NFL Free Agency 2014: Highlighting Best Fits for Top 10 Free Agents

The 2014 NFL free agency period will almost certainly produce extremes in reactions.  From exhilaration to despondence, signing or losing a premier free agent often brings about a conviction in fan bases that one player can swing their team's fortunes.

Of course, the actual season rarely plays out in that fashion, as roster construction is far more complex than throwing piles of money at players on the top of your fantasy draft queue.  Nevertheless, with salary cap growth plateauing in recent years, teams are having more difficulty shelling out big-money extensions to their young (and previously cost-controlled) stars.

Consequently, the cream of this year's free agency crop consists of numerous players in or approaching their prime.  These rare game-changers may not singlehandedly carry their teams to the Super Bowl, but they are certainly capable of swinging a couple games, which is certainly no small impact.

For the sake of clarity, the "top 10" on this list refers to the top currently available free agents as ranked by Greg Bedard of MMQB.com, not including franchise- or transition-tagged players.  It's certainly not a scientifically precise list, but it does provide some more variation than public perception may allow, since Bedard does not exclusively zero in on skill position players.

Additionally, these are projections for the best fits, not necessarily predictions on where these free agents will actually end up. All the teams on this list should have realistic aspirations of signing their free agent match, but at this point, it's fallacious to predict free agency with any real conviction.

With all those caveats out of the way, here are the best realistic fits for the top-10 unsigned free agents.

*All stats courtesy ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required), and all salary data via Spotrac.com.

10. Lamarr Houston, DE, Oakland Raiders

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Best Fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In a free-agent class rich with edge-rushers, Oakland's Lamarr Houston stands out as one of the best available options.  Houston may soon be an ex-Raider; as Jerry McDonald of InsideBayArea.com relayed at the end of the regular season, Houston believed his time in Oakland was over.

That was several months ago and while the Raiders do have the cap space to keep Houston, the 26-year-old may want to explore other options after four seasons in the Black Hole.  Houston is not an obvious game-changing presence, as his 6.5 sacks last season was a career-high.

However, with 41 hurries in 2013, ninth-most among 4-3 defensive ends, he does provide a steadier pass rush than the surface stats indicate.  For a 4-3 defense without a consistent outside rusher, Houston would be an excellent fit.

One such team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David accounted for 15 of Tampa's 35 sacks last season.  While McCoy and David are tremendous talents, those numbers are indicative of a team without a true edge-rushing presence.  Indeed, apart from McCoy and David, only Adrian Clayborn had more than two sacks on the season.

The Bucs are a young and talented defense with foundational pieces at every level.  If Tampa could add an edge-rushing defensive end like Houston to complement McCoy inside, that would only add to the bandwagon pinpointing the Bucs as a 2014 playoff darkhorse.

9. T.J. Ward, S, Cleveland Browns

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Best Fit: Green Bay Packers

T.J. Ward has emerged as one of the league's best all-around safeties within the last two seasons.  The Browns strong safety compiled a plus-8.1 run defense grade and tops in the league at his position.  At 5'10" and 200 pounds, Ward may not have the linebacker-like frame of a player like Seattle's Kam Chancellor, but he plays a similarly stellar all-around game.

The Green Bay Packers are a team who could use a capable in-the-box safety like Ward.  The Packers might be hesitant to devote big money to the position after signing strong safety Morgan Burnett to a four-year, $24.75 million extension last year. 

However, the tandem of Burnett and M.D. Jennings was decidedly underwhelming, as the two combined for zero interceptions and a combined minus-11.4 overall grade.  Burnett and Jennings were not only liabilities in pass coverage but also in the run game, contributing to a Green Bay defense whose opponents' 4.7 yards per carry average was fourth-worst in the league last season.

Ward would help remedy the all-around mediocrity in the Packers secondary, providing Green Bay the type of versatile safety they had in Charles Woodson's heyday.  With over $35 million in cap space, the Packers are capable of taking care of in-house priorities while also adding a sorely needed talent like Ward.

8. Jared Veldheer, OT, Oakland Raiders

Tom E. Puskar/Associated Press

Best Fit: New York Giants

Raiders' left tackle Jared Veldheer missed the first 12 games of 2013 with a torn triceps, and he was not himself upon return.  However, Veldheer was one of the best pass-blocking tackles in 2012, accruing a whopping plus-17.8 grade in that department, ninth-best in the league.

Veldheer will be just 27 at the start of the 2014 season, so a full offseason to rest and recover should allow him to regain his stellar 2012 form.  Thus, there should be a robust market for one of the best pass-blocking tackles, especially in a league where offenses are increasingly moving through the air.

The New York Giants are one team who could sorely use Veldheer's services.  Though the Giants were only middle-of-the-pack in terms of sacks allowed, they had the second-worst pass-blocking grade last season.  That certainly passes the eye test for anyone who watched Big Blue, as Eli Manning took a beating week after week in 2013.

