2020 NFL Free Agency: Predictions, Reactions and Other Miscellaneous Thoughts

As I said yesterday, a miscalculation on my part prevented me from writing my annual NFL Free Agency column on Friday and since then, a ton of notable names have either been franchise tagged or re-signed by the team they played for last season. To counter that error in judgement, I'm going to change things up a bit by doing a loosely-structured, rapid fire take piece where I discuss the deals that have been already done, how they're going to effect the rest of the market, etc. Without further ado, here are some predictions, reactions and other miscellaneous thoughts on the 2020 NFL Free Agency period.

-While Tom Brady is still the biggest story of free agency,  it's been amazing to observe the tidal wave of bullshit that has been tossed around surrounding his potential suitors. The Titans proved their interest wasn't real by inking Ryan Tannehill to a new 4 year deal worth up to $118 mil ($62 mil guaranteed) yesterday, not a solitary peep has come out of the Chargers or Raiders camps in the past 72 hours and the truly insane narrative that the 49ers were going to dump Jimmy Garoppolo for him finally got squashed over the weekend. More or less, this means that the only outside team who was serious about their interest is the Buccaneers. With his market seemingly clarified, Brady's ultimate decision will further expose what narratives were real and which ones were fake. Does he value a paycheck and a chance to play with top-tier weapons at the cost of learning a new system and taking a monumental physical beating at age 43 or does he want to go about his business the same way he has for the 20 past seasons? I'm leaning towards the latter, especially since Bruce Arians runs a scheme that couldn't possibly be more poorly-suited to Brady's strengths as a surgical short-to-intermediate passer.

-HOT TAKE ALERT: I believe the Titans made the right choice by choosing to re-sign Tannehill over pursuing Brady. Let me explain why I feel this way as clearly as possible so I'm not accused of dumping on Brady's legacy:

1. Brady has repeatedly said he's going to retire at 45, which gives him a max of 3 more seasons in the league if his word is to be believed. This means Brady would have to learn a new system, develop a rapport with all new receivers and completely change his approach to offseason workouts for the first time in forever to try and win a title in a very short window. That's a tall, tall order to put on any quarterback-especially when they're as old as Brady.

2.Despite the Titans AFC Championship appearance this season, there's not enough reason to believe that they were a "quarterback" away from winning a championship. Their defense is mediocre as hell and they don't exactly have a war chest of weapons outside of Derrick Henry and promising young wideout A.J. Brown.

3.Speaking of Brown, why the hell would the front office and coaching staff want to risk his development by pairing him with a QB that has repeatedly shown no faith or interest in working with young receivers? Brady would rather throw the ball to a 37 year old with no gas left in the tank than a promising young kid that has a chance to be special if he continues to learn and get opportunities to make plays. Considering that Brown is the focal point of the Titans passing attack, bringing Brady in makes no sense.

4.Has anyone considered that Brady might actually showing signs of aging in his EARLY FUCKING 40'S????? Yes, he's the greatest quarterback I've ever seen play the game. Yes, he's aged gracefully thus far. But does that make him impervious to a decline in play? Of course not. What happened with the Patriots last season can't entirely be put on their lackluster receiving corps and people have to actually grapple with the possibility that Brady might not be an absolute killing machine anymore. As hard as it is to believe, even unprecedented greatness can come to an end at some point.

Could Tannehill end up being a bust? No question. He was a pretty average quarterback during his time with the Dolphins and his playoff performances were very underwhelming for a guy who was tearing apart defenses with relative ease during the regular season. However, signing a quarterback that has proven he can thrive in your system and showed remarkable polish as soon as he got under center is something that is worth taking a chance on.

-Tannehill's deal should eliminate any doubt that the Cowboys are going to make Dak Prescott the highest-paid QB in the league. Any quarterback that isn't a complete stiff is practically guaranteed to get record-setting money when they get a new contract in the current landscape and since Prescott is a promising QB on the cusp of entering his prime (he'll be 27 in July) that made huge strides in his 1st year with Kellen Moore as OC, he's going to command an absolutely absurd amount of cash. At least $140 mil over 4 years seems like a distinct possibility.

-The rest of the quarterback market is going to be fascinating to watch. If Brady stuns the world and ends up signing with the Bucs, the notoriously unrefined gunslinger Jameis Winston will become an intriguing dice roll option for any QB-needy team. Teddy Bridgewater seems like a lock to get an opportunity to start elsewhere after impressing in relief of Drew Brees last season. Marcus Mariota should attract attention from a number of suitors looking to push their QB's (Bears, Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, Lions) and get a chance to possibly do what Tannehill did him to last year. Phillip Rivers might end up retiring if the right opportunity doesn't present itself (maybe the Colts will come calling?). Andy Dalton and Nick Foles seem likely to join this deep market if their current teams can't find trade partners. One thing is for sure: By this time next week, there's going to be a lot of known quarterbacks heading to new destinations.

-Franchise tagging Derrick Henry, Shaq Barrett and Chris Jones was the right move for a variety of reasons. In the case of Jones, it prevents an elite interior pass-rusher from hitting the market while the Chiefs try to work out a long-term extension that won't hurt their ability to give Patrick Mahomes a huge payday down the line. When it comes to Barrett, it gives the Bucs a chance to see if his massive 2019 production boom (19.5 sacks-besting his previous career high in 2015 by a whopping 14) was simply a result of him rushing the passer significantly more in Todd Bowles' blitz-happy defense or an actual rise to top-tier edge rusher status for a player that was merely solid during his 5 seasons with the Broncos. For Henry, the tag allows the Titans to avoid making the mistake that the Rams made with giving Todd Gurley a long-term deal and potentially handle a high-volume runner with a violent, punishing play style that is all but guaranteed to have a short career shelf life on a year-to-year basis.

