Under-the-Radar NFL Free-Agent Additions to Watch in Training Camp

2016 NFL training camp is upon us. Meaningful games are still more than a month away, but over the next few weeks, we'll be able to watch teams lay their foundations for the coming season.

Part of this foundation-laying—and one of the more exciting aspects of training camps—is the integration of offseason additions around the league. It's always interesting to see how prized free agents and top draft picks fit into their new homes and what their future roles might look like.

Big-time acquisitions aren't the only additions who can have heavy impacts on the coming season. Sometimes, it's those under-the-radar free-agent additions who change the makeup of a team.

We're going to examine some of the unheralded acquisitions of the offseason who should be worth following during training camp. There will be some room for subjectivity here, as opinions on what makes a high-profile addition will vary. However, we'll be staying away from the big-money free agents such as Olivier Vernon, Malik Jackson and Marvin Jones.

Instead, we'll be focusing on additions who might have gone unnoticed by the casual fan—such as the Miami Dolphins' acquisition of Arian Foster or the Cincinnati Bengals' signing of Karlos Dansby, for example. What kind of roles could these additions fill, and how might they affect the coming season? Let's find out.

Martellus Bennett, TE, New England Patriots

Associated Press

The addition of Martellus Bennett gives the Patriots another receiving threat.

Before Aaron Hernandez's off-field actions rightfully removed him from the NFL, the New England Patriots fielded a threatening duo of tight ends. Now that Martellus Bennett has joined the team, the Patriots may again have that kind of firepower from the tight end position.

Bennett's addition might be the most notable on today's list, especially among fantasy enthusiasts. He was also acquired via trade—so feel free to criticize his inclusion if you want. The fact remains, however, that his acquisition in exchange for a fourth-round pick didn't exactly rock the football world.

His 2016 base salary of just over $5 million isn't eye-popping, either.

Yet Bennett could wind up being one of the most impactful additions of the entire offseason. He should pair with superstar Rob Gronkowski to form perhaps the most dangerous tandem of tight ends in the NFL this season.

Bennett had a down year by his standards in 2015, but he still managed to produce 53 receptions, 439 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. With Gronkowski drawing much of the defensive attention this season, Bennett will have mismatch opportunities and the potential for a major increase in production.

It will be worth watching Bennett in camp to get a feel for how the Patriots plan on using him in the offense. Will New England use more two-tight end sets? Will Bennett and Gronkowski rotate? Will head coach Bill Belichick even tip his hand during the preseason?

We should start getting some answers in just a few days.

Nick Fairley, DT, New Orleans Saints

Uncredited/Associated Press

DT Nick Fairley can help bolster the Saints defense in 2016.

The New Orleans Saints defense was bad in 2015. It was terrible, in fact. As a team, New Orleans ranked last in scoring defense (29.8 points per game allowed) and 31st in run defense (129.4 yards per game allowed), pass defense (284.0 yards per game allowed) and total defense (413.4 yards per game allowed).

The encouraging news is that the Saints still won seven games last season, and the defense has nowhere to go but up.

One free-agent addition who should help improve that defense is former St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

Fairley's foray into free agency went quietly, which might be a bit surprising considering the guy is a former first-round pick. However, he only spent one season with the Rams after an up-and-down career with the Detroit Lions—and he didn't exactly fill up the scoresheet. Fairley finished the 2015 season with 29 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

It's worth noting, however, that Fairley's lack of production may have primarily stemmed from a lack of use. According to Pro Football Focus, he only saw 427 defensive snaps last season, but he was still rated 11th overall among all defensive tackles.

New Orleans landed Fairley with an underwhelming one-year, $3 million deal. If Fairley performs well, he could be in store for something more long term, and the Saints defense could take a step forward.

Chris Long, DE, New England Patriots

Associated Press

Longtime Ram Chris Long will be playing in New England this season.

The New England Patriots made headlines when the team shipped pass-rusher Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a second-round pick and guard Jonathan Cooper. The team didn't make quite as much noise when it signed eight-year veteran Chris Long.

The Patriots signed Long to a modest one-year, $2.375 million deal.

But he could prove to be one of the most important additions in New England this season. There's a good chance the Patriots will be counting on Long and fellow defensive end Jabaal Sheard to provide much of the team's pass rush.

If Long is going to be productive, however, he's going to have to bounce back to his early-career form. He spent his first eight seasons with the Rams and was an absolute terror for stretches. Though Long only produced 9.0 sacks in his first two seasons, he amassed 41.5 sacks between 2010 and 2013.

He only produced 3.0 sacks this past season.

If Long can get back to being the pass-rusher he once was, he could help prevent Patriots fans from lamenting the loss of Jones. Those fans will likely be watching intently during camp and the preseason to see what kind of form Long is in and what kind of role the Patriots have in store for him.

Isa Abdul-Quddus, S, Miami Dolphins

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Former Lions safety Isa Abdul-Quddus should be a fine addition to the Dolphins defense.

The Miami Dolphins secured a talented and underrated piece for the back end of their defense this offseason in the form of safety Isa Abdul-Quddus.

Abdul-Quddus isn't a household name, and he wasn't heavily discussed in the early portion of free agency. However, there is a lot to like about what he can offer the Dolphins defense this season. Abdul-Quddus appeared in all 16 games for the Detroit Lions in 2015, starting eight, and finished with 55 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus rated him tied for 19th overall among all safeties for the 2015 season.

Miami signed Abdul-Quddus to a three-year, $12.75 million deal.

Abdul-Quddus is a guy to watch in camp because the soon-to-be 27-year-old could potentially become a defensive building block for the franchise. If he can establish himself as the team's new starting free safety, he'll likely stick there for the foreseeable future.

