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Keeping you guessing? :shifty: -
This feels like the trade anything for Justin Tucker post last year lol.Originally posted by Velo View PostComment
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Two Chargers Williams (#7) & Kyzir White (#63) make the Athletics top 75 pending NFL free agents.
Plenty of IDL that have been talked about here made the list
NFL free agency rankings for 2022: Davante Adams, J.C. Jackson and Orlando Brown Jr. headline our top 75 players
Sheil Kapadia 6h ago
61 
Where do Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Orlando Brown and J.C. Jackson rank among our top 75 pending unrestricted NFL free agents? Glad you asked.
Below is the first version of our offseason NFL free agency rankings. We will provide updates as players get re-signed, tagged and released. The age in parentheses indicates how old the player will be at the start of the 2022 season.
Factors taken into account: performance, age, durability and positional value.
Stats are courtesy of TruMedia and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted. Contract data is from OverTheCap.com.
1. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (29)
He belongs in any conversation about who is the best wide receiver on the planet. Adams’ 2,927 yards over the past two seasons rank second among wide receivers, and his 29 touchdowns rank first. DeAndre Hopkins has the outlier contract among wide receivers at $27.25 million per year. No other wide receiver is making more than $22 million per year. If the Packers can’t sign Adams long term, they could use the franchise tag to keep him around for at least 2022. Another option would be to tag him and then trade him.
2. Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Kansas City Chiefs (26)
Brown has leverage and is in terrific position to cash in. The Chiefs traded for him last offseason but did not sign Brown to an extension as part of the deal. He’s played well for them at left tackle and has missed just one game in his career. He’s young, durable, good and plays a premium position. The Chiefs could use the franchise tag on Brown, but that would essentially just be kicking the can down the road a year. If they don’t tag him, Brown very well could become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL with a deal worth north of $23 million per year.
3. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26)
The Bucs used the franchise tag on Godwin last offseason, but now he should get a chance to test free agency. Godwin suffered a torn ACL in December, but given how young he is and how productive he’s been, that injury is unlikely to significantly affect his market. His 3,276 receiving yards over the past three seasons rank eighth among wide receivers. It would be no surprise to see a team pay north of $20 million per year to land Godwin.
4. J.C. Jackson, CB, New England Patriots (26)
Two highly attractive qualities with Jackson: One, he can play man coverage at a high level. And two, his ball production is elite. Jackson’s 22 interceptions over the past three seasons are tops in the NFL. And his 47 passes defended are tied for second. Does he get beaten on occasion? Sure. But he played the fifth-most snaps of man coverage among corners last year, and opponents completed just 47.6% of their attempts when targeting Jackson in man. Jalen Ramsey set the top of the corner market at $20 million per year. Jackson figures to come in just below that at $18 or $19 million per season.
New England’s J.C. Jackson (Jim Davis / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)5. Terron Armstead, OT, New Orleans Saints (31)
The big question with Armstead is durability. He dealt with a number of injuries in 2021 and has played in 37 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. But when Armstead is on the field, he’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL. This is a position where demand outweighs supply. Trent Williams set the top of the market last offseason with a deal worth just more than $23 million per year. There are eight left tackles making $16 million per year or more, and Armstead will make that nine.
6. Chandler Jones, Edge, Arizona Cardinals (32)
He’s been one of the best pass rushers of the past decade and showed in 2021 that he can still get it done. Jones’ 10.5 sacks were tied for 13th league-wide, and his 28 QB hits ranked seventh. Jones is on the wrong side of 30, but he’s shown great durability. Jones has played 15 games or more in six of the past seven seasons. It would be no surprise to see Jones land a deal in the neighborhood of Shaquil Barrett, who signed for $17 million per year last offseason.
7. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (27)
The seventh overall pick in 2017, Williams battled injuries in his first two seasons but has come on strong. His 1,146 yards in 2021 were a career high and ranked 11th among all wide receivers. Williams is a big-play threat who has averaged 16.1 yards per reception in his career. His 17 receptions of 20-plus yards last year tied for ninth among wide receivers. Kenny Golladay could be a good comp for Williams. He received a four-year deal worth $18 million per year from the New York Giants last offseason.
8. Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals (25)
Bates will be an attractive option for teams looking for a ball-hawking safety. His 35 passes defended over the past four seasons are tied for fourth among all safeties. And he has 10 interceptions in four seasons. Bates spent roughly 69% of his snaps last season as a free safety. He’ll be just 25 at the start of next season and has been extremely durable. Bates has missed just two games in four NFL seasons. The Bengals could opt to use the franchise tag on him. If not, Bates will likely command a deal that makes him among the top-five highest-paid safeties (between $14.5 million and $17.5 million per year).
9. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs (30)
Teams in the market for a versatile, play-making safety will likely have Mathieu at the top of their free agency wish lists. Mathieu logged more than 200 snaps as a free safety, a box safety and a slot corner in 2021. His 13 interceptions over the past three seasons tied for second among safeties and tied for fifth among all players. Mathieu has been incredibly durable, having missed just two games in the past five seasons. Mathieu is older than some of the other free-agent safeties on the market, but he should still find a big deal. Harrison Smith got an extension from the Minnesota Vikings worth $16 million per year before the 2021 season at the age of 32. Mathieu could receive a similar deal.
10. Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints (26)
He closes out the trio of talented safeties in the top 10. The Saints surprisingly used the franchise tag on Williams last offseason. He played well once again in 2021 and will now get a chance to test the market. Williams will fit best on a team in need of help in the back end of its defense. He played roughly 89% of his snaps at free safety for the Saints last year. Williams is young and durable (he’s started 76 of a possible 81 games over the past five seasons). He, Bates and Mathieu could very well find deals that are all in the same neighborhood.
11. Von Miller, Edge, Los Angeles Rams (33)
The future Hall of Famer has shown during the Rams’ Super Bowl runthat he still has juice. Miller finished the regular season with 9.5 sacks (tied for 18th), and his 47 hurries ranked tied for 13th. Miller is not the same player he was in his prime, but he should interest contending teams in need of a pass-rush boost. J.J. Watt’s two-year, $28 million deal from last offseason could be a starting point for Miller.
12. Brandon Scherff, OG, Washington Football Team (30)
The big question with Scherff is durability. He missed six games in 2021 and has been sidelined for 14 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. When he’s on the field, Scherff is still a high-quality right guard. According to PFF, he did not allow a sack and gave up just one QB hit on 398 pass-blocking snaps last season. Joel Bitonio signed an extension with the Cleveland Browns in November worth $16 million per year. And Joe Thuney signed for $16 million per year with the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason. Scherff, who has played the past two years on the franchise tag, will likely find a deal in that same neighborhood if teams can get over the durability concerns.
13. Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears (29)
He made $17.98 million on the franchise tag last season and now will look to cash in on a long-term deal. Robinson was (again) the victim of bad quarterback play in 2021, managing just 38 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. But from 2019 to 2020, Robinson’s 2,397 receiving yards ranked third among all wide receivers, behind only Stefon Diggs and Hopkins. Robinson could find a deal in the range of what we saw Courtland Sutton ($15 million per year) and Golladay ($18 million per year) land within the past year.
14. Ryan Jensen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31)
He’s a tone-setter who thrives on getting under the skin of opposing defensive players. Jensen has been one of the best centers (arguably the best) in the NFL for years now. He hasn’t missed a game in the past five seasons. And we had him as a second-team All-Pro for 2021. Corey Linsley was in a similar spot last offseason and landed a deal worth $12.5 million per year. Jensen could easily top that and become the highest-paid center in the NFL.
15. Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25)
He’s a feisty, competitive outside corner with experience and ball production. Davis’ 48 passes defended over the past three seasons are tops in the NFL, although he has just six interceptions in four NFL seasons. Davis has experience playing man and zone in Todd Bowles’ scheme. He’s had some durability issues, having missed 14 games over the past four seasons, including seven in 2021. But given his age, Davis’ best days could be ahead of him. William Jackson III and Shaquill Griffin signed deals worth around $13.5 million per year last offseason. That’s probably the floor for Davis. And he could be a franchise tag candidate.
16. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams (29)
He boosted his stock during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. In 11 games with Los Angeles, Beckham caught 46 balls for 541 yards and six touchdowns. Extended over the course of an entire season, that would project to roughly 71 catches for 836 yards and nine touchdowns. And that was with having to learn the Rams’ offense in the middle of a season. Beckham’s market is tough to project. His floor is probably around the $12.5 million per year deal that Corey Davis signed last offseason. But it would be no surprise to see a team take a bigger swing to land Beckham.
17. Cam Robinson, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars (26)
You’re probably thinking, “Based on performance, there’s no way that Robinson should be 17th!” And you’re right. But positional value matters. And competent left tackles get big paydays. I don’t make the rules! The Jaguars used the franchise tag ($13.7 million) on him last offseason. Robinson has been inconsistent in his five-year NFL career, but he’s started 61 games, including 44 over the past three seasons. PFF charged Robinson with just one sack allowed on 573 pass-blocking snaps last season. The floor for starting left tackles in free agency — specifically ones in their mid-20s — is around $14.5 million per year.