-As always, much is being made in circles about not overpaying for potential contract year wonders including Austin Hooper, Anthony Harris and Justin Simmons-the latter two of which were franchise tagged by the Vikings and Broncos. While acknowledging the possible risks of signing those guys is certainly warranted, why aren't those same levels of caution applied to the contract discussions of wildly erratic star players like Amari Cooper and Jadevon Clowney? They boast at least the same amount of risk as the aforementioned players and since they play higher value positions, are likely to receive much larger contracts. Not to mention, they both have very serious red flags surrounding their games. Cooper has some of the shakiest hands in the league, Clowney's work ethic is questionable at best and both of them have durability concerns. In a perfect world, they'd both get short-term "prove it" deals, but there's no chance in hell that happens-so whatever teams end up signing them better hope that the negative aspects of their play don't intensify during their second contracts.

-Byron Jones is arguably the most intriguing player on the market without a clear destination. He's versatile (over 30+ starts at both corner and safety), has only missed 1 game over the course of his 5-year career and has grown into one of the strongest man coverage DB's in the league over the past couple of seasons. Since the Cowboys more than likely won't be to afford to bring him back, look for any pass defense-challenged team (Colts, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Raiders, Redskins, Panthers) with cap space to make a run at him.

-If you're looking for a "surprise" contender to earn a huge deal, keep an eye on inside linebacker Corey Littleton. Littleton has thrived since the Rams named him a starter on defense in 2018, is an All-Pro special teamer and is still just 26 years old. He has a very legit chance to top the 5 year/$85 mil deal the Jets gave C.J. Mosley last season.

-The late wave of notable cuts has added a lot of potential big name redemption projects to the market. Struggling and/or injury-prone vets including Xavier Rhodes, Desmond Trufant and Devonta Freeman could really pop if they enter the right system or in the case of the two ex-Falcons, beat the injury bug that has ailed them of late. These guys will be affordable options at in-demand positions and that potential for excellent value should allow to them garner a fair amount of attention on the market.

-With the trade of David Johnson to the Texans, Kenyan Drake-who received the transition tag-has earned his spot as the Cardinals starting running back. Shoutout Steve Kiem and Kliff Kingsbury for being brilliant football minds and not letting greatness walk out the door.

-Bill O'Brien needs to be permanently banned from making player personnel decisions. His trade of 5x All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for an ailing David Johnson and a pair of draft picks (2020 2nd round, 2021 4th round) is already a strong contender for the most inexplicable and flat-out bad deals in NFL history.        

2018 NFL Free Agency: 10 Best Players Available

The official start of NFL free agency is just over 48 hours away and the buzz is relatively muted compared to recent years. A vast majority of the potential franchise-changing impact players were handed the franchise tag (Le'Veon Bell, Ezekiel Ansah, Jarvis Landry, DeMarcus Lawrence, Lamarcus Joyner), which means this free agent class largely consists of good, but not great veterans and oft-injured young players. While the treasure isn't abundant, there are still some solid scores to be had on the open market. Below you'll find a list of the 10 members of this free agent class that I would (tentatively) call the best and a brief look at their potential landing spots. Hope you enjoy the madness that Wednesday afternoon will bring and may your team not overspend for a dud of a player.

(Note: I'm excluding Drew Brees from this list because there's a 0% chance he isn't returning to New Orleans.)

10.Case Keenum, quarterback (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
I'm a massive Keenum skeptic that is pretty firmly convinced that the 11 win, 22 TD/7 INT/67.6 CMP% season he put together in 2017 was merely a fluky outlier of proficiency in an otherwise mediocre career. That being said, the 30-year old journeyman veteran was certainly sharp enough during his brief stint with Minnesota to be considered a potentially viable starting option for any team that isn't sold on any of this year's top quarterback prospects and/or is in win-now mode.
Possible Destinations: Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills

9.Sammy Watkins, wide receiver (2017 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Watkins, who was selected 4th overall in the 2014 Draft, is one of the many young high risk/high reward receivers that are available in this year's free agency class. His long-term value took a pretty significant hit in 2017 after he failed to establish a consistent role in the Rams offense following a late July trade from Buffalo, but he's shown flashes of brilliance as a vertical threat in the past and at 24 going on 25, there's still plenty of time for him to blossom into the game-breaking wideout he was touted to be when he came out of Clemson.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs

8.Malcolm Butler, cornerback (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Butler's tenure with the Patriots ended in true nightmare fashion with a stunning Super Bowl benching that continues to generate headlines over a month after it happened. Even with this mysterious Super Bowl controversy and generally poor play throughout 2017 casting a dark cloud over him at the moment, his otherwise impressive resume should attract a number of suitors in free agency. His terrific ball skills combined with the consistently strong and sometimes dominant play he displayed during his previous two seasons as a full-time starter indicate that Butler can redeem himself if he signs with a well-coached team that truly believes in him.
Possible Destinations: New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans

7.Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
If I was to dub anyone a sleeper in this sleepy free agent class, Lotulelei would be that guy. He's a gifted line of scrimmage disruptor that should pay instant dividends for any team that's looking to upgrade their run defense and interior pass-rush.
Possible Destinations: Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers

6.Jimmy Graham, tight end (2017 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Graham's age (he'll be 32 in November) and lack of versatility puts an undeniable hit on his value, but he's still an elite redzone threat (10 TD's in 2017) that should be a solid, not overly expensive addition to any team that's looking to add size to its receiving corps.
Possible Destinations: New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots

5.Trumaine Johnson, cornerback (2017 team: Los Angeles Rams)
After being given the franchise tag by the Rams in back-to-back years, Johnson is now finally getting the chance to explore the wonders of the open market. While he'll likely never be mentioned in any "best corner in the NFL" discussions, Johnson is a quality veteran starter that plays a pretty well-rounded game and rarely gets burnt. Expect him to sign a pretty decent-sized deal ($50-60 mil with $25-35 mil guaranteed over 4-5 years) with a playoff contender that's desperate for secondary help.
Possible Destinations: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers  

