Wes Welker to the Rams: What Makes it So Great

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

On November 9^th, three names appeared on my Twitter feed: Hakeem Nicks, Vincent Brown, and Wes Welker. All three of these wide receivers worked out with the St. Louis Rams Monday morning. The latter was the only one I wanted the Rams to sign.

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Both Nicks and Brown are tall, athletic receivers that have shown flashes of brilliance as the quarterback’s big “go-to” target. The Giants and Chargers drafted these players to blossom in their respective offensive systems, but both failed to sustain high production and have since become journeyman free agents. The Rams already have underachieving big-bodied pass catchers in Brian Quick and Kenny Britt, so signing Nicks or Brown would’ve been redundant.

Needless to say, Wes Welker is the smallest receiver of the bunch standing at 5’9 and 185 pounds. He is also the most experienced of the group at 34 years old.  In eleven years, Welker has recorded 890 receptions for 9,822 yards and 50 receiving touchdowns after going undrafted in 2004. He has been voted into the Pro Bowl five times with the New England Patriots and has had short stints with the Chargers, Dolphins, and Broncos before signing a one-year, $970K contract with the Rams.

Although he probably won’t be the Pro Bowl receiver he was three years ago, Wes Welker was a truly exceptional signing by the St. Louis Rams. He won’t be asked to do what he did with the Patriots or the Broncos, but he’ll help an otherwise inept offensive team become the playoff contenders they should be.

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