Jacksonville’s Cam Robinson (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)18. Jadeveon Clowney, Edge, Cleveland Browns (29)
If it feels like he’s on this list every year, it’s because, well, he’s on this list every year. Clowney has been on four different teams in the past four seasons, and this will be the third consecutive offseason that he’s testing free agency. Last offseason Clowney was coming off a season in which he was limited to eight games and had no sacks and six QB hits. He still got a one-year, $8 million deal. Now he’s coming off a year in which he had nine sacks and 19 QB hits in 14 games, while finishing fourth in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric. He might settle for another one-year deal, but Clowney definitely set himself up for a pay bump.
19. Haason Reddick, Edge, Carolina Panthers (28)
When he hit free agency last offseason, the question was whether Reddick was a one-year wonder. He played on a one-year, $6 million deal and was productive once again with 11 sacks in 16 games. Over the past two seasons, Reddick has piled up 23.5 sacks. The only players with more are T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Aaron Donald. Reddick’s 39 QB hits over the past two seasons rank 18th. And his eight forced fumbles are tied for third. Given that there wasn’t much of a market last offseason, it’s tough to project what kind of deal Reddick’s going to get this time around. But he’s young and has been productive and durable (one missed game in five seasons). Something similar to what Matthew Judon ($13.6 million per year) received from the Patriots last offseason seems reasonable.
20. Harold Landry, Edge, Tennessee Titans (26)
Landry checks a lot of boxes: age, durability and production. He has not missed a game over the past three seasons and rarely came off the field for the Titans. Since 2019, he’s played more snaps than any other edge defender or defensive lineman in the NFL. During that span, Landry’s 26.5 sacks rank 11th, and his 58 QB hits rank 20th. Landry is coming off a season in which he set career highs with 12 sacks and 22 QB hits. Leonard Floyd got a four-year deal worth $16 million per season from the Rams last offseason. Landry might not be far off of that.
21. Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge, Miami Dolphins (28)
Over the last two seasons, Ogbah ranks tied for 10th with 18 sacks, 11th with 46 hits, eighth with 86 hurries and first with 15 batted passes. And he hasn’t missed a single start since 2019. When Ogbah was a free agent in 2020, he signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Dolphins. He should see a big bump on his next deal. Romeo Okwara signed for $12.3 million per year last offseason. That could be a good comp for Ogbah.
22. Darious Williams, CB, Los Angeles Rams (29)
The Rams used a first-round tender on Williams last offseason, and now he’ll get to test free agency. Williams was phenomenal in 2020. He didn’t make quite as many plays in 2021 but was still a quality starter. His 23 passes defended over the past two seasons are tied for 14th. Williams should find a deal in between what Ronald Darby ($10 million per year) and Griffin ($13.3 million per year) signed for last offseason.
23. D.J. Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (26)
He was limited to just four games last season due to an ankle injury, but Chark has been productive. From 2019 to 2020, he totaled 1,714 yards, which ranked 29th among all wide receivers. Chark has a rare combination of size (6-foot-3) and speed (4.34 40). His career could take off in the right scheme with more consistent quarterback play. The Carolina Panthers gave Robby Anderson an extension worth $14.75 million per year, and the Denver Broncos signed Courtland Sutton for $15 million per year. Given his upside, Chark could find a similar deal.
24. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins (26)
Over the past three seasons, Gesicki’s 2,053 receiving yards rank fifth among tight ends. He’s young and durable, having missed just one game in four seasons. Gesicki is not going to be for everyone. He lined up in-line on just 99 snaps last season and is purely a pass-catching tight end. In terms of efficiency, he ranks just 24th among tight ends in yards per route run over the last three seasons. Dallas Goedert is a better all-around player than Gesicki, but their receiving numbers are similar. Goedert signed an extension with the Eagles for $14.25 million per year. Last offseason, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith each received contracts worth $12.5 million per year. That could be the range for Gesicki.
25. Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys (26)
He ranks seventh among all tight ends with 1,423 receiving yards over the past two seasons, and his 12 touchdowns are tied for sixth-most. Schultz is young and has not missed a game during the past three seasons. Schultz lined up as an in-line tight end on roughly 59% of his offensive snaps last season and can get it done as a blocker. Austin Hooper signed for $10.5 million two years ago. Henry and Smith got $12.5 million last offseason. That could be the salary range for Schultz.
26. Austin Corbett, OG, Los Angeles Rams (27)
He’s done an excellent job for the Rams at right guard over the past two seasons and has started 33 consecutive regular-season games. The top of the guard market is $16 million per year. If Corbett gets paid like a top-15 guard, that would mean a deal worth at least $9 million per year. Given his age and performance, he should have a strong market.