4.Allen Robinson, wide receiver (2017 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
An extended injury history (broken foot in 2014, torn ACL in 2017, various other minor ailments) is the only thing keeping Robinson from being a no-brainer, game-changing signing. He's a fast, physical and sharp route-running vertical threat that has given opposing defenses headaches for long stretches of his four-year career. There's not a more intriguing or higher-upside dice roll for receiver-needy teams in this sketchy free agent class, so I expect him to land a pretty lucrative deal.
Possible Destinations: Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers

3.Nate Solder, tackle (2017 team: New England Patriots)
If you're willing to accept his occasional ugly lapses in pass-protection, Solder is a pretty damn good left tackle that would provide some much-needed stability as well as run-blocking proficiency to the plethora of teams that don't currently have a reliable blind side protector on their roster.
Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, Houston Texans, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants

2.Andrew Norwell, guard (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
Last year Kevin Zeitler made history when he inked a record-breaking 5 year/$60 mil ($31.5 mil guaranteed) contract with the Browns. It would be an absolute shock if Norwell didn't topple that record this week. With his polished, multi-faceted skill set and steady year-to-year improvement over the course of his first four years in the league, this 2017 All-Pro is a premier talent that could dramatically upgrade any of the league's struggling offensive lines as soon as he steps on the field.
Possible Destinations: Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals

1.Kirk Cousins, quarterback (2017 team: Washington Redskins)
It's the ultimate irony that this underwhelming free agent class is headlined by a legit franchise quarterback. Even though Cousins makes his fair share of questionable throws and hasn't had much success against great teams, he's an uncontested top 10-12 QB in this league that any team with question marks at the position should jump at the chance to sign.
Possible Destinations: Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals

Other Notable Free Agents:
A.J. McCarron, quarterback (2017 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Aaron Colvin, cornerback (2017 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Aaron Lynch, defensive end (2017 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Adrian Clayborn, defensive end (2017 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Albert Wilson, wide receiver (2017 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Alex Okafor, defensive end (2017 team: New Orleans Saints)
Alfred Morris, running back (2017 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Allen Barbre, guard (2017 team: Denver Broncos)
Anthony Hitchens, inside linebacker (2017 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Antonio Gates, tight end (2017 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, tight end (2017 team: New York Jets)
Avery Williamson, inside linebacker (2017 team: Tennessee Titans)
Bashaud Breeland, cornerback (2017 team: Washington Redskins)
Bennie Logan, defensive tackle (2017 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Brian Cushing, inside linebacker (2017 team: Houston Texans)
Cairo Santos, kicker (2017 teams: Kansas City Chiefs/Chicago Bears)
Cameron Fleming, tackle (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Carlos Hyde, running back (2017 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Charles Sims, running back (2017 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Connor Barwin, outside linebacker (2017 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Danny Amendola, wide receiver (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Demario Davis, inside linebacker (2017 team: New York Jets)
Derek Anderson, quarterback (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
DeMarco Murray, running back (2017 team: Tennessee Titans)
DeShawn Shead, cornerback (2017 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Dion Lewis, running back (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback (2017 team: New York Giants)
Dontari Poe, defensive tackle (2017 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Donte Moncrief, wide receiver (2017 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Doug Martin, running back (2017 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
E.J. Gaines, cornerback (2017 team: Buffalo Bills)
Ed Dickson, tight end (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
Eric Decker, wide receiver (2017 team: Tennessee Titans)
Eric Reid, safety (2017 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Frank Gore, running back (2017 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Geno Smith, quarterback (2017 team: New York Giants)
Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle (2017 team: Detroit Lions)
Isaiah Crowell, running back (2017 team: Cleveland Browns)
Jack Mewhort, guard (2017 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Jahri Evans, guard (2017 team: Green Bay Packers)
Jay Cutler, quarterback (2017 team: Miami Dolphins)
Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive end (2017 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Jeremy Hill, running back (2017 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Jeremy Lane, cornerback (2017 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Jerick McKinnon, running back (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Joe Berger, guard/center (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Jonathan Joseph, cornerback (2017 team: Houston Texans)
Jonathan Stewart, running back (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
Jordan Matthews, wide receiver (2017 team: Buffalo Bills)
Josh Kline, guard (2017 team: Tennessee Titans)
Josh McCown, quarterback (2017 team: New York Jets)
Josh Sitton, guard (2017 team: Chicago Bears)
Julius Peppers, defensive end (2017 team: Carolina Panthers)
Junior Galette, defensive end (2017 team: Washington Redskins)
Justin Bethel, cornerback (2017 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Justin Pugh, guard (2017 team: New York Giants)
Kai Forbath, kicker (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Kenny Vaccaro, safety (2017 team: New Orleans Saints)
Kevin Huber, punter (2017 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Kyle Williams, defensive tackle (2017 team: Buffalo Bills)
LaAdrian Waddle, tackle (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Lardarius Webb, safety (2017 team: Baltimore Ravens)
LeGarette Blount, running back (2017 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Marqise Lee, wide receiver (2017 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Martellus Bennett, tight end (2017 teams: Green Bay Packers/New England Patriots)
Mike Glennon, quarterback (2017 team: Chicago Bears)
Mike Wallace, wide receiver (2017 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Mitch Unrein, defensive end (2017 team: Chicago Bears)
Morgan Burnett, safety (2017 team: Green Bay Packers)
Morris Claiborne, cornerback (2017 team: New York Jets)
Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end (2017 team: New York Jets)
NaVorro Bowman, inside linebacker (2017 teams: San Francisco 49ers/Oakland Raiders)
Nickell Robey-Coleman, cornerback (2017 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Nigel Bradham, outside linebacker (2017 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Orleans Darkwa, running back (2017 team: New York Giants)
Patrick Omaheh, guard (2017 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Patrick Robinson, cornerback (2017 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Paul Posluszny, inside linebacker (2017 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Paul Richardson, wide receiver (2017 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Pernell McPhee, outside linebacker (2017 team: Chicago Bears)
Preston Brown, inside linebacker (2017 team: Buffalo Bills)
Prince Amukamara, cornerback (2017 team: Chicago Bears)
Rashaan Melvin, cornerback (2017 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Reggie Nelson, safety (2017 team: Oakland Raiders)
Rex Burkhead, running back (2017 team: New England Patriots)
Ryan Jansen, center (2017 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Sam Bradford, quarterback (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Sebastian Janikowski, kicker (2017 team: Oakland Raiders)
Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle/end (2017 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Shane Lechler, punter (2017 team: Houston Texans)
Steven Terrell, safety (2017 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
T.J. Ward, safety (2017 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Tahir Whitehead, outside linebacker (2017 team: Detroit Lions)
Taylor Gabriel, wide receiver (2017 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Tavon Wilson, safety (2017 team: Detroit Lions)
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (2017 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Terrelle Pryor, wide receiver (2017 team: Washington Redskins)
Todd Davis, inside linebacker (2017 team: Denver Broncos)
Tramon Williams, cornerback (2017 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Tre Boston, safety (2017 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Trent Murphy, outside linebacker (2017 team: Washington Redskins)
Trey Burton, tight end (2017 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Tyler Eifert, tight end (2017 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Tyvon Branch, safety (2017 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Wesley Johnson, center (2017 team: New York Jets)
Weston Richburg, center (2017 team: New York Giants)
Zach Brown, inside linebacker (2017 team: Washington Redskins)