Consequently, many like Ebenezer Samuel of the NY Daily News have highlighted offensive line as an urgent priority for the Giants.  First-rounder Justin Pugh was capable on the right side, but Will Beatty struggled on the left.  Beatty conceded 59 total pressures last year, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

Unfortunately, Beatty is stuck in the second year of a huge five-year deal, one that the Giants might regret in hindsight.  New York also has issues on the interior line it must address.  It will be tough for them to justify sitting Beatty just one season after such a big investment but for Manning's sake, bringing in a capable replacement like Veldheer is probably the prudent move.

7. Linval Joseph, DT, New York Giants

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Best Fit: Atlanta Falcons

New York Giants' defensive tackle Linval Joseph has emerged as the best available interior defensive lineman.  At 25 years old, Joseph's versatility to play in either the 4-3 or 3-4, plus his capability as both a capable run-stuffer and interior pass-rusher, make him one of the more desirable targets in the league.

Per Jordan Raanan of the Newark Star-Ledger, Joseph would likely have to take a team-friendly deal to remain with the Giants.  For a player approaching his prime, there is little reason to accept a discount, meaning that his days in Gotham are likely over.

A more tenable fit might be the Atlanta Falcons, who are in desperate need of front-seven playmakers.  While Atlanta could turn to the draft for an edge-rusher like Khalil Mack or Anthony Barr, that still does not solve the Falcons' soft middle, where the projected starters are solid but aging veteran Jonathan Babineaux and first-round disappointment Peria Jerry.

Joseph would infuse the Falcons with youth, and, more importantly, a presence in the middle that would require a double-team from the opposing offensive line.  The Falcons conceded 4.8 yards per carry, the 31st-best mark in the league, and they desperately need a true anchor.

In his piece, Raanan projected a four-year, $24 million deal for Joseph.  Atlanta has roughly $26.2 million cap space, and it could shed even more by releasing overpriced veterans like Harry Douglas, Osi Umenyiora and Kroy Biermann.  An impactful defensive tackle is rare and coupling Joseph with one of the aforementioned draft picks could turn the Atlanta defense around rather quickly.

6. Alterraun Verner, CB, Tennessee Titans

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Best Fit: St. Louis Rams

The secret is out on Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner, who emerged as one of the league's elite corners during his fourth season in Nashville.  Opposing quarterbacks accrued a woeful 55.8 quarterback rating when throwing at Verner last season, the third-lowest mark against any corner in the league. 

However, Verner is not a plug-and-play corner and teams who play the wrong scheme could be left disappointed.  As Mike Tanier of SportsonEarth.com elucidates in this highly informative breakdown of Verner, the Titans corner is not a physical press-man corner like Richard Sherman but rather a zone defender who relies on quickness and anticipation to make plays.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reported that Verner was unlikely to give the cap-strapped Titans a hometown discount, so the 25-year-old star may flee for greener pastures. In terms of scheme and financials, the St. Louis Rams might be the best fit for Verner.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned Verner as a possibility for the Rams and considering St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher was the man who drafted Verner to the Titans in 2010, the connection is rather obvious.  The Rams could potentially save $4 million in cap space by cutting underachieving corner Cortland Finnegan, though the dead money from Finnegan's contract would linger for a few years.

Nevertheless, the Rams have one of the league's best young front sevens, with the defensive line bookend of Robert Quinn and Chris Long standing out as a strong base.  Adding Verner would give the Rams one of the best ball-hawking cornerback tandems when paired with Janoris Jenkins, making for a defense that could create more big plays than any other in the league.

5. Eugene Monroe, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Best Fit: Arizona Cardinals

Following his midseason trade to the Ravens, Eugene Monroe was one of the best left tackles in the league.  Monroe graded out at plus-14.5 in the pass-blocking game, 10th-best in the league, and he was also a very good run-blocker with a plus-6.1 grade.

While the Ravens would love to keep Monroe, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun projects a contract comparable to the four-year, $34 million contract with $16 million guaranteed that Jake Long signed with the Rams last year.  Monroe would certainly be an excellent fit in Baltimore but with numerous teams in dire need of a pass-blocking left tackle, the market might be a bit too rich for the Ravens' liking.

Thus, a team like the Arizona Cardinals, who sported by far the league's worst offensive line last season, might use some of their $17.8 million in cap space to make a big splash on an offensive lineman.  Nominal starting left tackle Bradley Sowell allowed 59 pressures last year, tied for fourth-worst in the league.

The Cardinals need help all over the line, though having 2013 seventh overall pick Jonathan Cooper play after missing the whole season with a broken fibula will help.  Nevertheless, for a team playing in a division full of fearsome pass-rushers, Arizona absolutely must have a cornerstone tackle like Monroe.

4. Branden Albert, OT, Kansas City Chiefs

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Best Fit: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were strongly linked to Branden Albert last year, and they could close the deal on the Chiefs tackle this offseason. Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post reported that Miami was expected to "go hard" after Albert, hardly a surprising development given the on- and off-field train wreck that was the Dolphins offensive line in 2013.

