2015 NFL Free Agents: Making the Call on Every Team's Toughest Decision
The NFL postseason has just gotten started, but free agency is right around the corner. Most teams have gotten a jump on the annual feeding frenzy, considering there are only eight teams left in the playoffs.
With free agency comes plenty of hand-wringing about whether to keep players on the roster. Some players become cap casualties, while others make themselves indispensable regardless of money.
What is each team's biggest free-agent decision—whether to re-sign a player, place the franchise tag on him or let him go?
Every situation is different. Some teams have far more cap space than others, while certain needs can be met in the draft or through free agency to get younger and better at a position. Other times it makes perfect sense to bring back players given cap and roster situations.
Let's take a gander.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: CB Antonio Cromartie
Many accolades and much money have gone cornerback Patrick Peterson's way, but his counterpart in that Arizona defense has quietly been better this season.
Peterson has been toasted on several occasions, and he ranked in the bottom half of Pro Football Focus' ratings (subscription required) at the position. Cromartie wasn't ranked too much higher, but he allowed six fewer touchdowns while intercepting the same number of passes as Peterson.
Cromartie's renaissance—his career was left for dead after a terrible final season with the New York Jets, though a hip injury was the real culprit—has helped the Cardinals defense become one of the best in the league. The 30-year-old may have earned himself one last, relatively big contract this season.
The Cardinals made it to the playoffs on the wings of their defense, and losing Cromartie would be a big blow to that secondary, even with Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu hanging around.
The Call: Re-sign Cromartie
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: K Matt Bryant
It might seem silly to think of a kicker as a team's biggest free-agent concern, but that seems to be the case in Atlanta.
Part of that is because the Falcons don't have much to worry about. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora is retiring, and counterpart Kroy Biermann is certainly not worth retaining.
Matt Bryant is a reliable kicker with a strong leg, having made 85.4 percent of his field-goal attempts throughout his career, which is good for seventh among active kickers. It's better to keep known commodities than to risk the unknown, right?
Well, it depends on how much Bryant wants to get paid.
The 39-year-old made $2.675 million last season, 11th-most in the league at his position. Considering he was fifth in field-goal percentage, he was worth every penny. But we are seeing college players with comparable accuracy and leg strength come out every year for a fraction of the price.
Fortunately for Bryant and Atlanta, the Falcons have the room to re-sign him. He should be back and splitting the uprights for years to come.
The Call: Re-sign Bryant
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: WR Torrey Smith
All things being equal, the Baltimore Ravens should re-sign receiver Torrey Smith.
For starters, he's their best receiver, with apologies to Steve Smith Sr., who has been pretty good despite being 35 years old. Torrey is 10 years his junior with far more upside.
The problem is production—Smith hasn't exactly provided much consistency throughout his NFL tenure. He has been more of a deep threat than anything else, and he has only eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards once so far in his career.
Still, the possibility of losing Torrey while Steve falls off a career cliff should scare Baltimore brass into re-signing the talented, 25-year-old receiver. Sure, the Ravens might be able to find a viable replacement on the market or in the draft, but there is something to be said for the rapport he has with quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Call: Re-sign Smith
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: LB Brandon Spikes
Defense was a strong suit for the Buffalo Bills this season, and newcomer Brandon Spikes was a big contributor to the stout unit.
The former Patriots linebacker stepped into a starting role and helped solidify a run defense that ranked 11th in the league this season. But did he do enough?
Linebacker Kiko Alonso was a revelation as a rookie, but his sophomore campaign was cut down before it could get started. His season-ending knee injury in the offseason forced the Bills to platoon Nigel Bradham and rookie Preston Brown at outside linebacker, and the latter proved to be a quality starter as the season progressed.
Assuming Alonso is all the way back, re-signing Spikes becomes a real question.
For his part, Spikes had a decent season. Former head coach Doug Marrone had high praise for his starting middle linebacker, per Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com:
"He's really done a great job for us — in the locker room, on the field, helping some of our longer guys like Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham. With Kiko Alonso being out, he's helped them learn how to be pros, watching film and doing those things. He had an outstanding offseason. He was here throughout the entire offseason. I think that was important. He's been everything that we expected him to be.