27. Laken Tomlinson, OG, San Francisco 49ers (30)
He made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2021 after turning in another strong performance. Tomlinson has not missed a game over the past four seasons and has played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps over the past three seasons. Tomlinson will likely be one of the most coveted offensive linemen in this year’s class.
28. Brian Allen, OC, Los Angeles Rams (26)
After starting nine games in 2019, Allen suffered a serious knee injury and never saw the field in 2020. But Allen bounced back in a big way in 2021, starting 16 games and playing at a high level. Given that Allen is just 26 years old, it would be no surprise to see him find a strong market among center-needy teams.
29. Bradley Bozeman, G/C, Baltimore Ravens (27)
Bozeman played left guard in 2019 and 2020 before sliding over to center in 2021. He’s been a quality starter and extremely durable with 48 starts over the past three seasons. Frank Ragnow set the top of the center market at $13.5 million per year. There are currently eight centers who make $10 million or more per year.
30. Eric Fisher, OT, Indianapolis Colts (31)
I will repeat myself once again here: Left tackles get paid! Based purely on performance, Fisher should be nowhere near this spot. But supply and demand matter. Fisher was coming off of an Achilles injury last offseason and signed a one-year, $8.4 million deal with the Colts. He started 15 games and held up better as a run blocker than a pass blocker, where he allowed seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits. More half of the NFL’s left tackles (18 to be exact) are making at least $11 million per year. Charles Leno’s three-year, $37 million deal with Washington could be a good comp for Fisher.
31. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals (25)
After splitting his time on the outside and in the slot his first three seasons, Kirk was almost exclusively a slot receiver in 2021. He lined up inside roughly 78% of the time. Kirk set career highs with 77 catches for 982 yards, which ranked 24th among wide receivers. Kirk ranked 26th out of 114 qualifying wide receivers in yards per route run. Nelson Agholor and Curtis Samuel both found deals between $11 million and $12 million per year last offseason. That could be the range for Kirk.
32. Akiem Hicks, DL, Chicago Bears (32)
When he’s on the field, Hicks has been a consistently disruptive interior defensive lineman who can make plays against the run and provide pass rush. But he has two things working against him. One, he’s 32 years old. And two, he’s missed 20 games over the past three seasons due to injury. A contending team will likely still find Hicks attractive, given his production when healthy.
Chicago’s Akiem Hicks (Mike DiNovo / USA Today)33. Sebastian Joseph-Day, DL, Los Angeles Rams (27)
He was limited to seven starts in 2021 due to a pectoral injury, but Joseph-Day did not miss a game the previous two seasons. He is a quality starting defensive tackle who shines against the run. In 2021, he produced a tackle on 26.3% of his snaps against the run. That was the highest percentage of any defensive lineman in the NFL. Joseph-Day was more productive as a pass rusher this season with three sacks and five QB hits in seven games. Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson could be considered similar players, and they both recently received deals north of $10 million per year.
34. Larry Ogunjobi, DL, Cincinnati Bengals (28)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $6.2 million deal with the Bengals. Ogunjobi should get a pay bump after turning in career highs with seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. He started 16 games in the regular season but suffered a foot injury in the wild-card round.
35. D.J. Jones, DL, San Francisco 49ers (27)
He got a chance to test free agency last offseason and returned to the 49ers on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. Jones set career highs with 56 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He finished first among defensive tackles in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. Jones started all 17 games and is now in line for a big pay bump. Defensive tackles like Davon Godchaux, Michael Brockers, Michael Pierce, Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson have signed recent deals that range from $7.5 million per year to $10.5 million per year. Jones should fall somewhere within that range.
36. Charvarius Ward, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (26)
He’s started 43 games in four seasons for the Chiefs. Ward was asked to play a lot of man coverage in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. He gave up some downfield completions but held up well overall. Per PFF, opponents completed just 38.3% of their passes when targeting Ward in man coverage. That was the best mark for any corner who played at least 50% of the snaps. The corner market can be tricky. Michael Davis got $8.4 million per year last offseason. Ronald Darby signed for $10 million per year. And Adoree’ Jackson got $13 million per year.
37. Donte Jackson, CB, Carolina Panthers (26)
A second-round pick in 2018, Jackson has started 51 games in four NFL seasons. According to PFF, Jackson allowed just 120 receiving yards on 140 snaps of man coverage last season. He’s had an up-and-down career but is young and talented and plays a premium position. Darby had a somewhat similar profile last offseason and found a three-year, $30 million deal from the Denver Broncos.