Like the other offensive tackles on this list, Albert's strength is pass-blocking.  Although the Kansas City left tackle ranked 11th with a plus-14.4 pass-blocking grade, he also had a minus-2.4 run-blocking grade.

That should suit the Dolphins just fine, however.  Per TeamRankings.com, Ryan Tannehill was sacked on 8.9 percent of his dropbacks last season, the third-highest rate in the league.  After Bryant McKinnie took over for Jonathan Martin midseason, he compiled the ninth-least efficient pass-blocking performance, allowing 39 pressures in just 418 passing plays.

Albert will command a lofty deal, but with $38.6 million in cap space, the Dolphins can fit one of the elite free-agent left tackles in their budget.  Albert alone is not a cure-all panacea to Miami's catastrophic offensive line, but he represents a good start.

3. Jairus Byrd, S, Buffalo Bills

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Best Fit: Philadelphia Eagles

For the majority of last season, the Eagles started one of the league's shakiest safety tandems in Patrick Chung and Nate Allen.  The two combined to concede seven touchdowns against just one interception, on 51-of-75 passing, during the 2013 regular season.  According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, the Eagles gave up 62 pass plays of 20 or more yards, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

It is clear the Eagles badly need an overhaul in the secondary.  Based on their woes in pass coverage, Bills' safety Jairus Byrd looks like a better fit than Cleveland's T.J. Ward, the other big safety prize. 

Unlike Ward, Byrd is more of a pure coverage safety, an excellent centerfield patrol who thrives off exemplary instincts to create turnovers.  Indeed, Byrd gave up just one touchdown on 11-of-22 passing last season, while picking off four passes himself.

Too often, the Eagles' safeties were prone to quarterbacks who could look off receivers and easily manipulate the Philly secondary.  Byrd is a master at reading quarterbacks, often closing huge amounts of real estate on deep routes to make a play on the ball, even without track-star speed.

The Eagles have roughly $29.1 million in cap space.  Though some of that money should go towards restructuring the front seven with more compatible personnel for Chip Kelly's 3-4 scheme, a safety blanket like Byrd would go a long ways towards rectifying the Eagles defense.

2. Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

Tom Uhlman/Associated Press

Best Fit: Minnesota Vikings

At times, defensive end Michael Johnson has flown under the radar in Cincinnati.  In truth, he has been one of the most impactful players in the league over the last two seasons.  After accruing 11.5 sacks in 2012, Johnson had just 3.5 sacks last year, but he compensated with 10 pass deflections.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported on Feb. 10 that Johnson was unlikely to return to the Bengals.  Since then, per USA Today's Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings with new coach and former Cincy defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer have emerged as the favorites to sign Johnson.

Apart from the Zimmer connection, the Johnson-to-Minnesota buzz makes sense on a few different levels.  The Vikings could potentially lose free-agent defensive ends Jared Allen and Everson Griffen, both of whom played significant snaps in a pass-rushing role last season.  Indeed, Allen and Griffen combined for 17 of the Vikings' 41 sacks last season.

Minnesota might need to replace a large chunk of its pass-rushing production, even if only one of the two free agents leave.  At 27 years old, Johnson represents a younger option whose familiarity with the system could allow the Vikings to lock up a budding star through his prime years.

The Vikings have a shade over $35 million of cap space this offseason.  While Minnesota could use some of that money to lock up young core players like Griffen and tight end Kyle Rudolph, they should also invest in a defensive playmaker like Johnson.

1. Michael Bennett, DE, Seattle Seahawks

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Best Fit: Cincinnati Bengals

Per ESPN.com's Terry Blount, defensive end Michael Bennett has already stated he will not give the Seattle Seahawks a hometown discount.  While the Seahawks are in decent cap shape, with $17.8 million available, budgeting for upcoming extensions for the likes of Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman may preclude Seattle from retaining Bennett's services.

Despite his universal status as one of the top available free agents, there is a bit of trepidation surrounding Bennett.  As ESPN.com's KC Joyner illustrates (subscription required) (h/t to CBFans.net), Bennett may be a byproduct of an excellent supporting cast:

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According to ESPN Stats & Information, Bennett's 1.4 disrupted dropback percentage (a statistic that gauges how often a defender notches a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball) ranked tied for 32nd among defensive linemen with 500 or more snaps played. This is not an anomaly for Bennett, as he posted disrupted dropback rates of 1.5 percent, 0.8 percent and 0.2 percent in the 2012, 2011 and 2010 seasons, respectively.

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For the record, Bennett notched 65 total pressures last season, ninth-best among 4-3 defensive ends.  Still, a team with an excellent interior like the Bengals might be best suited to take advantage of Bennett's talents. 

Having played next to premier defensive tackles like Brandon Mebane and Gerald McCoy, Bennett would surely thrive alongside Geno Atkins.  Regardless of how much of his success is a product of his environment, the results have been there in two different organizations over the last two years.  Adding Bennett would compensate for losing Michael Johnson, allowing Cincy to reload as one of the AFC's best defenses once again.