"
Those words ring hollow now that Marrone is gone.
Spikes was the 13th-best inside linebacker, according to PFF, but he was at the bottom of the league in tackling efficiency. He has always been a run-stuffing linebacker, which would be his primary role wherever he goes.
The Call: Re-sign Spikes
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: DE Greg Hardy
The allegations against defensive end Greg Hardy are ugly, as the motion for domestic violence protective order obtained by The Charlotte Observer shows:
"On May 13, 2014 Greg Hardy attacked me in his apartment. Hardy picked me up and threw me in the tile tub area of his bathroom. I have bruises from head to toe, including head, neck, back, shoulders, arms, legs elbow and feet. Hardy pulled me from the tub by my hair, screaming at me that he was going to kill me, break my arms and other threats that I completely believe. He drug me across the bathroom and out into the bedroom. Hardy choked me with both hands around my throat while I was lying on the floor. Hardy picked me up over his head and threw me onto a couch covered in assault rifles and/or shotguns. I landed on those weapons. Hardy bragged that all the assault rifles were loaded. Landing on those weapons bruised my neck and my back. Hardy screamed for his "administrative assistant" (Sammy Curtis) to come into the room and hold me down. Curtis came into the room, grabbed me from behind and held me down. Hardy and Curtis then took me into the living room area. I wasn't nearly strong or fast enough to escape. I begged them to let me go & I wouldn't tell anyone what he did. They took me out into the hall, pushed me down & went back inside the apartment. I crawled to the elevator and ran into CMPD.
"
Despite claiming he was the one attacked, Hardy was convicted of "assaulting a female and communicating threats" in the preseason, according to ESPN. He appealed the decision and is still awaiting that appeal, which has been pending ever since the summer.
Does that sound like a guy the Panthers should keep around? The league and the team didn't think so, as they placed him on the commissioner's exempt list alongside embattled Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson last season.
According to David Newton of ESPN.com, head coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers defense had "closure" near the end of the season, one that correlated with defensive improvement.
It sure looks like the Panthers can win without him.
The Call: Forget about Hardy
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: LB Lance Briggs
Back in November, linebacker Lance Briggs was all but resigned it would be his last season with the Chicago Bears, per team writer Larry Mayer:
"It's the last year of my deal. It's not like I'm magically going to show up after this year and they're going to open the gates up for me. I've talked to my buddy, [former Bears defensive end] Alex Brown. Those gates are closed when you're a free agent.
"
I know the reality of it and I'm proud of all the years I've had here. It's been great. I couldn't have asked for a better situation.
Of course, anything is possible—the Bears aren't broke, but the defense might have been without Briggs in recent years.
Not that the defense has been any good, but Briggs has been a positive contributor there even as he gets long in the tooth. He is still playing at a high level at 34 years old—he was PFF's third-best 4-3 outside linebacker last season, after all.
The Call: Re-sign Briggs
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: CB Terence Newman
Simply put, Terence Newman will be 37 to start the season. As important as he has been to the Cincinnati Bengals defense over the years, how much does signing a relic in the twilight of his career actually help the team?
The Bengals already have Adam Jones and Leon Hall on the north side of 30, and they need to make room for youngsters Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard to spread their wings and fly.
The Call: Draft a replacement
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: QB Brian Hoyer
The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a familiar position—rudderless at quarterback.
Brian Hoyer has played well at times, but his 10-6 mark with the Browns belies the truth—he is a limited player who is unlikely to elevate the offense. The problem is that his would-be replacement needs to grow up if he has any hope of becoming a viable NFL starter.
Johnny Manziel's rookie campaign was a victory for his detractors—a distraction-filled mess that has some analysts calling for his job altogether. It's difficult to condemn the rookie after just one season, but he didn't inspire confidence that he could lead the team any better than the gaggle of quarterbacks who came before him.