It will also be worth watching to see what kind of boost Abdul-Quddus can provide to Miami's 21st-ranked (250.0 yards per game allowed) pass defense.

Mike Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Receiver Mike Wallace brings a downfield threat to Baltimore's passing attack.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace once looked like one of the top young talents in the NFL. Rangy, fast and dangerous, he was a tremendous deep threat and posted two 1,000-yard seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Later stints with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings proved disappointing, however, and he now finds himself back in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens. Wallace comes in on a two-year, $11.5 million deal.

Wallace was largely overlooked because receivers such as Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones and Travis Benjamin commanded most of the free-agent attention. However, Wallace could have a big role in Baltimore's offense.

Wallace still has enough speed to fill that coveted deep-threat role, even if he only produced 473 receiving yards last year. He seems to believe his new partnership with strong-armed passer Joe Flacco will bring out the best in him.

“When this process started, I knew I wasn’t going back to Minnesota,” Wallace said, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. “I was like, ‘I need a good quarterback. I need a quarterback who I know is proven, who can get things done,’ and Flacco, he’s always been that guy."

Wallace's role will be worth following in camp because his ability to provide that downfield threat could help take pressure off young Breshad Perriman as he attempts to come back from injury.

Karlos Dansby, LB, Cincinnati Bengals

Uncredited/Associated Press

Karlos Dansby joins the Bengals after two seasons with the rival Browns.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby wasn't one of the top players available when the free-agency period began this offseason. However, that was largely because the Cleveland Browns didn't release Dansby until after free agency had begun.

Dansby didn't command big money once he got to the open market, either. He ended up with a modest one-year, $2 million deal from the Cincinnati Bengals—a tremendous deal for Cincinnati.

What the Bengals are getting in return is a linebacker who continues to produce at an outstanding level, even at the age of 34. Last season, the Auburn product racked up 109 tackles, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus rated Dansby 48th overall among all inside linebackers for the 2015 season.

Dansby will be worth following to get an idea of how the Bengals plan on using him. If the team decides to start him in the middle of its 4-3 base defense, it could force Rey Maualuga into a different role. It should also allow versatile linebacker Vincent Rey—who played both inside and outside last season—to focus on filling the void Vontaze Burfict will leave during his three-game suspension to start the season.

If Cincinnati plans to simply use Dansby as a depth player, it'll be getting one heck of a reserve.

Jared Cook, TE, Green Bay Packers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Former Rams TE Jared Cook will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers this season.

The Green Bay Packers have a recent history of not being significant players during free agency. The franchise held true to form this offseason, but it did land a potentially valuable addition in former Rams tight end Jared Cook.

Cook is a 6'4", 235-pound pass-catcher who is still on the right side of 30 and has some productive seasons under his belt. Last year, he managed to haul in 39 passes for 481 yards despite playing in the league's worst passing attack (175.3 yards per game).

The Packers secured him with a one-year, $2.75 million deal.

Cook's addition is significant because it provides quarterback Aaron Rodgers with another quality target. It also gives Green Bay the ability to create more mismatches out of two-tight end formations.

"Jared is able to stretch the field a little bit with his little bit [of] extra speed," Rodgers said of Cook, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. "I'm excited to get him up and going and get to these installs and see what he can do even more."

Cook has missed much of the offseason program after undergoing foot surgery. His continued recovery, health and role in the offense will all be worth following through training camp.

Wallace Gilberry, DE, Detroit Lions

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

DE Wallace Gilberry (left) comes to Detroit after four seasons with the Bengals.

The Detroit Lions snagged one of the most underrated free agents of the offseason, signing former Bengals defensive end Wallace Gilberry.

Gilberry, who had been with Cincinnati since 2012, was often overlooked on a Bengals defensive line that included the likes of Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins and Domata Peko. Yet Gilberry was an asset to the team's four-man front, especially as a pass-rusher.

Though he only produced 2.0 sacks last season, Pro Football Focus credited him with 32 quarterback pressures and rated him 37th among all 4-3 defensive ends in pass rushing. Gilberry produced 17.5 sacks in his four seasons with Cincinnati and has 31.5 sacks for his career.

Detroit landed Gilberry with a one-year, $1.25 million deal. That is a bargain for a guy who can still contribute by getting after the quarterback.

It should be exciting to watch Gilberry in camp to see how the Lions plan to utilize him. Will they use him in a rotational pass-rush role the way Cincinnati often did? Will he get an opportunity to compete for a starting spot opposite Ziggy Ansah? We should have a better idea of what Gilberry's future with the Lions holds once camp and the preseason get underway.

Arian Foster, RB, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Running back Arian Foster missed most of last season with a torn Achilles.

Arian Foster was a late addition to this year's list of offseason acquisitions. After he missed the majority of last season with groin issues and a torn Achilles, teams were wary of his injury risks, and he didn't sign with a new team until mid-July. The Tennessee product ended up striking a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.

There are a few reasons why Foster will be worth watching in camp. The first is to see whether he can bounce back from his latest injury and return to being a star. He has made four Pro Bowl appearances, the most recent of which came two seasons ago.

"I still feel like I'm a Pro Bowl-caliber player, and I intend to show it," Foster recently said, per John Breech of CBSSports.com.

His situation is also interesting because it could play a big part in the future of Miami's running game. The Dolphins drafted Jay Ajayi last year and Kenyan Drake this year. These two youngsters are supposed to build the foundation for the ground game of the future. But Foster could delay that future by earning a significant role in the backfield this season.

There are also fantasy implications. Miami could realistically field a three-man rotation in 2016. These players' roles in camp could help indicate which, if any, are worth targeting in fantasy drafts.

All contract information via Spotrac.com.