Veteran Free Agent Attempting To Make NFL Comeback

Veteran free agent and former Cleveland Brown wide receiver, Jakeem Grant is attempting to make an NFL comeback and try out for the New Orleans Saints. The 31-year-old was originally a sixth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech. Grant has been a punt return specialist for most of his career averaging 9.7 yards on punt returns, scoring three touchdowns and a couple kickoff returns adding two more scores. He notched 91 passes for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns from 2016 to 2021 in Miami.

However, he was able to shine through after his trade to the Chicago Bears in 2021 after catching nine passes for 139 yards and two scores. Grant’s return abilities earned him a spot on the Pro Bowl roster in 2022. Injuries have been plaguing the Texas Tech product after tearing his Achilles, leading to missing out on that year. The next season he was lost again with another gruesome injury so Grant never got back to his old self.

He’ll be looking to reboot his career with the Saints at minicamp, competing for a spot on the depth chart. It looks promising for Grant since the Saints are lacking veteran experience in their wideout corps. The outlook of the receivers includes Chris Olave, A.T. Perry, and All-Pro kick returner Rashid Shaheed. However, they were able to sign Cerick Wilson and Stanley Morgan Jr. this free agency but none replicates the experience Grant has.

This isn’t the first team that an NFL has brought him in for a tryout. The Philadelphia Eagles were working him out earlier this month so the options are open for the veteran. It doesn’t mean there will be a guaranteed contract but an opportunity to showcase what he can still contribute.

Veteran Free Agent Jakeem Grant Attempting To Make NFL Comeback

Will He Make His Return?

According to a tweet, the veteran is no longer on the tryout list for the Saints as of today. This doesn’t mean anything since he still had the chance to try out for the Eagles and they may call him up. The NFL’s new kickoff rule is adding value for returners, including Grant this upcoming season. The league has been implementing rules that limit opportunities for the amount of kick-off returns.

However, the kick returners with the new rule this season will have more value than years before. According to Sam Joseph of CNN, the new format will still see the ball kicked from the team’s 35-yard line. The only difference is every player on the kicking team other than the kicker will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line. The Eagles have many capable players serving as returners, including Cooper Dejean.

Dejean, the 2024 NFL Draft pick was the Rodgers-Swight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year last year. However, Grant is obviously the most accomplished return among them all. If he doesn’t get a shot with the Eagles, there are other potential team fits for the Texas Tech product.

Team Fits for Grant

The Chiefs are a fit since they want to avoid their WR talent out there returning balls and would rather have them on the field when Patrick Mahomes is there. It would be logical to give Grant a one-year deal to see his capabilities as a punt returner. Grant isn’t any faster than Kadarius Toney or Marquise Brown but it gives them another option while they reserve their talent when the offense is on the field. Rashee Rice is likely gone so adding another cheap wideout in the short term won’t hurt.

Another team fit would be the Baltimore Ravens. They want to avoid having Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman on the field during punt returns so Grant would save them the trade. A veteran coming onto a team since Odell Beckham Jr’s departure is the biggest need for their receiving corp. One final team fit would be the Los Angeles Chargers to try to earn a spot to tag along with Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnson.

However, Jim Harbaugh is focusing on the run game, but it doesn’t mean he won’t focus on other areas, including punt returning.