As free agency approaches. I am going to put together a quick list of my top free agents at each position. I am not going to pretend like I know much about offensive line play, so they are not included in this list.
QB: The accessible names on this list are modern day NFL legends. That said, Brady, Brees, and Rivers all had decline in 2019. I would be shocked if all three are playing in the NFL in 2021. I’m partial to Teddy Bridgewater I think if he ever were to get a shot with some decent weapons around him he could be a winning NFL QB, to some extent you saw that in NOLA this year. If you’re desperate for a spark take a shot on Jameis. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, 40 interceptions, yeah that would be bad.
1. Dak Prescott
2. Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
3. Drew Brees (Planning to resign with Saints)
4. Tom Brady
5. Teddy Bridgewater (Panthers)
6. Phillip Rivers (Colts)
7. Jameis Winston
8. Case Keenum (Browns)
9. Marcus Mariota (Raiders)
10. Taysom Hill
RB: The CBA has to change. Running backs will just never get paid in this current iteration of football pay scale. I would propose RBs get one year rookie deals, if you find a diamond you have to pay him in year two. Derrick Henry is the clear number one in this group and it would be worth taking a shot on Austin Ekeler or Melvin Gordon. Outside of that there are some nice depth pieces that you could add to the rotation. Not making this list is a notable RB3 type in Jordan Howard, please don’t give Lesean McCoy any money, I beg of you.
1. Derrick Henry
2. Melvin Gordon
3. Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
4. Matt Breida
5. Kenyan Drake (Cardinals)
6. Carlos Hyde
7. Adrian Peterson (Will return to the Redskins)
8. Frank Gore
9. Gus Edwards
10. Peyton Barber
WR: I know little to nothing about the draft, that said I know it is a stacked receiving class this year. If you need to surround your QB there are plenty of options in free agency as well. While Amari Cooper probably won’t hit the market he might be available in trade talks. Emmanuel Sanders would be a great fit on any team needing a second receiving option, cough cough Texans. Robby Anderson is risky but has high upside. Personally, I think Demarcus Robinson is a diamond in the rough just begging for more usage to become a star in the slot. Update: Paul Richardson slides in at 9 after his release from the Redskins. Update, Taylor Gabriel jumps to nine on the list after his release by the Bears. 1. Amari Cooper (Cowboys)
2. Emmanuel Sanders
3. AJ Green (to be tagged by Bengals)
4. Randall Cobb (Texans)
5. Robby Anderson
6. Demarcus Robinson
7. Phillip Dorsett
8. Keelan Cole (Jaguars)
9. Taylor Gabriel
10. Paul Richardson
TE: I cut the list off at 7 simply because after Eifert the pickings are mainly backups. Jacob Hollister is intriguing to me. Sure, you could point at his numbers and tape and say it’s all Russell Wilson. Or you could look at it as if you give him a top QB on a contender, like say the Packers, he could make plays with another great QB. Like say, Aaron Rodgers. Greg Olsen is worth taking a look at, if he doesn’t leave for broadcasting.
1. Austin Hooper (Browns)
2. Hunter Henry (Chargers(
3. Eric Ebron
4. Greg Olsen (Signed with the Seattle Seahawks)
5. Jacob Hollister
6. Jason Witten (Raiders)
7. Tyler Eifert
DE: Great pass rushers don’t hit the open market often. That said this year if Arik Armstead hits the market he could make monster money coming off a career year. Yannik Ngakoue is a solid pass rush option as well and though Shaq Lawson is aging he can still a be a helpful piece. I would be interested to see if the Falcons let Vic Beasley walk after a down year, if they do a team could get a real bargain on a player that was dominant just two years ago.
1. Chris Jones (Franchise tagged by Chiefs)
2. Jadeveon Clowney
3. Arik Armstead (Niners)
4. Yannik Ngakoue (Jaguars)
5. Shaq Lawson (Dolphins)
6. Leonard Williams (Giants)
7. Robert Quinn (Bears)
8. Derek Wolfe
9. Vic Beasley (Titans)
10. Gerald McCoy
DT: It’s a deep class up front. There is a real shot all of the top five guys hit the market. Especially with the defensive shake ups happening in Los Angeles. I like Mike Daniels and Andrew Billings a lot. Shelby Harris, if the Broncos don’t resign him is going to make a ton of money on the open market. Outside of Brockers he is the best pass rusher of the group.
1. Javon Hargrave (Eagles)
2. Michael Brockers (Ravens)
3. Shelby Harris
4. Danny Shelton
5. DJ Reader
6. A’shawn Robinson
7. Mike Daniels
8. Tyeler Davidson
9. Vernon Butler
10. Andrew Billings
LB: I combined the linebackers in this excersize. My is this class deep. When the number 9 guy is Matt Judon that says something. This is the group that I see moving the most. I think outside of Barett and Dupree all 8 others on this list could be on the move to new teams in 2020. Joe Schobert could make a ton of money on the open market as I would argue he’s been a top ten inside linebacker for the last two years for the Browns.
1. Shaq Barrett (Buccaneers)
2. Bud Dupree (Steelers)
3. Dante Fowler Jr.
4. Kyle Van Noy (Dolphins)
5. Joe Schobert (Jaguars)
6. Blake Martinez (Giants)
7. Nick Vigil
8. Corey Littleton (Raiders)
9. Matt Judon (Ravens)
10. Markus Golden
CB: Is there a shut down corner in this group? No. Outside of the bottom two though there aren’t really liabilities in this group either. Sign these guys to be your CB2 and surround them with talent and watch the team fly. I really debated whether to cut the list off at 9or not. Brian Poole is Ok but he gets burnt sometimes. Overall if you are a team, like say the Chiefs were last year, that’s one decent corner away from a good defense this is the year to be aggressive.
1. James Bradbury (Giants)
2. Logan Ryan
3. Chris Harris Jr.
4. Byron Jones (Dolphins)
5. Mike Hilton
6. Kendall Fuller (Redskins)
7. Eli Apple
8. Brashaud Breeland
9. PJ Williams
10. Brian Poole
S: This list is up and down. Outside of Von Bell and Justin Simmons none of these guys are game changing safeties. Simmons and Bell are going to get paid. Big time. I like Ha Ha Clinton Dix but he isn’t on the level of the top two safeties of the class.
1. Justin Simmons (Broncos)
2. Vonn Bell
3. Ha Ha Clinton Dix
4. Tavon Wilson
5. Jimmie Ward (Niners)
6. Damarious Randall
7. Tre Boston
8. Devin McCourty (Patriots)
9. Clayton Geathers
10. DJ Swearinger