2015 NFL Free Agents: Predicting How Latest Rumors Will Affect Draft Picks
The bevy of talent that could be available when the 2015 free-agency period begins is astounding. However, with many of these players still taking part in the playoffs, rumors have been limited. It won't be long until that changes.
Rest assured, each team that missed, or has been eliminated from, the playoffs has already looked into players who could improve its roster going forward. Those teams that do eventually pull the trigger on a coveted free agent will see their draft strategies change as a result.
Based on current team needs, and taking into consideration where draft prospects are likely to be selected, let's take a look at a few recent rumors and decide how a move in free agency will ultimately affect the 2015 NFL draft.
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Ndamukong Suh to Cleveland Browns
One of the biggest names set to hit the free-agent market, Suh will surely garner interest from a number of defensive tackle-needy teams. His 2014 regular-season campaign resulted in 53 tackles and 8.5 sacks, as he continued to assert himself as one of the league's most dominant defensive interior linemen.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, one team rumored to have plenty of interest in Suh is the Cleveland Browns:
Due to the amount of money Suh will likely demand in free agency and the excess of salary-cap room the Browns are expected to have, the possibility of the defensive tackle signing a lucrative deal with the team is very real. This would certainly change things for Detroit in the coming draft.
We'll have to wait at least until the Lions play in the Wild Card Round to know their draft position, but they are expected to pick somewhere around No. 25 overall. If Detroit wants to keep its stout run defense intact, it should be looking at a replacement for Suh here.
A great option would be Danny Shelton of Washington.
At 6'2" and 332 pounds, the senior's big frame makes him a fantastic gap-stuffer against the run. He's strong enough to work is way through double-teams and use his great strength and bull rush to bully his way into the backfield and track down ball-carriers. Able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Shelton accumulated nine sacks in 2014, according to CFBStats.com.
Jason Pierre-Paul Tagged by New York Giants
Pierre-Paul had a monster second half of the season in New York, accumulating eight sacks over his final five games to finish the year with 12.5, which is good enough for the second-most of his career, just behind his 16.5-sack season in 2011.
It may be difficult for the Giants to get a long-term deal done with Pierre-Paul before the free-agency period begins. After all, the defensive end has already made it known he's worth "a lot of money." According to Giants president John Mara, via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, that could result in a franchise tag for the 2015 season:
If New York decides to pay Pierre-Paul top-five money for a year, the team's draft strategy could look a bit different.
Instead of looking for a pass-rusher in the first round to serve as the eventual replacement for Pierre-Paul, the Giants will look to another position of need: the offensive line. At No. 9 overall, New York has plenty of options. However, the team is likely to take a long look at Andrus Peat of Stanford.
The Giants are finally building something special on offense, and protecting Eli Manning with more efficiency will be a priority. Peat is a monster in the trenches at 6'7" and 312 pounds, fitting the team's need perfectly. Not only is he a big, strong tackle, but he displays surprising quickness and is able to slide outside to seal off the path of a faster pass-rusher.
Brian Hoyer Returns to Cleveland Browns
Did the Browns make a mistake drafting Johnny Manziel? It's an interesting topic to debate, but no one knows the ultimate answer to that question. Regardless, the rookie signal-caller didn't look ready for NFL action in 2014, and Cleveland will need an insurance policy.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, that insurance could simply be re-signing Hoyer:
The quarterback market appears to be rather thin in 2015 free agency, and Cleveland doesn't look to be in the best position to grab one early in the draft. That said, bringing Hoyer back is a strong possibility. If that's the case, the Browns should have one focus—accumulating offensive weapons.
With a quarterback situation unimproved from 2014, ongoing uncertainty surrounding the enigmatic Josh Gordon and a rather thin receiving corps thereafter, expect Cleveland to look at a big wide receiver as early as the draft's 12th selection (Cleveland also picks at No. 19).
At No. 12 overall, Alabama's Amari Cooper should be long gone, but nabbing Louisville's DeVante Parker isn't a bad consolation prize. At 6'3" and 209 pounds, Parker's stature, great reach and athleticism give him an enormous catch radius, making him a big, friendly target for whomever starts under center for Cleveland in 2015.
The receiver is a reliable target, running crisp routes and possessing soft hands. His length and leaping ability make him a dangerous target in the red zone. These traits were sorely missed in Cleveland's wide receiver corps in 2014, so expect Parker to contribute immediately.
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