That's why the Browns need to re-sign Hoyer, as limited as he may be. Manziel might self-combust or get his act together and prove worthy of his first-round status. That uncertainty should be enough to scare the Browns, unless they just want to ride or die with Manziel and pick up the pieces if it doesn't work out.
The Call: Re-sign Brian Hoyer...begrudgingly
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: RB DeMarco Murray
The Dallas Cowboys may need to make some tough decisions this coming offseason. With relatively limited cap space heading into the offseason—albeit with some maneuverability—they may have to part ways with a key piece of their NFC East team.
The question is which one.
Dez Bryant is one of the best receivers in the league, and owner Jerry Jones is confident he will be re-signed. As you might imagine, that is going to take a lot of cheddar.
Offensive tackle Doug Free is a key part of an offensive line that helped running back DeMarco Murray win the rushing title in 2014, and the latter plays a position with waning value. With a strong class in the draft, could Dallas be preparing to let Murray walk?
Not only is the rookie class going to feature some great prospects this year, but the Cowboys have a couple of decent replacements as it stands in Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar. There is also a chance Cowboys fan Adrian Peterson will be jettisoned in Minnesota.
Then there is the fact Murray was unable to stay healthy until this season. What if his injury woes rear their ugly heads again?
As great as his 2014 campaign was, Murray will probably be too expensive to keep, even in a depressed market at his position.
The Call: Draft a replacement
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: OG Orlando Franklin
The list of free agents is frightening in Denver.
Receiver Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker, tight end Julius Thomas, safety Rahim Moore and offensive linemen Will Montgomery and Orlando Franklin are all set to hit the market, among others. The Broncos have a good bit of cap space but not enough to retain everyone at market value.
Both Demaryius and Julius Thomas figure to eat up a good portion of that cap space, so the rest will need to be divided up among the remaining guys, not to mention any free agents the Broncos might want to bring in from elsewhere.
One guy who might be on the outside looking in is offensive guard Orlando Franklin.
The tackle-turned-guard has been pretty good on the interior of the offensive line for the Broncos, but he might be too rich for general manager John Elway's blood. He may not demand a top-five salary at the position, but it might be enough to force Denver to look elsewhere to fill his job.
The Call: Draft or sign a replacement
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: DT Ndamukong Suh
On one hand, Ndamukong Suh may be the most dominant defensive lineman not named J.J. Watt. On the other head, he has been a knucklehead on the field at times.
Suh is looking to get paid like Watt—he reportedly wants the richest defensive contract in NFL history, according to Carlos Monarrez of USA Today—which is a scary proposition for Lions brass. They have seen his ability to dominate games and get suspended or fined firsthand.
With a ton of money already committed to two players—quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson—signing Suh to such a massive deal would mean overcommitting to a handful of players. It just doesn't make sense if Suh is serious about that kind of cash, regardless of his ability on the field.
The Call: Let Suh walk
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: CB Tramon Williams
Tramon Williams isn't the same player he was a few years ago.
The Green Bay Packers starting cornerback has allowed 14 touchdowns and snagged just eight interceptions over the past three seasons, and he has been in the middle in the pack as far as PFF ratings go.
He may not exactly be a shutdown cornerback, but he has given the Packers something they have lacked elsewhere on the roster in recent years—durability.
Williams has missed just one game over the past six seasons, something that cannot be said of many other starters around the team. While injury can strike at any moment, his ability to stay healthy certainly helps his case.
Given general manager Ted Thompson's propensity to look toward the draft rather than sign players in free agency, Williams will probably be back if he wants to remain in Green Bay.
The Call: Re-sign Williams
Houston Texans
13 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: OLB Brooks Reed
Brooks Reed had a great rookie season. The rest of his time with the Houston Texans has been a bit of a roller coaster.
Injury cut his sophomore season short, and PFF rated him the second-worst 3-4 outside linebacker in the league in his third season. Injury slowed him again last season, as he battled through a groin ailment that hampered his play.
So what do the Texans do about Reed when they lack a ton of cap space and have other concerns in free agency?
