The crazy time of year that is free agency is fast approaching, so KCChiefs.com has you covered with a 30-day free agency look, highlighting the 30 most intriguing free agents or players who could be released/traded during the offseason.
You may have noticed, there are no restricted free agents on the list, largely because they rarely leave their current teams. None of the reports are indicative of the Chiefs plans for the 2013 free agency season.
DAY 28 of 30
Just days away from the 2013 NFL Year, Dustin Keller appears to be nearing his time to test the free agent waters. Coming off a 2012 season that included 28 receptions for 317 yards and two TDs, let's look at what potential suitors may see as Keller's strengths and weaknesses.
Name: Dustin Keller
Position: TE
Height: 6'2
Weight: 250
College: Purdue
Born: September 25, 1984 (Lafayette, Indiana)
Age: 28
Experience: 5 years
Drafted: 2008, 1st Round-30th pick overall by the New York Jets
Keller just completed his fifth NFL season, including 48 starts in 72 games.
STRENGTHS:
Career-Receiving Stat Line:241 receptions, 2,876 yards and 17 TDs
Since entering the league in 2008, Keller has progressed into an above-average pass catcher and effective blocker, utilized in the Jets "ground-and-pound" style of play.
Keller led the Jets in receptions in 2010 (55) and in 2011 (65).
Trustworthy with the Pigskin
He has fumbled twice (2009, 2011), during his five-year career.
WEAKNESSES:
Injuries
He was sidelined for half of the 2012 season, with hamstring and ankle injuries.
Consistency
During his first five seasons, excluding 2012, Keller bolted out of the gates, with impressive numbers. His stats toward the later part of the season however, wouldn't be as eye-opening.
During the 2010 season, Keller finished with five TDs, all coming within the team's first four games.
During the 2011 season, he scored five TDs, two came during the team's first two games.
FINAL TAKE:
"The thing I wants teams to realize is that I played my first four years in the NFL without missing a single practice, let alone a game," Dustin Keller told the *New York Post*.
"I'm not some injury-prone player that teams have to worry about. Both of my injuries were non-contact injuries, so they were just fluke incidents. I don't think people realize that there is a 100-percent injury rate for players in the NFL, and my injuries were minor."
I don't think Keller has to be too concerned about how teams view his health history. In my opinion, he won't be unemployed long, should the Jets choose not to bring him back.
