Matching the Top Remaining NFL Free Agents with Potential Playoff Contenders
We've finally reached that wonderful time of year when NFL training camps are about to begin and the preseason is right around the corner. Over the next few weeks, teams are going to figure out exactly what they have on their rosters and just how prepared they are for the coming season.
For some teams, these next few weeks will be dedicated to developing young talent around which to build. For teams eying the postseason, this time will be spent finding the 53 players who can best drive toward the playoffs.
The good news for these potential playoff contenders is that there are still some quality players available and ready to plug holes that might exist. Former Pro Bowlers like Anquan Boldin, Jahri Evans and Donte Whitner are still sitting in the unemployment line and have the potential to latch on and help a contending team.
We are going to examine the top remaining free agents and try to form ideal pairings with potential playoff contenders. Our pairings will be based on player potential, team and scheme fits, team needs and coaching. Our contenders list will be made up of teams that made the postseason last year and those widely considered to challenge for division titles this season.
Jahri Evans, Guard
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New England Patriots
Former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans found his way to free agency when the New Orleans Saints asked him to take a pay cut. Evans refused, and the Saints eventually released him.
"The Saints came to usย for the second year in a row about doing a little contract adjustment and pay cut this year," Evans' agent, Jerrold Colton,ย said on WIP's Mike and Ike Show. "We weren't going to do it again."
Evans essentially paved his own path to the open market, and he remains there. This is a bit surprising since Evans was still solid in 2015, even if he is no longer a star. Pro Football Focus rated him 41st overall among all guards for the season.
One team that could significantly benefit from Evans' addition is the New England Patriots. The entire line was a weakness last season, and the guard spots were no exception. Josh Kline was the only guard on the roster rated higher than Evans by Pro Football Focus last season. He underwent offseason shoulder surgery and, as Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported in late May, his timetable for return is unclear.
Evans could immediately step in and solidify one guard spot, which should help the line be a better overall unit. The lineโwhich was rated 31st in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus last seasonโis the area on the team clearly in need of an upgrade. Pairing these two almost makes too much sense.
Will Allen, Safety
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Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers had few real weaknesses on their Super Bowl-caliber defense last season. One hole, however, could be found at the strong safety position. Roman Harper started all 16 regular-season games there and finished the season rated just 156th overall among safeties by Pro Football Focus.
This offseason, Harper returned to New Orleans, where he spent the first eight years of his career.
This leaves the Panthers with a bit of a question mark at the strong safety positionโa question that could be answered with the addition of free-agent safety Will Allen.
Allen is 34 years old and is entering the back end of his career. However, he is still an incredibly productive player. Last season, he produced 80 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 13 starts. Pro Football Focus rated him 34th overall among safeties for the season.
As a former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Allen knows what it's like to play for an NFL playoff team. Psychologically, this makes him a perfect fit for a Panthers team that is learning what it means to be a playoff team.
More importantly, Allen's on-field prowess would allow Carolina to turn a defensive weakness into a potential strength.
Owen Daniels, Tight End
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Denver Broncos
Though the decision didn't come immediately, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning did call it a career after the team capped its 2015 campaign with a Super Bowl victory.
Manning might not be the only longtime veteran from this team to end up calling it quits this offseason, either. Though tight end Owen Daniels did make it clear he'd prefer to return in 2016, he stated after the season that retirement was also a possibility.
"Thatโs definitely an option,โ Daniels said, per Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today. โBut Iโm a man of my word, I signed a three-year deal, so Iโd like to keep playing."
Denver, though, decided to release Daniels early in the offseason. This is a decision that could make it difficult for the Broncos to coax Daniels back, but the team should try. As things stand, Denver is going into 2016 with either journeyman Mark Sanchez or an unproven quarterbackโbe it Trevor Siemian or rookie Paxton Lynchโunder center. Doing either without a proven pass-catching tight end on the roster is risky.
One thing Daniels has proved during his 10 pro seasons is that he can be a reliable pass-catcher. Just last season, he hauled in 46 receptions for 517 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, Daniels likely knows head coach Gary Kubiak and his system as well as anyone in football.
Daniels has played for the same team that has employed Kubiak every season since entering the league with the Houston Texans in 2006.
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Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver
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Cincinnati Bengals
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin hasn't been in a rush this offseason to find a new team. This may be because he hopes to play for a contender and knows that he still has the skills to help one.
Despite playing in a hamstrung San Francisco 49ers offense last seasonโone that averaged just 207.3 passing yards per game, 29th in the leagueโBoldin managed to produce 69 receptions, 789 yards and four touchdowns. Pro Football Focus rated him 33rd overall among all wide receivers for the season.
Boldin could fill a valuable role for a potential playoff team like the Cincinnati Bengals. He is a physical, motivated, team-first player who would fit in well with the Cincinnati locker room. The Bengals, meanwhile, could use an experienced possession receiver to complement star wideout A.J. Green.