38. Trent Brown, OT, New England Patriots (29)
When he was last a free agent in 2019, Brown signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the (then) Oakland Raiders. He played just 16 games in two seasons for the Raiders, who then traded him back to the Patriots. The issue with Brown is durability. He’s played in just 14 games over the past two seasons. But when he’s on the field, Brown performs. And he can play left or right tackle. Given the demand for quality offensive linemen around the league, Brown should find a market.
39. Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Atlanta Falcons (27)
He led the NFL with 192 tackles last season, and no player has more tackles (309) than Oluokun over the past two seasons. During that span, he produced five interceptions (tied for second among linebackers), five forced fumbles (tied for second) and five sacks. Oluokun played 98% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps last season and has missed just one game in four NFL seasons. There are currently 22 off-ball linebackers making at least $7 million per year and 16 making at least $10 million per year. Guys like Cory Littleton, Joe Schobert and Blake Martinez all signed recent deals north of $10 million per year. It’s tough to predict where in that range Oluokun will land, but he’s young, durable and has been productive.
40. De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Green Bay Packers (29)
Campbell enters free agency for the third consecutive year — this time coming off of the best season of his career. In 2020, he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Packers. He turned in an All-Pro (first team) season, finishing with 145 tackles — seventh league-wide. Campbell had two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two sacks. Last offseason, Campbell didn’t have much of a market. How much will that change this time around?
41. Alex Cappa, OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
He started 17 games at right guard last season and played well. Cappa has not been a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but he’s been solid and has started 46 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. Matt Feiler signed for $7 million per season with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason, and Kevin Zeitler signed for $7.5 million per year with the Baltimore Ravens. Those deals could represent the floor for a potential deal with Cappa.
42. D.J. Reed, CB, Seattle Seahawks (26)
Originally a fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Reed joined the Seahawks before the 2020 season. He started 22 games over the past two years and did a terrific job last season at right cornerback. Per PFF’s charting, opponents completed just 38.5% of their passes when targeting Reed in man coverage. That was the second-best mark among corners. In 93 snaps of man, Reed allowed just five catches for 45 yards. Reed (5-foot-9) doesn’t have prototypical size for an outside corner, but he’s played well. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar projected a deal for Reed in the range of $8 million to $10 million per year.
43. Duane Brown, OT, Seattle Seahawks (37)
He’s been remarkably durable, having not missed a start over the past two seasons. Brown has missed just four games in the past four years (all in 2019). He’s obviously past his prime, but demand always outweighs supply for left tackles. Andrew Whitworth got a two-year, $17 million deal from the Rams at the age of 40 last offseason. That’s probably the contract to work off of for Brown.
44. Randy Gregory, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (29)
He was extremely disruptive, finishing with six sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 12 games in 2021. But he missed time due to a calf injury. Gregory was a rotational player in 2020, and he was out of football in 2019. There’s no denying his talent, but Gregory has played more than 12 games just once in his career and will reportedly be coming off of offseason knee surgery.
45. Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys (26)
Gallup suffered through injuries in 2021, including a torn ACL in Week 17. He appeared in only nine games and had 35 catches for 445 yards. But from 2019 to 2020, Gallup’s 1,950 yards ranked 22nd among wide receivers, and his 15.6 YPR average ranked fourth among players with at least 100 catches during that span. Gallup projects as a field-stretching, outside starting wide receiver. Given that he’s coming off of a late-season injury, it’s tough to know how much interest Gallup will generate. Will Fuller got a one-year, $10.6 million deal last offseason. A similar deal could be in play for Gallup.
46. Derek Barnett, Edge, Philadelphia Eagles (26)
The good with Barnett: He’s young, he’s started 45 games, and he’s been productive at times. The bad: He’s coming off the worst season of his career in which he had more roughing the passer penalties (three) than sacks (2.5). Barnett’s career high for sacks is 6.5. He has flashed at times, but his film in 2021 was underwhelming. Interested teams will be gambling that Barnett’s best football is still ahead of him.
47. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
Top-tier running backs still get paid, but everyone else at the position has had a tough time. Where will Fournette land? He was a free agent last offseason and returned to the Bucs on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. But Fournette turned in a strong season, totaling 1,266 yards from scrimmage. Among the 50 backs with at least 100 carries, he ranked third in success rate, and Fournette averaged a career-best 4.5 YPC. Aaron Jones got a deal worth $12 million per year from the Packers last offseason, but Chris Carson signed with the Seahawks for $5.2 million per year. It’s tough to project where in that range Fournette will land.
48. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Denver Broncos (29)
Bridgewater was pretty much exactly on his career averages in a number of categories last year. He completed 66.9% of his passes, averaged 7.2 YPA and threw 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 14 starts. When Bridgewater was last a free agent, the Panthers gave him a three-year, $63 million deal. That’s almost certainly not happening this time around. He’s firmly in the fringe starter/excellent backup tier. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton both signed one-year, $10 million deals last offseason. Something similar could make sense for Bridgewater.
