Lynn

Bowden

The Saints chose not to tender Bowden, making him a prospective free agent. Bowden was seldom used offensively in 2023, finishing with 11 receptions for 83 yards and adding five carries for 32 yards. He also added 53 punt return yards and 64 kick return yards throughout the season. Bowden has bounced from the Dolphins to the Patriots and the Saints after initially being drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has yet to carve out a significant role in his career and Bowden is now expected to hit the open market.

With Chris Olave (ankle) ailing, Bowden kept up his surprising recent involvement. He also continued to display zero ceiling. He’s off the 12-team radar heading into Week 16 against the Rams.

Bowden, who last week had 40 rushing yards against Atlanta, ran 20 routes on 31 Saints drop backs against the Lions. He remains a reasonable deep league add while the Saints deal with a series of wide receiver injuries.

Bowden, a hybrid running back-receiver who has bounced around the league in recent years after seeing some playing time with the Dolphins in 2020. The Saints receiver room has been ravaged by injuries, forcing Bowden into action against Atlanta. He ran a route on 52 percent of the team’s drop backs and had two targets to go along with his two carries. Bowden could have some deep league appeal if Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (quad) miss time.

Olave, with the Saints pass catchers ravaged by injuries, was dominating before sustaining a head injury in the third quarter. He had 114 yards on seven catches before exiting. Lynn Bowden appears to be operating as the Saints’ No. 1 wideout with Olave, Michael Thomas, and Rashid Shaheed sidelined. The injuries should mean more touches for Taysom Hill.

Bowden was the 80th overall pick in the 2020 draft but never really stood a chance to make Miami’s 53-man roster under the new regime. The Dolphins were looking to trade him prior to 53-man cuts. Bowden missed the entire 2021 season with a hamstring injury after producing 28-211-0 as a rookie.

A third-round selection by the Raiders in 2020, Bowden was traded to Miami before the start of the regular season. He eventually became a key part of a bad Dolphins offense, seeing 32 targets in the final four weeks of the 2020 season. Bowden missed the entire 2021 season after suffering a severe hamstring injury. His dual-threat abilities as a rusher and receiver could draw interest from a few teams.

Miami traded for Tyreek Hill and signed Cedrick Wilson a year after drafting Jaylen Waddle in the first round. At this point, they don’t need much more than a few depth options to round out their roster. If they can get something for the receivers deep in their rotation, it makes sense for them to field calls. Williams flashed as a rookie, totaling 428 yards in eight games. He has never played more than eight games in a season and his role has been scaled back in every subsequent season. A hamstring issue forced Bowden to miss the entire 2021 season. Neither player will garner strong interest in trade talks.

This could be the beginning of the end of Bowden’s time with the Dolphins, as he would ineligible to play for them again in 2021 if he remained on the roster. Seeing as he’s dealing with “just” a hamstring injury, one that was only expected to sideline him a few weeks, an injury settlement is probably in the offing. The “slash” player came through in a pass-catching pinch for the ‘Fins last season, but Bowden still ultimately remains in between positions, which is often a liability at the NFL level. Bowden is two months shy of his 24th birthday. He is a shaky hold in Dynasty leagues.

Bowden avoided structural damage, but even a strain puts his Week 1 status in doubt. With Will Fuller suspended, it could force Miami to keep another receiver and stash Bowden on IR, sidelining him the first three weeks. Bowden going on IR would clear a spot for Jakeem Grant, who the Dolphins have shopped this preseason.