The Bengals lost receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones in free agency this offseason. Though the team did bring in Brandon LaFell and draft Tyler Boyd to help replace them, a guy like Boldin could really help complete the receiving corps.
Boldin's ability to make the tough catch could come in handy early in the season, when Cincinnati might not have the services of Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert. The former Notre Dame star suffered an ankle injury in the Pro Bowl and underwent surgery back in May.
Boldin is obviously not a tight end, but his ability to be a red-zone threat and a chain-mover would nonetheless be useful during Eifert's absence.
Randy Starks, Defensive End
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Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins were far from a perfect team in 2015, despite their march to the NFC East title. One of the most obvious weaknesses was a run defense that often resembled a sieve. The team was ranked 26th in run defense, allowing an average of 122.6 yards per game on the ground. No other playoff team finished in the bottom 10 in run defense rankings.ย
Pro Football Focus rated Washington 29th in run defense for the season.
To make matters worse, the Redskins were unable to convince defensive tackle Terrance Knighton to come back for another season. He ended up signing with the Patriots.
If Washington wants to improve its run defense and address depth along its defensive line, the team needs to look no further than free agent Randy Starks.
Starks has played both defensive tackle and end during his 12 pro seasons. He most recently played end in the Cleveland Browns' 3-4 base defense. He could likely play end in Washington's 3-4 base and then slide to tackle when the Redskins switch to a four-man front. More importantly, Starks is still a quality defender against the run.
Pro Football Focus rated him 24th against the run among all 3-4 defensive ends for the 2015 season.
Jeremy Mincey, Defensive End
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Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys weren't a playoff team last season, but they were in 2014. With a healthy Tony Romo and Dez Bryant on the field, most believe that the team is ready to again challenge for the NFC East crown.ย
One obstacle on the path to that divisional title, however, is the fact the team will be playing the first month without defensive ends Randy Gregory and Demarcus Lawrence. Gregory was handed a four-game suspension for violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. Lawrence got a four-game ban for violating the PED policy.
Lawrence was a starter for most of 2015, and Gregory was supposed to help fill the void left by Greg Hardy. Now the Cowboys have to survive a month without either.
This is exactly why the Cowboys should bring back defensive end Jeremy Mincey.
Mincey underwent elbow surgery this offseason to correct an issue that may have hindered his play last year. Assuming he is back to pre-injury form, the team should jump on him.
"This arm ain't been able to straighten out since the offseason," Mincey said after Dallas' season finale, per the team'sย official website.
Still, Mincey played well enough to finish the season rated 24th overall among all 4-3 defensive ends by Pro Football Focus. With young guys like Lawrence and Gregory on the roster, it made sense for Dallas to not make re-signing the 32-year-old Mincey a priority. With them suspended for a month, though, it should be.
Leon Hall, Cornerback
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Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers parted ways with Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman in the offseason. Norman was playing at an extremely high level in 2015โPro Football Focus rated him sixth overall among cornerbacksโand replacing him won't be easy.
The Panthers seem to be taking a volume approach to the situation, likely hoping to rely on depth and versatility in the secondary rather than outright replacing Norman. The team drafted three cornerbacks in this year's draft to help fill out that depth.
However, the Panthers should also consider a quality veteran cornerback like the still-available Leon Hall. Carolina also watched Charles Tillman leave in the offseason and eventually retire. No, Hall is not going to replace Norman by himself, but he can help fill the veteran role guys like Tillman and Cortland Finnegan held last season.
Though entering his 10th NFL season, Hall is still a productive player. He amassed 55 tackles with nine passes defended and two interceptions last season. Pro Football Focus rated him 27th overall among all cornerbacks.
While Hall would help fill a depth need, the Panthers could give him an opportunity to finally win a postseason game in return.
Donte Whitner, Safety
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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers might not be known for fielding a physical, dominant defense the way the franchise once was. However, this doesn't mean the team doesn't have room for a tough, physical safety like Donte Whitner.
Whitner is a former Pro Bowl safety who spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He likely gained a good amount of experience and knowledge of the AFC North in that time, which only adds to his value for Pittsburgh. On top of everything, though, is the fact that he is still playing at a high level.
Pro Football Focus rated Whitner 32nd overall among safeties last season.
The strong safety position currently looks like a weakness for the Steelers. Shamarko Thomas hasn't developed the way the team had hoped, and 2015 starter Will Allen wasn't retained after the 2015 season. Re-signing Allen would naturally make sense for Pittsburgh as well, but we really like the idea of Whitner in a Steelers uniform.
Whitner has earned a reputation as a hard hitter, and his presence would add even more punch to Pittsburgh's heated rivalry games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh, in turn, would allow Whitner to return to winning football after two years languishing in Cleveland.
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