Is it better finding a WR in the draft or free agency this year?

Top 10 free agent wide receivers in the NFLFebruary 17, 2014 10:41 am EST ?If the NFL truly is a pass-happy league, then there are two parts to making that equation work. First, a team has to have a good quarterback; without someone to throw the ball to the right place at the right time, nothing else about the passing game will work. But second, a franchise must have people on the receiving end of those passes who can make plays; without teammates to catch the ball, even the best quarterback would be ineffective.There are two places teams can find playmakers to help them in the passing game. Via free agency is one, but that can be a pricey proposition. In the draft is the second, but that can be a little bit of a gamble, since college stats are so skewed now by the video-game offenses run at that level.But no matter where a team chooses to search, they need to strike gold. A good receiving corps can make a very good quarterback look great or make a mediocre signal caller look above average. Turning five-yard passes into 25-yard gains has a way of doing that.So if a team chooses to stock its receiver cupboard via free agency, how does the class of 2014 shape up in terms of prospects? Here’s how the editors of cover32 assess the field:***10. Santana MossIs age catching up with Moss?The 13-year veteran has seen his production plummet the past three seasons, but there remains some questions as to why. On the plus side of 30, has Moss lost a step? Or are his numbers down because RGIII has been throwing him passes the past two years? Anyone willing to spend money on a wideout who will be 35 when the season starts better know the answer.9. Riley CooperCooper comes with some locker room baggage.Granted, Cooper brings some baggage with him, given the racially charged comments he made last offseason at a Kenny Chesney concert. But he and his Eagles teammates seemed to put that behind them in 2013, when Cooper posted career highs in catches (47), receiving yards (835) and receiving touchdowns 8. He has some big-play ability and a nose for the end zone.8.  Julian EdelmanEdelman proved a worthy replacement for Welker.When the 2013 season started, people were wondering who in the heck Tom Brady was going to throw passes to given that he had lost his top-five receivers from the year before. While most bet on Danny Amendola, Edelman proved to be the answer. And his 105-catch, 1,056-yard season was well timed, given it came in a contract year. Edelman is a premier possession receiver.7. Dexter McClusterMcCluster is among the NFL’s most-versatile players.McCluster is a unique talent, which has been both a blessing and a curse. He’s one of the few players in the league to have a 500-yard receiving season (2013), eclipse 500 yards on the ground (2011) and a crack the 500-yard plateau in punt return yards (2013), which makes him among the NFL’s most-versatile players. But it also suggests that no one quite knows how to use him consistently.6. Golden TateTate finally lived up to his bravado in 2013.The Seahawks wide receiver certainly has confidence in himself; his Twitter handle (@ShowtimeTate) illustrates that fact. And in 2013, he finally backed up the bravado with his play on the field, hauling in 64 passes for 898 yards and amassing 585 punt return yards. In other words, he was a big part of the Super Bowl champion’s offense.5. James JonesJones is a solid, all-around WR.In 2012, Jones caught the attention of football fans everywhere when he posted 14 touchdowns on the season. But last year, he came crashing back to earth, only finding pay dirt three times, despite having more receiving yards. Overshadowed by Jordy Nelson in Green Bay, Jones is a solid wide receiver that can make both big plays and move-the-chains catches.4. Jeremy MaclinCan Maclin bounce back from a torn ACL?During his first four seasons, Maclin caught 258 passes for 3,453 yards and 26 touchdowns; that’s some serious production. In 2013, he posted nothing but zeroes, missing the entire season after suffering a torn ACL during training camp. Which story teams focus on will determine Maclin’s value on the open market. But if healthy, he’s a very good wide receiver.3. Eric DeckerDecker wasn’t just a product of Manning’s numbers.People are going to say that Decker’s numbers are inflated, the product of playing with Peyton Manning. And to some extent, that’s true; he’s caught 172 passes for 2,352 yards and 24 touchdowns the past two seasons. But keep in mind, he also made plays, including eight scoring grabs, when Tim Tebow was his quarterback in 2011. Decker isn’t just a Manning-produced mirage.2. Anquan BoldinBoldin is a tough, veteran receiver.Yes, Boldin will turn 34 during the 2014 season. But he’s coming off the best campaign he’s posted since 2006, a sign that the veteran isn’t slowing down one bit. He’s tough, so he’ll go across the middle and he’ll win the battle for the ball. He’s emotional, so he’ll keep his teammates on the right track. And he’s a winner, so he knows what it takes to reach the ultimate prize.1. Hakeem NicksNicks is the best option on the open market.Zero. That’s the stat that stands out from 2013, a season in which Nicks failed to get in the end zone one time. But that’s primarily a number that stands out to fantasy football players. It’s not indicative of Nicks’ play throughout the year. He still caught 56 passes for nearly 900 yards. The guy who posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2010 and ’11 is still in there. http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/top_10_free_agent_wide_receivers_in_the_nfl/15807371?linksrc ="story_sport_nfl_module_image_15807371"