Teams line up for shot to land Bryant
He may not be what he once was, with a 30th birthday approaching and a supply of what was always limited burst ebbing away. But Bryant’s 6-2, 220pound frame still makes him a mismatch for many of the league’s cornerbacks.
These could be the best landing spots for Bryant:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Perhaps the best opportunity to both win and reprise his role as the No. 1 receiver Jacksonville lacks. Bryant’s persona should fit a team that exudes swagger. And his catch radius would surely be welcome by quarterback Blake Bortles, whose throws occasionally need a large margin for error.
2. Houston Texans: They’ve got plenty of leftover salary cap space. They play two hours from Bryant’s hometown of Lufkin, Texas. He’d enjoy single coverage opposite star DeAndre Hopkins and might find playing with Deshaun Watson is more to his liking after struggling to find chemistry with Dak Prescott in Dallas. 3. San Francisco 49ers: They’re a team on the rise under new QB Jimmy Garoppolo and able to make a nice financial commitment to Bryant. This offense capably feeds all types, including bigbodied targets as evidenced by what coach Kyle Shanahan did during his two seasons in Atlanta Bryant also would nicely complement speedster Marquise Goodwin. 4. Minnesota Vikings: They’re clearly going for it in 2018 and could probably use one more asset for new QB Kirk Cousins. Bryant would find himself sharing targets with Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph and even Dalvin Cook. But there would be a niche for him given Laquon Treadwell’s inability to develop into a possession receiver or red zone threat. 5. Washington Redskins: Depending on how hard Bryant is taking his sud- den unemployment (and he says it’s “very personal”), he might covet the opportunity to stay in the NFC East and multiple opportunities to face Jerry Jones and his former team. Neither the Eagles nor Giants have the need (or cap space) for an aging, limited player. The Redskins squirreled away some extra spending money and could still find a significant role for Bryant in their newlook offense. 6. New England Patriots: If Bryant’s willing to take less than top dollar and go to a team that likely won’t restore him to his glory days, then New England might be a consideration. At least he’d get a shot to compete for a ring while knowing Tom Brady and coordinator Josh McDaniels would maximize the things he does best. 7. Carolina Panthers: New coordinator Norv Turner once masterfully leveraged Bryant forerunner Michael Irvin in Dallas. 8. Los Angeles Rams: They’ve got about five dollars left under the cap (though that’s hardly the case in 2019, so a backloaded deal would be an option). But they also don’t really have an option like Bryant in their arsenal.