Part of McCardell's success in Jacksonville was his symbiotic relationship with partner Jimmy Smith. That will be difficult to duplicate no matter where he goes. It would be unfair, however, to inextricably link McCardell's career statistics to his complementary bond with Smith. He still knows how to get open, runs precise routes, and gets separation with guile now and not speed.

Since 1996, McCardell has averaged 83.2 catches per year, most among the four players in question. His seven seasons of 50-plus catches also ranks first. "But a lot is going to depend on where he winds up, because he's kind of a systems guy," said the personnel chief for one AFC team.

Much could also depend on money, since McCardell has been telling confidants that he thinks he is deserving of the kind of signing bonus ($5.5 million) Kansas City awarded free agent wide receiver Johnnie Morton earlier this spring.

One negative is that while McCardell registers first downs, he doesn't score a lot of touchdowns. His career average of one touchdown catch for every 15.2 receptions is the worst of the four veteran wide receivers. Notable is that McCardell, who does not possess great speed, has never scored more than six touchdowns in a season. In his four 1,000-yard seasons, he averaged just 4.75 touchdown catches.

His 13.0-yard average per catch is the worst of the group, but McCardell remains a true leader in the locker room, which might be a big factor for a team like Houston. And he could be the reliable receiver that Tim Couch has lacked in Cleveland as well.

Interested teams will have to decipher this chicken-and-egg conundrum: Have the former Virginia Tech star's opportunities been reduced because he doesn't see the ball enough, or is he less a target for Brett Favre now because he can't get open?

"He's lost a half-step and he doesn't fight as hard through the initial jam," said one NFC receivers assistant whose team will pursue Freeman in free agency. "Plus he doesn't have that same 'glide quality' we saw early in his career. But we think he can still play, be a 70-catch guy, score nine or 10 touchdowns. Two or three years ago, he looked tired, like he had hit the wall. His legs are back a little now. He's bounced back better than some people think he has."

Undeniable, even as his receptions have declined, is that Freeman still knows how to get the ball to the end zone. He has averaged a touchdown every 7.3 receptions for his career, far superior to any of the other three free agent receivers. Even the past two years, when Freeman had 114 catches, he still posted 15 touchdowns, one every 7.6 receptions.

His average of 15.6 yards per catch is second among the foursome, trailing only that of Derrick Alexander. In fact, in 2001 he averaged 15.7 yards, in what was regarded as a poor season. Freeman has averaged 68.2 catches since 1996, second only to McCardell, and he has three campaigns of 1,000 yards or more, although the most recent was in 1999.

That said, there is a group of four or five teams queuing up for a shot at Alexander, and the Minnesota Vikings are at the front of the line. Don't be surprised if there is a quick agreement with the Vikings, who visited with Alexander last month and put him through a physical exam.

Alexander is an eight-year veteran, 30 and still runs well. It is that deep speed and long stride, which have resulted in an impressive career average of 17.0 yards a catch, that most attract teams. Even last year, when he was plagued by a nagging abdominal injury that limited him to 11 starts, Alexander averaged 17.4 yards per reception.

There is a suspicion, though, that Alexander is a bit too brittle. Some clubs also feel that he doesn't play as tough as his size (6-feet-2, 206 pounds) indicate he should, and there are more than a few rumors about his poor practice ethic.

The former University of Michigan star is the only player in this group of four who has not posted at least one 80-catch season in the NFL. And one has to wonder if his play in 2000, when he had career bests in catches (78), yards (1,391) and touchdowns (10), was just a late-career aberration.

After all, Alexander had consecutive nine-touchdown years with Baltimore in 1996-97, but he has only 19 TD grabs in the four ensuing seasons. Take away the 10 scores in 2000 and that's an average of only three touchdown grabs in the three other seasons.