Comparing Tutu Atwell to 2 other receivers who signed for the same dollar amount this year
The Los Angeles Rams made a huge move at wide receiver this offseason. And they also kept Tutu Atwell.
In addition to releasing Cooper Kupp to make way for Davante Adams, the Rams also retained Atwell at a cost of $10 million for one season. Though contract numbers are constantly changing — usually going up — the set of wide receivers previously in this AAV range give us a clue as to why L.A. was comfortable keeping Atwell for $10 million:
Curtis Samuel ($8m AAV), Jakobi Meyers ($11m), Allen Lazard ($11m), Darnell Mooney ($13m), Gabe Davis ($13m).
Atwell is not a number one, but he caught 42 passes for 562 yards last season and with Kupp out of the picture he becomes a clear WR3 for Matthew Stafford. With Adams and Puka Nacua commanding so much attention, Atwell might not be a 600-yard receiver, but could he catch a few go-ahead touchdowns while defenses are keyed on those two?
Adams and Nacua are not the receivers to compare Atwell to. Instead, two other receivers signed deals for $10 million this offseason. Is Tutu Atwell better than them?
These receivers also signed new deals paying $10 million per year:
WR Josh Palmer
A third round pick out of Tennessee in 2021, Palmer has something that these other receivers don’t: A good number of career yards.
- 2021: 33/353/4
- 2022: 72/769/3
- 2023: 38/581/2
- 2024: 39/584/1
And Palmer missed seven games in 2023, so he could have set a career high that season if not for injury.
The Chargers cut Mike Williams to make room for Palmer last season and now…the Chargers brought back Williams and let Palmer leave in free agency:
Josh Palmer signed a three-year, $29 million contract with the Bills, with $15 million fully guaranteed. Palmer got more guaranteed money than Atwell, but is still just a $10 million receiver.
He also has had Justin Herbert throughout his career, so Palmer has a quarterback advantage as well. One he will continue to have in Buffalo, where the Bills could essentially be asking him to be Josh Allen’s number one receiver…These are the other top options:
- Keon Coleman
- Khalil Shakir
- Curtis Samuel
Do any of those names scream “number one”?
Is Tutu Atwell better than Josh Palmer?
WR Dyami Brown
Brown left the Commanders for the Jaguars on a one-year, $10 million contract that is fully guaranteed. Since being a third round pick out of North Carolina in 2021 (and Chris Simms’ third-best receiver in the entire class that year), Brown has struggled to deliver on his promise as even being a starting receiver.
My. Man. Dyami Brown is an absolute steal for @WashingtonNFL. Round 1 talent in Round 3. https://t.co/CqOtilAeWY
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) May 1, 2021
Brown caught 30 passes in 2024, doubling his career total to this point, and had 308 yards. And 2024 is by far his best career season:
- 2021: 165 yards
- 2022: 143 yards
- 2023: 168 yards
- 2024: 308 yards
But then out of nowhere, Brown shined during Washington’s playoff run, catching 14 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown in three games.
He had more yards in the playoffs than in any of his first three seasons.
The Jaguars are banking on his breakout being real with a $10 million investment to replace Christian Kirk, who was traded. Brown teams up with rookie superstar Brian Thomas and has no excuse to not be Trevor Lawrence’s number two target. Former big free agent signing Gabe Davis remains on the roster, but maybe not for long; Jacksonville could choose to cut or trade him based on training camp.
Is Dyami Brown better than Tutu Atwell?
How do you rank these three receivers?
How would you rank Tutu, Palmer, and Dyami? Let us know in the comments.
They are three different types of receivers, that’s for sure, but Atwell has a case for being the most dynamic. If all things were equal, Palmer’s production may not eclipse Atwell’s explosiveness.
