Sometimes, it's hard to figure out how NFL teams scout and sign free agents. Players with short, questionable track records land monster contracts, and players with Hall of Fame résumés coming off solid seasons can't get a sniff.
Age, injury and lack of production can all rightfully scare NFL teams away from offering big contracts to free agents—but in the middle of May, the big money has already been spent.
With OTAs just getting underway, there are still plenty of quality veterans still waiting for their phone to ring, still waiting for an opportunity to prove they can step in and make a team better.
Maybe they'll get picked up once the first wave of OTAs is complete, and head coaches realize they can't scrape by with an unproven player at that position after all. Maybe their phone will ring when an injury strikes, and a team needs immediate help. Maybe they'll get offered a contract when they start asking for a smaller contract.