That depends on what Reed wants in a new contract. If his demands are too high, the Texans should have no problem moving on.
The Call: Draft a replacement
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: DE Cory Redding
The Indianapolis Colts don't have a ton of concerns among players slated to hit free agency. They also have a ton of cap space to blow.
If it was clear that wide receiver Reggie Wayne wanted to come back, he would be the toughest call here. The 36-year-old seems to be leaning toward retirement, at least from what he said about spending time with family, according to Mike Chappell of RTV6.
That leaves Cory Redding as the next best choice here.
The big defensive end has been pretty good for the Colts, but he is no spring chicken at age 34. Still, he can probably be re-signed for a paltry sum; he's a worthwhile investment even at his age.
The Call: Re-sign Redding
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: WR Cecil Shorts III
The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't exactly been an offensive powerhouse in recent years, but it's hardly Cecil Shorts' fault, right?
Well, it might be his hamstring's fault. Or some other part of his body that has kept him out of a game in the past several seasons.
Shorts has talent, and he has flashed his game-breaking ability on occasion. However, injuries—not to mention quarterback play—have kept him from realizing his full potential, and the Jaguars have gotten better at the wide receiver position.
Jacksonville drafted Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson as the receivers of the future, and the team unearthed undrafted rookie Allen Hurns as a diamond in the rough early last season. The trio is the future at the position in Jacksonville, which could make Shorts a thing of the past.
Still, Shorts might come cheap enough that it would be worth keeping him.
The Call: Re-sign Shorts if the price is right
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: LB Justin Houston
If it weren't for Houston's J.J. Watt, Justin Houston would be the front-runner for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The talented pass-rusher had a career year for the Kansas City Chiefs, and it just so happened to be in a contract year. He wound up one half-sack short of breaking Michael Strahan's season record, leading the league with 22 after a flurry in Week 17.
Head coach Andy Reid cannot afford to lose him, but the Chiefs may not want to negotiate a new deal while Houston holds all the leverage.
That is why it might behoove the Chiefs to bite the bullet and place the franchise tag on their studly outside linebacker. That would put the pressure on Houston to do it again to retain all the leverage he has built up this season.
It might seem rude, but it's just business.
The Call: Use the franchise tag on Houston
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: DL Jared Odrick
There isn't much cap space in Miami right now, so the Dolphins are going to need to be crafty to stay afloat in free agency.
Some of that will involve restructuring contracts to create breathing room. The Dolphins will face tough choices about some players anyway.
One of those difficult decisions will be Jared Odrick. The former first-round pick got off to a slow start in his career, but he has been a quality player along a defensive line that has been dominant at times.
The Dolphins may not have a ton of cap space, but they need to find a way to keep Odrick. There has been pipe-dream talk of signing Ndamukong Suh in Miami, which has highlighted the importance of strong play in the middle of the defensive line.
Odrick may not be Suh, but he is worth trying to keep. The question is how much money that will take.
The Call: Re-sign Odrick without getting into a bidding war
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 32
Biggest Decision: RB Adrian Peterson
The Minnesota Vikings don't really have any tough free-agent decisions pending—unless you count quarterback Christian Ponder a difficult decision—so how about something a little different here?
What should the Vikings do about Adrian Peterson, who is slated to be the team's highest-paid player by a country mile next season? After all, he is just a couple of years removed from his epic MVP season, and he will theoretically have fresh legs after having an entire season off.
Of course, the reason for his absence last season is the problem here. Peterson pleaded "no contest" to allegations of child abuse after he hit his son with a switch, fanning the flames surrounding domestic abuse in the NFL.
He was put on the commissioner's exempt list, then suspended after his court case was over. At one point, Peterson was reportedly contemplating retirement to pursue an Olympic dream, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling.
The Vikings don't exactly have a replacement for Peterson—apologies to Matt Asiata, the plodding wonder—but they could use the cap space and the peace of mind. Perhaps a Melvin Gordon or Duke Johnson might interest Vikings fans in the NFL draft too.