49. Stephon Gilmore, CB, Carolina Panthers (32)
If I had to play a game tomorrow and needed a cornerback, Gilmore might be my top choice from this list. But it’s a lot trickier than that. The Patriots traded Gilmore to the Panthers during last season. He appeared in eight games but played at least 60% of the snaps just three times. When Gilmore was on the field, he looked like his usual self: a man corner capable of providing consistently sticky coverage. But 32-year-old corners rarely get paid. Patrick Peterson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason. Janoris Jenkins got a two-year, $15 million deal from the Tennessee Titans. That could be the type of deal Gilmore can expect.
50. Morgan Moses, OT, New York Jets (31)
The Jets signed Moses in July after Washington released him, and he started 16 games at right tackle. Moses has been incredibly durable. He hasn’t missed a game in the past seven seasons. At 31, Moses’ best days are probably behind him, but he can still be a solid starter. Daryl Williams got $8 million per year from the Buffalo Bills last offseason, and Riley Reiff signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for $7.5 million. Those could be reasonable comps for Moses.
51. Quandre Diggs, S, Seattle Seahawks (29)
If he were healthy, he’d be much higher. Diggs is one of the NFL’s most underrated ball-hawking safeties. But he got injured at the worst possible time. Diggs had surgery in January to repair a broken right fibula and dislocated ankle he suffered in Week 18. His 10 interceptions over the past two seasons are tied for first among safeties, and his 17 passes defended are tied for sixth. Diggs lined up at free safety on roughly 88% of his snaps last season. He didn’t miss a start in 2020 or 2021. Diggs’ market will be about when he expects to once again be fully healthy.
Seattle’s Quandre Diggs (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today)52. Andrew Norwell, OG, Jacksonville Jaguars (30)
In 2018, Norwell signed a five-year deal with the Jaguars worth $13.3 million per year. He took a pay cut down to $9 million last season and now will become a free agent. Norwell’s best days are behind him (he was an All-Pro in 2017), but he can still be a solid starter at left guard. He could be looking at a contract in the $7 million per year range, which is what Kevin Zeitler and Matt Feiler signed for last offseason.
53. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR, Atlanta Falcons (31)
Patterson’s performance was one of the cooler under-the-radar stories of the 2021 season. Arthur Smith used him as both a running back and a wide receiver, and Patterson had a career year. He totaled 1,166 yards from scrimmage (618 rushing, 548 receiving), which was almost double his previous career high (627). And this was his ninth NFL season! There’s a strong possibility that another team pays up for Patterson and then doesn’t know what to do with him. But if paired with a crafty offensive schemer, perhaps he can deliver an encore performance.
54. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (25)
He was a free agent last offseason and settled for a one-year, $8 million deal to return to Pittsburgh. Smith-Schuster suffered a shoulder injury and appeared in just five games, although he returned in the wild-card round. It seems unlikely that Smith-Schuster will find a richer deal than he was offered last offseason, given that he had just 15 catches for 129 yards. But he’s still just 25 years old and could interest teams in the market for a tough slot receiver.
55. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers (27)
He played in 11 games last year and had 26 catches for 430 yards and three touchdowns. In 2020, Valdes-Scantling had 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns. He will interest teams looking to fill a very specific role: field-stretching deep threat. Valdes-Scantling has averaged a league-high 18.5 YPR over the past three seasons.
56. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)
It’s unclear whether he’ll want to keep playing somewhere without Tom Brady, but Gronkowski was still plenty productive last season, finishing with 55 catches for 802 yards (seventh among tight ends) and six touchdowns. And he’s always been an excellent blocker. He signed a one-year, $8 million deal last offseason and could be in line for something similar if he wants to keep playing.
57. Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals (31)
The Eagles traded Ertz to the Cardinals in the middle of last season, and his production immediately jumped (52.2 receiving yards per game with Arizona). Ertz finished with 74 catches for 763 yards (ninth among tight ends) and five touchdowns. Ertz is on the wrong side of 30, but there tends to be a market for veteran tight ends. Jimmy Graham got a two-year, $16 million deal from the Bears during the 2020 offseason. And Kyle Rudolph found a two-year, $12 million deal from the Giants last offseason. Ertz will be of interest to teams looking for a reliable veteran who can work the intermediate part of the field.
58. Ben Jones, OC, Tennessee Titans (33)
Jones has been a quality starter for a long time, and his durability is nearly unmatched. Jones has been active for 160 of a possible 161 games since entering the league in 2012. He’s missed just one start in the last eight seasons. Jones will be an attractive option for teams that are looking for a reliable veteran center.