2017 NFL Free Agency Recap

With 95% of the notable available players now under contract, the chaos of the 2017 NFL free agency period is all but officially over. Here's a brief look at who won and lost this year's round of football musical chairs.

Biggest Winners: New England Patriots
The defending Super Bowl champs abandoned their usually conservative approach to free agency by unexpectedly signing the best available corner (Stephon Gilmore) and trading for one of the league's best young receivers (Brandin Cooks) within the first 48 hours of the new league year. In addition to the those headline-grabbing moves, the Patriots were also able to bring back defensive leader Don'ta Hightower, bolster their defensive line depth with the addition of run-stuffing specialist Lawrence Guy and re-confirm their unwavering love of running backs with "sneaky quickness" by signing future fan favorite Rex Burkhead. Even with the seemingly inevitable departure of top corner Malcolm Butler on the horizon, the Patriots absurd haul still make them the clear winners of free agency.
Honorable Mentions: Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens

Biggest Losers: San Francisco 49ers
John Lynch's approach to free agency was every bit as misguided and insane as I figured it would be. The former player/broadcaster/next victim of Jed York's annual firing parade used his 70+ mil in cap space to lay down the groundwork for the 49ers latest failed rebuild by bringing in 2 of the 3 signal-callers (Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley) responsible for the Bears 3-win season in 2016, a former Super Bowl MVP that gets worse with each year he's in the league (Malcolm Smith) and a 31-year old receiver that needs complementary pieces around him to thrive (Pierre Garcon). At least Lynch made grit enthusiasts happy by making 2016 All-Pro Kyle Jusczyk the highest paid fullback in NFL history.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins

Best Individual Signing: T.J. Lang to the Detroit Lions (3 years/$29.5 mil/$19 mil guaranteed)
In a thin offensive line market that resulted in middling-to-bad players (Matt Kalil, Russell Okung, Riley Reiff) getting paid far more than they're worth, T.J. Lang proved to be a tremendous value signing. The highly underrated ex-Packers guard should provide a huge boost to a Lions squad that has had its fair share of interior line struggles over the past few years. 

Honorable Mentions: Chris Baker to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Alshon Jeffrey to the Philadelphia Eagles, Martellus Bennett to the Green Bay Packers

Worst Individual Signing: Matt Kalil to the Carolina Panthers (5 years/$55.5 mil/$24 mil guaranteed)
Offensive lineman have a tendency to get big bucks on the open market and there is perhaps no better example of this befuddling phenomenon than Matt Kalil's deal with the Panthers. The left tackle-who only appeared in 2 games in 2016 before suffering a season-ending hip injury-who was most responsible for getting Teddy Bridgewater murdered for the first 2 seasons of his professional career securing a long-term deal from a team that is usually stingy as hell in free agency is proof of just how far NFL front offices will go to try and quickly patch up holes at key positions. Unless the joy of playing alongside his brother Ryan can magically fix his pass-protection woes, this signing is likely going to result with Cam Newton being taken off the field in a body bag by the halfway mark of the season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Okung to the Los Angeles Chargers, Robert Woods to the Los Angeles Rams, Mike Remmers to the Minnesota Vikings

Best Player Still on the Market: Adrian Peterson (running back)
The lack of suitors for Adrian Peterson over the first 7 days of free agency speaks volumes about how little running backs are valued in the modern NFL. While the concerns about his age and durability are 100% valid, I still believe that AP has the potential to be a potent addition to a contender's backfield rotation. 
Honorable Mentions: Dontari Poe (defensive tackle), Jonathan Hankins (defensive tackle), T.J. McDonald (safety)

2017 NFL Free Agency: 10 Best Players Available

On March 9th at 4:00 P.M. EST, the 2017 NFL League season will be ushered in with the start of free agency. Per usual, a majority of the most intriguing players set to hit the open market have already been given lengthy extensions (Eric Berry, Jamie Collins, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif) or the franchise tag (Le'Veon Bell, Kirk Cousins, Jason Pierre-Paul, a handful of others) by their existing teams. Now that the market of available players has solidified, here are my picks for the 10 best players available in free agency this season. 