The Call: Part ways with Peterson
New England Patriots
19 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: K Stephen Gostkowski
Like Matt Bryant in Atlanta, Stephen Gostkowski has been a rock-solid kicker in New England. Unlike the Falcons, however, the Patriots may not have the cap luxury to keep him.
New England is slated to have some of the least cap space in the league heading into the offseason. Granted, Darrelle Revis and his $25 million cap number has a lot to do with that, but even re-signing him to a cap-friendly deal may not free up enough space.
Between Gostkowski and Adam Vinatieri of yesteryear, however, the Patriots have had the luxury of a top kicker on their roster for the past 20 years. As painful as it might be for head coach Bill Belichick to shell out relatively big bucks to a kicker, it's probably best to keep up the tradition of reliable kicking...assuming Revis re-signs to a more palatable deal, of course.
The Call: Re-sign Gostkowski
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: RB Mark Ingram
Finally, Mark Ingram lives up to his draft status.
The former Alabama star had been an abject disappointment with New Orleans, unable to generate anything remotely worth the first-round pick the Saints traded for to get him. Last season was his last chance at redemption in the final year of his contract, and he finally delivered.
Despite missing a few games due to injury, Ingram wound up with 964 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, ranking third in the league in scoring on the ground. He started the season hot before injuring his hand, but Ingram finally showed he could carry the load once he came back for good.
Unfortunately, Ingram's body of work combined with a general decline in value at running back might make free agency a hostile environment for the four-year veteran.
It might also make him a cheap commodity for the Saints to re-sign, especially considering they have all the leverage with Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas still on the roster.
Signing Ingram to a cheap, new deal would allow the Saints to focus elsewhere in the draft, where the front office will need to earn its money because of a dire cap situation.
The Call: Re-sign Ingram on the cheap
New York Giants
21 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: S Antrel Rolle
What to do with safety Antrel Rolle?
On one hand, he has been a reliable starter for the New York Giants over the past five seasons. On the other hand, he is 32 and teetering on the edge of full decline.
Bleacher Report's Patricia Traina put it bluntly when she wrote the Giants should re-sign their starting safety:
"While there’s no question that Rolle's production dipped this season, the 32-year-old safety brings many intangibles to the table.
Those include his durability—he hasn't missed a game for the Giants since signing with them in 2010—his leadership (he's a two-time team captain) and his motor.
If there's a downside to Rolle that might affect the possibility of him re-signing with the Giants, it's his opinion of what he might be worth.
Rolle is a very confident yet forthright personality who leaves everything he has on the field.
"
Good teams don't make decisions based on intangibles and past performance, but Rolle may not be in total decline just yet. It's not as easy as it seems to replace a durable, serviceable starter either.
The Call: Re-sign Rolle if the price is right
New York Jets
22 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: LB David Harris
David Harris has been a key part of the New York Jets defense over the years, but he may not have a place with the new regime.
That has yet to be determined as the Jets try to find a new general manager and head coach after they fired John Idzik and Rex Ryan, respectively. Whoever comes in to take over may not see Harris as a fit in a potentially new defensive scheme.
Assuming he isn't a square peg trying to get into a round hole, however, it would behoove the Jets to try to retain the soon-to-be 31-year-old linebacker. He may not be a spectacular player, but he has been a rock in the middle of that defense.
The Call: Re-sign Harris
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: S Charles Woodson
Letting go of a future Hall of Famer who is still capable of starting might be difficult, but the Oakland Raiders might be better served moving on from Charles Woodson.
He started every game for the Raiders the last two seasons and provides invaluable leadership, but how much does the 38-year-old really have left in the tank? He tied for fifth at his position with four interceptions this season, but he ranked among the worst safeties in the league, according to PFF.
It's natural for a 38-year-old to be in decline, but Woodson may not feel that he is.
Woodson said he felt great during the regular season, per Jerry McDonald of the San Jose Mercury News, and that he plans on coming back for next season if he continues to feel great. What will happen if he doesn't feel so great in Week 2?
The Raiders re-signed Woodson last year with a ton of cap space, and they are probably going to do it again this year if Woodson doesn't retire. Maybe they will have a quick turnaround to give Woodson a nice sendoff from the NFL.
