NFL Free Agency: Braylon Edwards and the Best Remaining Players

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With NFL free agency looking more and more like it is over, the fact of the matter is there remains some gems available for a lower cost.

Hanging out while everyone else signs contracts will stigmatize a player and his value, making a contract more affordable for whatever NFL team intends to sign him.

Here are the best players still available.

This article was originally published at Gridironed.com.

Braylon Edwards, WR

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A diva by any account, Braylon Edwards talks the talk, but doesn’t always walk the walk. A dose of reality may alter his outlook on his career—after all, in six NFL seasons, Edwards has surpassed 1,000-receiving yards just once. In 2007, Edwards grabbed 16 touchdowns, but over the last three seasons, his sum number of receiving touchdowns is 17, just one more than he had in all of 2007.

Edwards’ personality and perception that he is similar to Randy Moss during Moss' prime years are what may be keeping teams away.

That, or the amount of money Edwards is pursuing.

Michael Bush, RB

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The forgotten name among free-agent running backs, Michael Bush is not known to be a workhorse, but he is more than effective in a committee.

Therefore, whoever lands Bush will receive a back who will tote the rock for 130-140 times this year at an effective rate. Bush is also a handyman out of the backfield, grabbing 54 receptions over the last three seasons.

A bit underrated, but strictly a role-player, Bush would be a nice addition to any offense looking for a sizable difference-maker in the offensive backfield.

Olin Kreutz, C

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Why Olin Kreutz is not in a Chicago Bears uniform at this point amazes me. Great centers do not come around too often, and Kreutz is one of those centers. Despite his age (34), he can still put it together and will likely continue to start until he is 38 or 39.

In what appears to be one of the NFL’s uglier divorces, there is no way Kreutz returns to the Windy City. He will catch on somewhere, but at a lower price than his resume would merit.

Carlos Rogers, CB

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Carlos Rogers was a prolific cornerback on Saturday's, but that didn’t necessarily transfer well to Sunday's.

He remains unsigned, and that could be attributed to the fact that it depends on what kind of scheme in which he plays. Rogers only tallied eight interceptions in his five years with the Washington Redskins, plus he was burnt or played out of position in critical moments.

Rogers will catch on somewhere though and thrive in nickel packages.

Chris Houston, CB

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Another cornerback who never truly lived up to the hype from his college days is Chris Houston. After high expectations in Atlanta, he was abruptly cut prior to last season, but bounced back to have a very good year with the Detroit Lions.

Houston is a player who needs some tutelage, as he gets lost in zone coverage, but his athleticism makes up for what he lacks coverage-wise. He improved in run defense, playing the line of scrimmage well at times too.

Brent Grimes, CB

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Despite nabbing 11 interceptions over the last two seasons, former Atlanta Falcon Brent Grimes remains without a job. He is one of the more unheralded cornerbacks in the league and will find a job at a lower price tag than he would have imagined eight months ago.

Donte Whitner, S

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Former first-round pick Donte Whitner is considered to be a bust by some and unlucky by others.

He played for a bad Buffalo Bills team. As a safety, he grabbed 94 solo tackles last year. Some may say he underperforms, but the reality is that the atmosphere he plays in may determine how well he succeeds.

That may sound like a cop-out, but the truth is Whitner is a gamer and will land a gig somewhere soon.