his drops and inconsistent play that I feel like this move will rejuvenate him.
2020 production: 65 rec., 900 yards, 7 TDs
*Old team: Houston Texans *
I love this fit. Arizona has been searching for Larry Fitzgerald's successor for quite some time. It's hard to imagine Christian Kirk taking the torch; Hopkins definitely helps with that transition. By gaining one of the best receivers in the league, Kliff Kingsbury finally has the horses to fully operate the run-and-gun Air Raid offense Kyler Murray ran in college. Expect Murray to let it fly whenever he can, and Hopkins will be on the other end of those passes more often than anyone else.
2020 production: 110 rec., 1,300 yards, 12 TDs
*Old team: San Francisco 49ers *
Sanders is going to reap the benefits of playing opposite Michael Thomas, who demands the focus of the defense. The Saints have one of the most high-flying offenses in the league -- adding Sanders to the mix makes them more dangerous. I bet Sean Payton already has Sanders prominently featured in the playbook.
2020 production: 75 rec., 1,100 yards, 6 TDs
*Old team: Tennessee Titans *
This is a great situation for the former Titan. During his career, as a backup or sub, Sharpe has rarely been one of the QB's first few reads. With Stefon Diggs out of Minnesota, Sharpe has a spectacular opportunity to prove himself opposite Adam Thielen, and I think he will log his best season to date.
2020 production: 55 rec., 950 yards, 9 TDs
SIMILAR PRODUCTION
*Old team: New York Jets *
Anderson joins not only a new team, but one that has gone through major offensive changes. I don't expect the former Jets receiver's numbers to soar because Carolina's new QB1, Teddy Bridgewater, isn't known for routinely heaving the ball down the field. Plus, everyone knows this offense runs through Christian McCaffrey, who'll get the vast majority of the touches.
2020 production: 45 rec., 900 yards, 7 TDs
*Old team: Dallas Cowboys *
The Texans' offense is going to really struggle without Hopkins. He provided an enormous threat, game in and game out -- it's very hard to picture what this unit will look like without him. If Will Fuller can stay healthy and stretch the field, Cobb should be able to put up comparable numbers to his 2019 production in Dallas. I think it'll be challenging season for the Houston offense -- and the unit could really go south if Fuller can't stay on the field.
2020 production: 60 rec., 900 yards, 5 TDs
*Old team: Minnesota Vikings *
Diggs' production will drop slightly, but his touchdown totals will increase. His yardage will dip simply because Josh Allen is a dynamic runner, so the young QB isn't likely to drop back and pass it as much as Kirk Cousins did in Minnesota. I will say that I think Diggs will have an impact statistically on every game in Buffalo, something he didn't consistently do on the Vikings.
2020 production: 60 rec., 1,000 yards, 10 TDs
*Old team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers *
Perriman got a lot of love late last season with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined, and the hope is that he'll carry that late-season success over to 2020. In New York, I see Adam Gase using Perriman like he deployed Jarvis Landry in Miami, as guy who will allow Sam Darnold to get the ball out quickly.
2020 production: 50 rec., 800 yards, 5 TDs
LESSER PRODUCTION
*Old team: Indianapolis Colts *
Funchess is coming off a lost season due to a collarbone injury suffered in Week 1, but he's in this section because my 2020 projection for him is less than his last full season (2018 with the Carolina Panthers). He's heading to a team with a crowded wide receiver room, but the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder could become one of Aaron Rodgers' red-zone targets.
2020 production: 35 rec., 400 yards, 4 TDs
Follow Nate Burleson on Twitter @nateburleson.