10.Adrian Peterson, running back (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)
Putting a 32-year old that's coming off a season that was shortened by a pretty severe knee injury on this list may seem like a stretch, but Adrian Peterson isn't your average geriatric running back. While I don't believe that he'll ever return to being the every-down force of nature he's been over the course of his 10-year career, his devastating power out of the backfield should make him a top-notch change-of-pace back for a contending team. 
Possible Destinations: Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots 

9.Andrew Whitworth, tackle (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Age is the only thing preventing Andrew Whitworth from being a top 5 player on this list. Whitworth is still an elite tackle at age 35 (Trent Williams was the only player at his position that had a higher Pro Footfall Focus grade last season) and he should be an excellent short-term option for teams that need help at left tackle.
Possible Destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams

8.A.J. Bouye, cornerback (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
There is no bigger dice roll hitting the open market this year than cornerback A.J. Bouye. Bouye played spectacular after being thrust into the starting lineup when 2015 1st-round pick Kevin Johnson went down for the season with a broken foot in mid-October, but his small sample size (the 11 starts he picked up in 2016 are the only ones of his career) and place on a Texans defense that has a strong pass-rush makes it hard to tell if his success was a result of his own strong play or simply a product of the bevy of talent that surrounded him. However, the dominance Bouye displayed in coverage last season is still enough to make him a very intriguing prospect for the flurry of teams that are currently in the market for a shutdown corner. 
Possible Destinations: Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders

7.Brandon Williams, nose tackle (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Like Damon "Snacks" Harrison a year ago, Brandon Williams is a run-stuffing virtuoso that is a strong contender to pickup a solid paycheck despite his limited skillset. At 335lbs, Williams is the type of pile-moving wrecking ball that productive 3-4 run D's are built around. 
Possible Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

6.Tony Jefferson, safety (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu may be the faces of the Cardinals secondary, but Tony Jefferson has been the unsung hero that's held them together the past 2 seasons. Jefferson is a super instinctive safety that's a terror against the run and has steadily improved in pass-coverage every year since he's been in the league. With his prime on the horizon (Jefferson just turned 25 in January) and a skill set that is still budding, he should have a ton of suitors on the open market.
Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5.Stephon Gilmore, cornerback (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
He may be coming off a bit of a down year and take some unnecessary gambles going for INT's from time to time, but Stephon Gilmore is still easily the most polished cornerback hitting the open market this offseason. Gilmore has been a top 10-15 corner in the league since he was drafted in 2012 and his terrific ball skills alone should be enough for him to get a contract that rivals what Darius Slay (4 years/$50.2 mil/$23 mil guaranteed) got from the Lions last season.
Possible Destinations: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders
 
4.Dont'a Hightower, inside/outside linebacker (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
While his lengthy injury history is definitely cause for some concern, players with Hightower's skill set don't come around too often. Hightower's sure-tackling and coverage skills allows him to play either inside or outside linebacker, is one of the most fluid sideline-to-sideline runners in the league and perhaps most importantly, has a tendency to put together monstrous performances in big games. 
Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers

3.Kevin Zeitler, guard (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
It blows my mind that Kevin Zeitler isn't getting more buzz going into free agency. He's been one of the most well-rounded, consistent guards in the NFL over the past few years and at 27, he's about to enter the prime of his career. If I were the general manager of a team with interior offensive line issues, I would throw fuck you money at Zeitler.
Possible Destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos

2.Alshon Jeffrey, wide receiver (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
A string of soft-tissue injuries and the Bears absurd quarterback carousel have led to back-to-back disappointing seasons for Alshon Jeffrey, but make no mistake, this guy is a special talent. His combination of strength, leaping ability and underrated speed for his size (6'3, 216 lbs) makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Any offense that's looking to upgrade their aerial attack should strongly consider pursuing Jeffrey because top wideouts like him don't fit free agency often in the league's current pass-first state.
Possible Destinations: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers

1.Calias Campbell, defensive tackle/end (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
The Cardinals cap issues and dedication to re-signing edge rusher Chandler Jones makes bringing back long-time defensive leader Calias Campbell a longshot. This situation is great news for any team that's looking for an elite veteran talent that can lineup anywhere on the defensive line and make plays. His age (he'll be 31 when the 2017 season starts) makes his window of success shakier than some of the other potential high-impact players available in free agency, but the monumental effect he could have on the makeup of a team's defense and locker room culture makes him the top prize of this free agency class.
Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots

Other Notable Free Agents: 
Alan Branch, defensive tackle/end (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Andre Branch, defensive end (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Barry Church, safety (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Bennie Logan, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Blaine Gabbert, quarterback (Most recent team: San Francisco 49ers)
Bradley McDougald, safety (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Brandon Carr, cornerback (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Brandon Flowers, cornerback (Most recent team: Los Angeles Chargers) 
Brandon LaFell, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Brian Hoyer, quarterback (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Captain Munnerlyn, cornerback (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)
Case Keenum, quarterback (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams) 
Chance Warmack, guard (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans)
Chris Baker, defensive end (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Chris Long, defensive end (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Christine Michael, running back (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers) 
Colin Kaepernick, quarterback (Most recent team: San Francisco 49ers)
Connor Barth, kicker (Most recent team: Chicago Bears) 
Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)
D.J. Fluker, guard/tackle (Most recent team: Los Angeles Chargers) 
D.J. Swearinger, safety (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Danny Woodhead, running back (Most recent team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Darius Butler, cornerback (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Darrelle Revis, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Datone Jones, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
DeAngelo Williams, running back (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
DeSean Jackson, wide receiver (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Dontrari Poe, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs) 
Dre Kirkpatrick, cornerback (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Dwight Freeney, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons)
Duron Harmon, safety (Most recent team: New England Patriots) 
E.J. Manuel, qurterback (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Eddie Lacy, running back (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Erik Walden, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Geno Smith, quarterback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Greg Zuerlein, kicker (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Jabbal Sheard, defensive end (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Jacquizz Rodgers, running back (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers) 
Jammal Charles, running back (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Jared Cook, tight end (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Jared Odrick, defensive tackle/end (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jarius Byrd, safety (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Jarvis Jones, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
JC Tretter, center (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
John Simon, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
Jonathan Cyprien, safety (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jonathan Hankins, defensive tackle (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Josh McCown, quarterback (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns) 
Julius Peppers, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Karl Klug, defensive end (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans)
Kelvin Beachum, tackle (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Kendall Wright, wide receiver (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans) 
Kenny Britt, wide receiver (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Kenny Stills, wide receiver (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Kevin Minter, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Larry Warford, guard (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Latavius Murray, running back (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Lawrence Guy, defensive end (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Lawrence Timmons, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
LeGarrette Blount, running back (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Logan Ryan, cornerback (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Lorenzo Alexander, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Malcolm Smith, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Margus Hunt, defensive end (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Mario Williams, defensive end (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Martellus Bennett, tight end (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Matt Barkley, quarterback (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Matt Kalil, tackle (Most recent team: Minnesota Vikings)
Micah Hyde, cornerback/safety (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Michael Floyd, wide receiver (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Mike Glennon, quarterback (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Mike Remmers, tackle (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)
Morris Claiborne, cornerback (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Nick Fairley, defensive tackle (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Nick Mangold, center (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Nick Perry, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Nickell Robey-Coleman, cornerback (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills) 
Nolan Carroll, cornerback (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Pierre Garcon, wide receiver (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Prince Amukamara, cornerback (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Rashad Jennings, running back (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Rex Burkhead, running back (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Ricky Wagner, tackle (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Riley Rieff, tackle (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Robert Woods, wide receiver (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Ronald Leary, guard (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Russell Okung, tackle (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Ryan Clady, tackle (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Ryan Fitzpatick, quarterback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
T.J. Lang, guard (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
T.J. McDonald, safety (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ted Ginn Jr., wide receiver (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)
Terrelle Pryor, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Victor Cruz, wide receiver (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Zach Brown, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)

2016 NFL Free Agency: Top 10 Best Players Available

The official start of free agency may be approximately 72 hours away, but the 2016 free agency class is already guaranteed to generate as much buzz as the 2015 class that saw nearly a dozen elite players including Ndamukong Suh, DeMarco Murray and Randall Cobb hit the open market. Almost all of the biggest names set to hit free agency (Von Miller, Alshon Jeffrey, Eric Berry, Josh Norman, Kirk Cousins, Muhammad Wilkerson) have been given the franchise tag that prevents them from leaving their current team. That being said, there are still a number of impact players that will be free to sign with any team when the new league starts on Wednesday March 9th at 4:00 P.M. EST. Here are my picks for the 10 best available players in the 2016 free agent class.

10.Bruce Irvin, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
While his brash personality and reputation as a dirty player have made one of the most polarizing players in the NFL, there's no denying that Irvin has been one of the best situational pass-rushing specialists in the NFL over the past few seasons. With his steady year-to-year improvement since entering the league in 2012 and lack of wear and tear given his age (28), he could end up being a steal for a team that needs edge-rushing help.
Possible Destinations: Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers

9.Marvin Jones, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
With Alshon Jeffrey being locked up by the Bears, Jones is now by far the best wide receiver available in free agency. His youth (he turns 26 next week), consistency and ability to play both inside and outside makes him an excellent option for teams that are looking for a high-end number two receiver.
Possible Destinations: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Giants

8.Richie Incognito, guard (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Incognito had one of the most surprising comebacks in recent NFL history with a career-best season at age 32 in 2015. His age is definitely a bit of a concern moving forward, but if his dominant play last season is any indicator, he should continue to be productive throughout his (likely) final contract as an NFL player.
Possible Destinations: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Fransisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints

7.Lamar Miller, running back (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Miller is one of only a handful of running backs currently in the league that's good to enough shoulder the brunt of the carries himself. Miller's three-down capabilities paired with his pass-catching and elusiveness makes him one of the rare running backs that's worth giving a sizable contract to in the current pass-first climate of the NFL.
Possible Destinations: Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans

6.Sean Smith, cornerback (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Smith has quietly been one of the most productive corners in the league since he signed with the Chiefs in 2013, grading out as one of Pro Football Focus' top 15 corners in coverage each of the past two seasons. Smith's shutdown ability makes him the clear standout in this relatively weak group of free agent cornerback and that should allow him to secure one of the heftiest contracts of anyone on the market in 2016.
Possible Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants

5.Danny Trevathan, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
He may not get the fanfare of his teammate Brandon Marshall, but Trevathan is a versatile, imposing force in the middle of the defense who's equally adept at stopping the run and dropping back in coverage. Given the small amount of top-tier inside linebackers currently in the league, it would be a shock if a linebacker-needy team with deep pockets didn't give Trevathan an outrageous amount of money.
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers

4.Malik Jackson, defensive end/tackle (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Jackson got hot at just the right time to get paid, putting together a phenomenal playoff run to cap off his excellent 2015 season with the Broncos. While it's unclear if being a part of the Broncos talented-loaded defense or his own natural talent was responsible for his tremendous production over the past two seasons, his ability to play anywhere on the defensive line and consistent efficiency as both a pass-rusher and run-stopper makes him too intriguing of a player to not take a chance on. 
Possible Destinations: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers

3.Damon Harrison, defensive tackle (Most recent team: New York Jets)
He may not be a household name, but there is arguably no better run-stuffing interior defensive lineman in football right now than Harrison. Harrison is the type of player that can come in and significantly alter the identity of a defense right away. If the Jets aren't able to re-sign him (which is the current rumor), any team that runs a 3-4 defense that has trouble stopping the run needs to make an aggressive push to land him.
Possible Destinations: New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, San Fransisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins

2.Doug Martin, running back (Most recent team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Doug Martin's unexpected return to form in 2015 has elevated him back to the premiere running back status he held after his stellar rookie campaign in 2012. The injuries and inconsistent play that derailed his 2013 and 2014 seasons make him a less-than-ideal candidate for a long-term deal, but the complete utter and dominance he showed in 2015 and status as one of the few running backs that can run, catch and pass-protect with equal proficiency makes him a gamble worth taking for any run-first team that's in the market for a true workhorse back.
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, San Fransisco 49ers, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions

1.Kelechi Osemele, guard (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Osemele has been a force of nature over the past four seasons with the Ravens and is without question the best offensive lineman to hit the open market since Jason Peters in 2009. Osemele's current standing as one of the most well-rounded and ferocious guards in the league makes him a top priority for any team that's looking to fortify the interior of their offensive line for the 2016 season.  
Possible Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Fransisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers

Other Notable Free Agents:
Dwayne Allen, tight end (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Prince Amukamara, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Robert Ayers, defensive end (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Joe Barksdale, tackle (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Mark Barron, safety (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Zane Beadles, guard (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Kelvin Beachum, tackle (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Travis Benjamin, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
LeGarrette Blount, running back (Most recent team: New England Patriots)
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Alex Boone, guard (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Nigel Bradham, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Brandon Brooks, guard (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
David Bruton, safety (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Donald Butler, inside linebacker (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Marques Colston, wide receiver (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Jared Cook, tight end (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Antonio Cromartie, cornerback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Chase Daniel, quarterback (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Jahri Evans, guard (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Nick Fairley, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Coby Fleener, tight end (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Matt Forte, running back (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Arian Foster, running back (Most recent team: Houston Texans)
Ramon Foster, guard (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jerrell Freeman, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Indianapolis Colts)
Dwight Freeney, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Junior Gallette, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Antonio Gates, tight end (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
William Gay, cornerback (Most recent team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Tashaun Gibson, safety (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Ladarius Green, tight end (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Michael Griffin, safety (Most recent team: Tennessee Titans)
Robert Griffin III, quarterback (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Tamba Hali, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Leon Hall, cornerback (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Greg Hardy, defensive end (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys)
Percy Harvin, wide receiver (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
William Hayes, defensive end (Most recent: Los Angeles Rams)
Casey Hayward, cornerback (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Jaye Howard, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
George Iloka, safety (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Chris Ivory, running back (Most recent team: New York Jets) 
Janoris Jenkins, cornerback (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Charles Johnson, defensive end (Most recent team: Carolina Panthers)
Chris Johnson, running back (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Derrick Johnson, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Rashad Johnson, safety (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Adam Jones, cornerback (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Jermaine Kearse, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Terrence Knighton, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
James Laurinaitis, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Ricardo Lockette, wide receiver (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Chris Long, defensive end (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Alex Mack, center (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Evan Mathis, guard (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Rishard Matthews, wide receiver (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Rolando McClain, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Dallas Cowboys) 
Rodney McLeod, safety (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Leodis McKelvin, cornerback (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Brandon Mebane, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Zach Miller, tight end (Most recent team: Chicago Bears)
Alfred Morris, running back (Most recent team: Washington Redskins)
Mike Neal, defensive end/tackle (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Reggie Nelson, safety (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Russell Okung, tackle (Most recent team: Seattle Seahawks)
Brock Osweiler, quarterback (Most recent team: Denver Broncos)
Donald Penn, tackle (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end (Most recent team: New York Giants)
Bilal Powell, running back (Most recent team: New York Jets)
Jerraud Powers, cornerback (Most recent team: Arizona Cardinals)
Brian Quick, wide receiver (Most recent team: Los Angeles Rams)
Manny Ramirez, center/guard (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Ruben Randle, wide receiver (Most recent team: New York Giants)
B.J. Raji, defensive tackle (Most recent team: Green Bay Packers)
Mohamed Sanu, wide receiver (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Mitchell Schwartz, tackle (Most recent team: Cleveland Browns)
Derrick Shelby, defensive end (Most recent team: Miami Dolphins)
Aldon Smith, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Oakland Raiders)
Andre Smith, tackle (Most recent team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Daryl Smith, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Walter Thurmond, safety (Most recent team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Stephen Tulloch, inside linebacker (Most recent team: Detroit Lions)
Courtney Upshaw, outside linebacker (Most recent team: Baltimore Ravens)
Benjamin Watson, tight end (Most recent team: New Orleans Saints)
Eric Weddle, safety (Most recent team: San Diego Chargers)
Roddy White, wide receiver (Most recent team: Atlanta Falcons)
Ian Williams, defensive tackle (Most recent team: San Fransisco 49ers)
Mario Williams, defensive end (Most recent team: Buffalo Bills)
Stefen Wisnewski, center (Most recent team: Jacksonville Jaguars)

2015 NFL Free Agency Winners and Losers

Since the free agency period started on March 10th, a vast amount of moves have made that could potentially shift the balance of power in the NFL for the 2015 season. Now that a majority of the big names that hit the open market are off the board, it's time to reflect on what teams haven gotten better, what teams didn't make enough moves and what teams handed-out ill-advised contracts in a desperate attempt to improve over the past nine days. Here are my picks for winners and losers for the 2015 NFL Free Agency period.
 