59. B.J. Hill, DT, Cincinnati Bengals (27)
In his first season with the Bengals, Hill matched his career high with 5.5 sacks and set new career highs with 12 quarterback hits and 50 tackles. Hill has been a rotational player (he played 47 percent of the snaps during the regular season), but a team could peg him for an expanded role.
60. Folorunso Fatukasi, DL, New York Jets (27)
He’s another one of the strong run-stopping defensive tackles in this year’s class. Originally a sixth-round pick in 2018, Fatukasi worked his way up to 15-game starter last season. He finished with a career-high 46 tackles and ranked fourth among defensive tackles in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. But Fatukasi hasn’t shown much pass-rush production (three career sacks). Davon Godchaux’s two-year, $15 million deal from last offseason could be a good comp.
61. David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns (26)
He’s one of the tougher free agents to project. On one hand, Njoku has never lived up to his draft slot (29th overall in 2017). On the other hand, he turns 26 in July, and given his talent, there could be untapped upside. Njoku’s career high in receiving yards was 639 in 2018. Last year, he had 36 catches for 475 yards on 53 targets. Those numbers aren’t much different than what Jonnu Smith put up in 2020, and Smith signed with the New England Patriots for $12.5 million per year. Then again, Njoku’s production might align more with Gerald Everett, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
62. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants (28)
His talent can be tantalizing, but Engram has yet to put it all together. It hasn’t helped that he’s been playing on one of the NFL’s worst offenses. Engram had 46 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns last year, averaging an unimpressive 8.9 yards per reception. His best option could be to sign a one-year deal with a good quarterback and then look to cash in next offseason.
63. Kyzir White, LB, Los Angeles Chargers (26)
He’s one of the more intriguing players in this group. White had a career year in 2021, finishing eighth league-wide with 144 tackles. A converted safety, White has a skill set that fits well in the modern NFL. Given how young he is, teams in need of linebacker help could view White as an ascending player and an appealing option.
64. Anthony Barr, LB, Minnesota Vikings (30)
Durability is a concern with Barr as he’s played in just 13 games over the past two seasons. But when he’s on the field, Barr has still been effective (72 tackles, three interceptions, 2.5 sacks last season). Barr will interest teams looking for a short-term fix at linebacker who can do a little bit of everything.
65. Jayron Kearse, S, Dallas Cowboys (28)
It’s tough to predict how the league will view him. Any team could have had Kearse last offseason, and he ended up signing with the Cowboys on a one-year, $1.13 million deal. But he performed at a high level and looked like one of the NFL’s most improved players. Kearse started 15 games and finished with 101 tackles. He missed just 3.9% of his tackle attempts, which was the second-best mark among safeties, and Kearse showed the ability to do a lot of different things, including get after the quarterback. He logged more than 400 snaps as a box safety but also played more than 150 snaps at slot corner and as a free safety. Kearse started just 12 games in his first five NFL seasons, but teams could be intrigued with his skill set after the way he performed last year.
66. Casey Hayward, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (33)
If this list were based solely on 2021 performance, Hayward would be near the top. He played great as a 17-game starter for the Raiders. But Hayward hit the market last offseason and had to settle for a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Given that he’s 33 years old, he’s likely looking at another one-year deal from a team in need of a short-term fix at corner.
67. Melvin Ingram, Edge, Kansas City Chiefs (33)
He was a free agent last year but was coming off of an injury-riddled season and had to settle for a one-year, $4 million deal from the Steelers. Pittsburgh traded Ingram to the Chiefs, and he played well there in a nine-game stint. He’s clearly in the declining phase of his career (two sacks in his past 22 games), but Ingram’s film is better than his stats. He’s probably looking at a one-year deal but still has value as a rotational edge defender.
Kansas City’s Melvin Ingram (Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today)68. Calais Campbell, DL, Baltimore Ravens (36)
It’s unclear whether he’ll want to keep playing. Campbell is no longer the pass rusher he was in his prime. He finished last season with 1.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in 15 games. But he can still be disruptive against the run and has the reputation of being an all-time locker room guy. The Ravens could look to bring Campbell back on a one-year deal, or he could see if another contending team might be interested.
69. James Daniels, OG, Chicago Bears (25)
Originally the 39th overall pick in 2018, Daniels has not proven to be more than an average starter through his first four seasons. But teams could be attracted to his youth and upside. There’s the possibility that Daniels could find more consistency on his next contract and be an ascending player. He has 48 starts under his belt, including 17 last year.