The Call: Let Woodson retire as a Raider
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: WR Jeremy Maclin
Jeremy Maclin signed a one-year "prove it" deal to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles as he made his way back from an ACL tear. Well, he proved it, racking up 1,318 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 85 receptions.
Now what?
The Eagles found a gem in the draft in Jordan Matthews, who showed out in a few games before being ultimately outshone by his rookie contemporaries. Outside those two, however, Philadelphia doesn't have a whole lot in the way of receiving weapons.
The Call: Re-sign Maclin
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: OLB Jason Worilds
The Pittsburgh Steelers slapped outside linebacker Jason Worilds with a transition tag last year after contract negotiations stalled, but they won't be able to dodge the bullet this season.
Worilds didn't exactly build on his 2013 campaign to make the Steelers pay, but he had another successful season that saw him notch 7.5 sacks after getting eight last year. He has improved over the past couple of seasons by PFF metrics, too.
Worse for the Steelers is the fact they are so thin at the position—without Worilds, it comes down to disappointing Jarvis Jones, assuming aging James Harrison retires again or goes elsewhere.
The problem for Pittsburgh is a crummy cap situation. For the second consecutive season, the Steelers don't have much to work with, though reworking some contracts will give them much more room than they had last season.
They cannot afford to lose Worilds, regardless of much it might eat into limited cap space.
The Call: Re-sign Worilds
San Diego Chargers
26 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: RB Ryan Mathews
The San Diego Chargers threw three years and $10.5 million at Donald Brown last offseason, matching Jaguars back Toby Gerhart for the richest contract signed at the position last year.
While that might have been a bit of a mistake, it also might have been a sign of things to come for incumbent starter Ryan Mathews.
The fifth-year running back has been good when on the field, but that is the rub—Mathews has been unable to stay healthy in all but one season. He played just six games last season, and he has been active for every game just once in his career.
Of course, that just means the Chargers have all the leverage. That strong incoming rookie class will help matters for the team as well.
The Call: Bring Mathews back on a light contract
San Francisco 49ers
27 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: RB Frank Gore
The San Francisco 49ers have a couple of tough free-agent decisions coming this offseason, but one might become the most difficult for emotional reasons.
Running back Frank Gore has been an integral and valuable part of the San Francisco offense for a decade. He has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in all but two of those seasons—his rookie year and an injury-marred 2010 campaign—and his 11,073 career yards are a franchise record.
Who said anything about decline?
Of course, at 31 years of age, Gore is well in the danger zone for running backs in the NFL. All those statistics from yesteryear are fine and dandy, but it's the future the 49ers must worry about.
For his part, Gore wants to be back with the 49ers if they give him a respectable deal, per SFGate.com's Eric Branch: "If they want to bring me back, they will. They'll come to me in a respectful way. We'll sit down, see what they want me to do. See what my role is, and if I like it, I'll sign. If I don't, I'll try to see what other teams think of me."
Considering how much running backs made last offseason—not to mention a strong rookie class that should further dilute free agency at the position—it may not cost much to keep Gore in the fold. The question is whether he will accept a small deal to finish out his career in San Francisco.
The Call: Let Gore retire as a 49er
Seattle Seahawks
28 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: To save or to spend
Want to read a blueprint on a model NFL franchise? Take a look at how the Seattle Seahawks are run.
General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have created a monster team, and they have fostered a culture that makes players want to play in Seattle.
The Seahawks took care of their two biggest free-agent concerns by re-signing linebacker K.J. Wright and defensive end Cliff Avril during the season. They also re-signed stud cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas to big deals last spring.
Despite spending all that money, Seattle is projected to enter the 2015 offseason with around $26 million in cap space and only one real concern—re-signing cornerback Byron Maxwell.
Whether the Seahawks should spend a significant amount of money elsewhere on their roster is a different story. Their biggest concern is how much money they should save for 2016, when they will really need it.