Best individual move: Ndamukong Suh to the Miami Dolphins:
Yes, the Dolphins threw an absurd amount of money at Ndamukong Suh (six years/$114 million/$60 mil guaranteed). Yes, they're perhaps relying a little too heavily on this one move to make them a contender and gloss over their other deficiencies as a team. That being said, Suh is the undisputed best defensive tackle in the NFL and he should prove to be well worth his mega contract. Suh gives the Dolphins an immediate solution to the run defense woes that plagued their team a year ago while also adding a skilled interior pass-rusher to complement their pass-rushing specialist defensive ends Cameron Wake and Oliver Vernon. Aside from J.J. Watt, there's not a more dominant defensive lineman in the NFL than Suh and putting him alongside the Dolphins established defensive playmakers (Wake, Vernon, cornerback Brent Grimes and safety Reshad Jones) is bound to get this team one step closer to their goal of stopping the New England Patriots' reign of terror on the AFC East.  
Honorable Mentions: Mike Iupati to the Arizona Cardinals, Darrelle Revis to the Jets, Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks, Jeremy Maclin to the Chiefs

Worst individual move: Brian Orakpo to the Tennessee Titans
There's no question that outside linebacker Brian Orakpo can play. He's finished the regular season with at least eight sacks four times and been to three Pro Bowls in his six-year career in the NFL. The problem is that Orakpo is an injury-prone player (he's torn his pectoral muscle three times since entering the league in 2009) and is turning 29 before the 2015 season starts. With his status as a high risk/high reward player, Orakpo seemed like the perfect contender for a one-year "prove it deal" teams like to hand out to gifted players with lengthy injury histories. The Titans apparently haven't heard of these low-risk deals (which is really ironic because Orakpo's most recent pectoral tear came in a game against them last season), and proceeded to hand the frequently injured ex-Redskins star a four-year/$32 million contract. I understand that the Titans have a talent-barren roster and they want to turn things around as soon as possible, but handing an injury-prone player like Orakpo a multi-year deal worth a solid amount of money is a move that could backfire majorly.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dwayne Harris to the Giants, Charles Clay to the Bills, C.J. Spiller to the Saints, Josh McCown to the Browns   

Winners of free agency: St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams have drafted a number of very gifted players since head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead arrived in 2012, but it hasn't been enough to get them to the promised land of the playoffs. This offseason the Rams strayed from their strictly "draft and develop young talent" model and went out and grabbed some veteran talent to complement the talented young nucleus they've assembled over the past few years. The Rams went out and traded long-time (and frequently injured) starting quarterback Sam Bradford to the Philadelphia Eagles for promising up-and-coming gunslinger Nick Foles on the first day of free agency then added even more pieces to their already loaded defensive front by adding defensive tackle Nick Fairley- who's one of the best defensive tackles in the league when he's on- and highly underrated outside linebacker Akeem Ayers to their ranks late last week. With their aggressive, savvy moves in free agency, the Rams appear to be set to make the leap from a team that's on the cusp of making the playoffs to legitimate playoff contenders in 2015.    
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks 

Losers of free agency: San Francisco 49ers
This offseason has been nothing short of a nightmare for the 49ers. Not only has the team endured the surprise retirements of inside linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland- who appeared to be the future of this defense after an excellent rookie campaign in 2014, they've also lost key contributors such as running back Frank Gore, guard Mike Iupati, cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox, and outside linebacker Dan Skuta in free agency. The blow of those losses has been somewhat softened by the signings of underrated wideout Torrey Smith and versatile albeit oft-injured veteran running back Reggie Bush, but even the signings of these gifted players can't detract from how much worse the 49ers have gotten as team in just a couple of weeks. New head coach Jim Tomsula is going to need to make a Herculean effort to stop the bleeding and extinguish the dumpster fire the 49ers have suddenly become after appearing in three NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl from 2011-13.
 Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants

Most surprising trade/signing: Jimmy Graham traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Seattle Seahawks
There's a been lot of "OH MY GOD DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?" moves this offseason, but none incited more genuine shock in me than the Saints decision to deal their elite tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks. Graham just signed an extension with the Saints last season and has been the longtime favorite target of quarterback Drew Brees in their pass-heavy system. Making the move that much more shocking is the fact that the Saints don't have anyone on their roster to replace Graham's role as the offense's top vertical threat and they traded him to the Seahawks, who are the team the Saints and the rest of the NFC are trying to knock off the throne right now after winning two straight conference titles. I highly doubt the epic shock levels this move caused will die down until the season starts.
Honorable Mentions: Haloti Ngata traded from the Baltimore Ravens to the Detroit Lions, LeSean McCoy traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Buffalo Bills for Kiko Alonso, Nick Foles traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the St. Louis Rams for Sam Bradford

Most surprising release: Brandon Browner from the New England Patriots
It was pretty much a lock that Darrelle Revis was not going to have his $20 million option picked up by the Patriots for the 2015 season. However, the Patriots decision to not exercise the $5 million option on Brandon Browner, their other starting cornerback in 2014, is downright shocking. Browner seemed to be good graces with the organization all season long, had an uncontested job as a starter and was beloved by the fanbase for the physicality he brought to the secondary. The timing of Browner's release made this even more surprising, as he was let go by the Patriots less than 24 hours after Revis signed with the Jets. Now that Revis and Browner are both out of the picture, the Patriots secondary is going to be entering a mysterious and potentially shaky new chapter in the upcoming season.   
Honorable Mention: Andre Johnson from the Houston Texans 

Best player left on the market: Michael Crabtree, wide receiver
In an offseason where wide receivers have been coming off the board at seemingly record pace, Michael Crabtree has had no serious suitors. While he's coming off a very disappointing 2014 campaign with the 49ers, Crabtree was quite productive in 2012 and 2013 and is a top-notch possession receiver when healthy. Any team with a gap in their receiver depth chart would be wise to take a gamble on him.
Honorable Mentions: Stefen Wisnewski, center,  Stevan Ridley, running back, Brandon Spikes, inside linebacker, Mason Foster, inside linebacker