70. Jason Pierre-Paul, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)
He’s had a terrific career, but Pierre-Paul’s 2021 campaign was underwhelming as he finished with 2.5 sacks and five QB hits in 12 games. In 2020, he looked like his usual self with 9.5 sacks and 14 QB hits. Pierre-Paul is one of many veteran pass rushers in this class who could be looking at a one-year deal.
71. Justin Reid, S, Houston Texans (25)
Reid is one of the youngest players on this list. He’ll play all of next season at 25 years old. Originally a third-round pick in 2018, Reid has started 53 games in four seasons. He played nearly 70% of his snaps at free safety in 2021, and that’s likely where he’ll have the most value to interested teams.
72. Jordan Whitehead, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25)
Originally a fourth-round pick in 2018, Whitehead has started 55 games in four seasons. He was most often used as a box safety but has shown versatility with 150+ snaps in the box, at slot corner and at free safety last season. Whitehead likely won’t command as much as the top-tier safeties in this class, but he’s young and can fill a role as a quality starter.
73. Terrell Edmunds, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (25)
He hasn’t lived up to his draft slot (28th overall pick in 2018), but Edmunds is one of the youngest players on this list, having just turned 25 in January. And he’s been incredibly durable, having missed just one game in four seasons. Edmunds is mostly a box safety, but he logged over 250 snaps as both a slot corner and a free safety last season. A team could convince itself that Edmunds’ best football is still ahead of him.
74. Marcus Maye, S, New York Jets (29)
He’s a player who is likely to feel the negative effects of the franchise tag. Maye played on the tag in 2021 but was limited to six games because of an Achilles injury suffered in November. Now he probably won’t find the same type of deal he would have received last offseason, and if Maye signs a one-year “prove it” deal, he’ll be 30 next offseason when he hits free agency. Maye played at a high level in 2020, and when healthy, he’s an excellent free safety option. But teams might want to wait until the summer to see how close Maye is to being 100% for the 2022 season.
75. Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints (28)
He started seven games and completed 59% of his passes while averaging 7.3 YPA. He threw 14 touchdowns with three interceptions. Winston did not play as well as the statistics indicate. This will be his third consecutive offseason as a free agent. In 2020, Winston got a one-year, $1.1 million deal. Last year, he got a one-year, $5.5 million deal. It seems unlikely that his market will have changed dramatically after that seven-game stint.
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Thanks for posting,. Justin Jones and Nwosu didn't make the list
I think I like the idea of the Jets guy or Seb Joseph Day. I see Hicks is ranked higher but I am leery of going down the path again with an older player to pair with Justin Jones. Even the writer of the rankings list his age and injury concern as facts. I can see Telesco signing him as he might be a 2/16 guy where as SebJoeDay is 3/31 type guy
I see Mathieu and Ertz listed and to me - they are more luxury players. That doesn't mean turning down talent But - its IDL, RT and CB for me.
Plus making sure some of the key free agents, their positions: Williams - WR; Justin - IDL; Edge Nwosu and LB - Kyzir are filled with those guys or player with their skillset, salary and ageComment
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Looking at that list, anybody wants to tell me FA never really works out, I’ll raise you and say 70% of the guys listed upgrade guys we had playing significant snaps last season. TT, no excuses, go out and make this team better.Comment
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Based on Williams Nwosum Jones and white signingOriginally posted by blueman View Post
I would like SebJoeDay and Jarran Reid: IDL and CB
The draft could than be about RT and whatever other talent is out thereComment
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Thanks Rugger, lots of info here in one spot.Comment
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There was a good compilation of why FA doesn’t work out that I posted somewhere on this site. But the quick point is that it’s very rare because teams usually don’t let their key guys go unless they’re not that good or too old/injury prone. Even if you take our relative success last offseason with the OL, it’s more of a short term fix. We should still be involved in FA. But we need to make sure we get the right guys, which is difficult. There’s not enough Casey Haywards and too many Orlando Franklins and Travis Benjamins in FA.Originally posted by blueman View PostComment
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I agree about RT in the draft. I don’t like what I see in FA. Luckily there seems to be an influx of decent IDL in FA and the draft. If possible, I wonder if we can get another starting CB in FA.Originally posted by Bolt4Knob View PostComment
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That is true. I don't advocate building the roster in free agency. I just think, like last year, targeting two players, Feiler and Linsley, as positions of need. Aboushi was a cheap guy who played well.Originally posted by Xenos View Post
So this year - based on the list from the Athletic, IDL has a lot of good names and maybe CB. And then a few more Aboushi types for depth 1.5 to 2m players and head to the draft
Nothing like hte Patriots signing 6 or 7 players last yearComment
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Give us another offseason like last offseason and I think we will be a legit contender.Originally posted by sonorajim View PostComment
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