That's when quarterback Russell Wilson, left tackle Russell Okung and linebacker Bobby Wagner are set to hit free agency. All are vital to the team, so it would behoove Seattle to try to save a big chunk of cap space for the future.
Of course, given their recent track record, the Seahawks might have early extensions in mind for those three.
The Call: Churn the roster and try to extend Wilson, Wagner or Okung early
St. Louis Rams
29 of 32
Biggest Decision: QB Sam Bradford
Like with the Minnesota Vikings, the St. Louis Rams don't have a terribly compelling decision to make on players who are slated for free agency. So let's talk about the $13 million elephant in the room—quarterback Sam Bradford.
That is how much Bradford is owed in 2015, an enormous number for the disappointing and oft-injured former No. 1 pick.
Cutting Bradford seems like a no-brainer at this point, but that leaves the Rams in a bit of a pickle. They have seen what they get without Bradford—ineffective career backup Shaun Hill or occasionally tantalizing but mostly disappointing Austin Davis under center.
The Rams already seem to be in quarterback purgatory, but cutting Bradford might strand them there a while longer. Without a blockbuster trade up from the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft, there is a good chance they will miss out on this year's top two quarterbacks—Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota—who headline an otherwise disappointing draft class at the position.
Of course, the flip side is the $13 million Bradford's contract is eating in the salary cap—a factor that will probably seal his doom given the Rams are set to enter the offseason with the sixth-least cap space.
In the end, it's all about the money, and Bradford has proved time and again that he isn't worth that kind of cheddar.
The Call: Part ways with Bradford
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: DL Da'Quan Bowers
Da'Quan Bowers has been an abject disappointment for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Lovie Smith was clearly evaluating him for the future with his team as the Bucs closed out the season against the New Orleans Saints, per Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times:
"When I talk about how important this game is for some players, a guy like Da'Quan, he needs to leave his mark. He's been around here a while, shown flashes. … When you know this is my last opportunity right now, you should get the best. He's definitely in that group of guys that need to step up this week.
"
He did have a nice game to close out the season, and he is a versatile lineman who can play defensive end or tackle. Perhaps that has been part of his problem in Tampa Bay—Bowers has been pushed around the defensive line, which may have sabotaged his consistency and development.
Still, when a head coach is saying things like that about you heading into a season finale, your days are all but numbered. Bowers doesn't really have the trust of his coaches in Tampa Bay, and that means they should let him go or bring him back strictly on a one-year deal.
The Call: Re-sign Bowers on a "prove it" deal
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: S George Wilson
George Wilson has been a starter in Tennessee for the past couple of seasons, but he is giving the Titans diminishing returns.
The problem is replacing the 33-year-old. Not everyone can play decent football into their late 30s like Charles Woodson, after all.
Wilson fell off a cliff in 2014, rating out as one of the worst safeties in the league, according to PFF—even worse than Woodson or Antrel Rolle, whom we have discussed previously. Once again, the veteran leadership thing adds value here, but it might not be enough to be worthwhile for the perpetually rebuilding Titans.
The Call: Move on from Wilson
Washington
32 of 32
Biggest Free-Agent Decision: OLB Brian Orakpo
Brian Orakpo has a ton of potential. He also has a checkered injury history.
His career got off to a hot start as he notched 11 sacks as a rookie and 28.5 through his first three years in the league. Then his pectoral muscles began sabotaging him.
The talented pass-rusher has played just 24 games over the past three seasons thanks to several pectoral tears; the latest knocked him out of the 2014 season after just seven games and a half sack. He did sandwich a 10-sack year between two lost ones, but the arrow is pointing down on the 28-year-old sack artist.
Washington's decision to tag him last offseason was a curious one given his injury past, and the house won the gamble. Now he is set to hit free agency after several disappointing seasons.
There is little reason for Washington to re-sign Orakpo, at least to any contract price of significance. He hasn't given the defense much when he has been on the field, which hasn't been the case for much of the past three years.
The Call: Let Orakpo go
All salary-cap information courtesy of OvertheCap.com. Unless otherwise stated, all statistics and rankings courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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