NFL Free Agents 2015: Best Suitors for Top Names on the Market
The NFL is its own perpetual motion machine.
In many respects, the idea of an NFL offseason is a misnomer. The action never stops. No sooner does the confetti settle at the Super Bowl then teams start looking forward to February's NFL Scouting Combine and the beginning of free agency in March.
In that latter respect, there is much work to be done. Many big names are set to potentially hit the open market, including the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
With this in mind, let's do some window shopping by trying to match the top free agents with the NFL teams that are the best fit for their services from both a need and salary standpoint. Actually, we'll do one better, with three teams for each player, ranging from a good fit to the best potential one.
Before we proceed, a quick note: Many of the top names on this year's list of "available" free agents aren't included here for one simple reason...They're not really available.
Dez Bryant isn't leaving Dallas, folks. Ditto for Justin Houston in Kansas City. Ain't happening. No way, no how. With that caveat (emptor, in some cases here), away we go!
Mark Sanchez
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Everyone loves a redemption story.
Granted, Mark Sanchez may never be able to live this down, but the six-year veteran's performance in relief of an injured Nick Foles in 2014 went a long way toward reviving his NFL fortunes. In nine games for the Philadelphia Eagles last year (including eight starts), Sanchez set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards per game and passer rating.
Now, the 28-year-old is set to enter free agency as easily the best of an uninspiring group of free-agent quarterbacks. Given the position he plays, there will be no shortage of demand for Sanchez's services.
Good: Tennessee Titans
Ken Whisenhunt's first year with the Titans was an unmitigated disaster, and one of his former players told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean that he knows the problem. As NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner opined, "Ken has to have a quarterback."
Many experts expect the Titans to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in April's NFL draft, but if that quarterback is Oregon's Marcus Mariota, starting the youngster from Day 1 might not be wise.
With over $42 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, the Titans have more than enough to bring in Sanchez as a "bridge" starter on a short-term deal if the team doesn't feel Zach Mettenberger can hold down the fort (or start in his own right).
Better: Buffalo Bills
Almost since the moment Rex Ryan took over as the new head coach in Buffalo, there has been speculation that Ryan could reunite with his old quarterback in Western New York.
Ryan told reporters last month, per Nina Mandell of USA Today, that's it's still too early to say whether the Bills might have interest in Sanchez:
"Right now we’re in the early stages, the evaluating stages of possible free agents, draft picks and the two guys that we already have on the roster, so that’s really where we’re at right now and too early to tell who’s going to be here, who’s not going to be here and really what our answers would be.
"
With that said, given their familiarity, the Bills' need under center and over $22 million in cap space, a reunion wouldn't be the worst idea ever.
Best: Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a hot mess right now. Their first-round quarterback from a year ago (Johnny Manziel) is in rehab. Their top wide receiver (Josh Gordon) was just suspended—again. And as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Wednesday, that's only the tip of the iceberg.
Quarterback Brian Hoyer is also set to hit free agency, and given the disaster that was Manziel in 2014, the Browns could be in dire straits under center in the upcoming season.
With over $50 million in cap room, money isn't an issue for the Browns. They can also offer Sanchez a real chance to start in 2015. The opportunity to win is another story altogether.
DeMarco Murray
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It isn't every year that the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year is not only set to hit free agency but also has a real chance of seeing the open market.
However, with the Cowboys facing the prospect of trying to re-sign both DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant this offseason, Murray appears the much more likely candidate to walk, despite leading the NFL with 1,845 yards on the ground in 2014.
That may seem insane, but given how the running back position has been devalued in the NFL in recent years and Murray's staggering workload a season ago, it's the reality of the situation.
Good: Atlanta Falcons
As Dan Quinn takes the reins as head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, he has a lot of work to do. While the Falcons offense is better off than the defense, he still has holes to fill.
At running back, Steven Jackson has been a bust since the Falcons acquired him in 2013. Jacquizz Rodgers is a free agent. Devonta Freeman showed flashes as a rookie but appears undersized at 5'8", 206 pounds for a so-called "feature" back.
Throw in about $23 million in cap space, and ESPN Insider Matt Williamson likes the fit:
"The Falcons have some free-agent money to spend, and while they have more pressing needs on defense, especially with their putrid pass rush, Atlanta might make some sense as a Murray landing spot as the Falcons attempt to get to the top of the winnable NFC South.
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I'm inclined to agree.
Better: Indianapolis Colts
Murray got his first taste of the playoffs last year. After the Cowboys came so close to the NFC Championship Game, the 26-year-old may be reluctant to sign with a doormat. In that respect, the Indianapolis Colts could represent the best of both worlds.
The Colts made it even further into the 2014 postseason than Dallas, making it all the way to the AFC title game before being deflated by the New England Patriots.
The Colts also have a gaping hole in the backfield and finally appear ready to admit that the Trent Richardson trade was a massive mistake. Add over $32 million in cap space to the equation, and Murray-to-Indy makes a lot of sense for both sides.
Best: Dallas Cowboys
If it isn't broke, don't fix it.
In the opinion of Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News, that's how the Cowboys should approach Murray's impending free agency:
"It would be impossible for me to undersell DeMarco Murray. I am a very big fan of his work and would put a great priority on keeping him and getting a 3-4 year deal done. But, I cannot tell you I have any authority at Valley Ranch and therefore, what I think only matters here. The Cowboys have very strong convictions on paying a RB, and I don’t think they have plans on doing that above a very low point.
"
It wouldn't be easy for the Cowboys to swing, but it's not impossible. We are talking about a player who just topped 2,250 total yards and is intimately familiar with the Cowboys' stellar offensive line. Oh, and potential in-house replacement Joseph Randle was just arrested for the second time in the past six months, this time for drug possession.
C.J. Spiller
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It wasn't that long ago when C.J. Spiller looked to be a superstar in the making. The 27-year-old topped 1,200 yards on the ground in 2012, averaging a gaudy six yards per carry while displaying game-breaking ability in the open field.
Since then, injuries that have dogged Spiller throughout his career have cost the five-year veteran eight games. Spiller's 300 yards on the ground in 2014 were his lowest total since his rookie year, as was his moribund 3.8 yards per tote.
Spiller told Aaron Brenner of The Post and Courier that he's 100 percent healthy now and looking forward to seeing what the future holds. "Physically, I'm back to 100 percent, back to doing normal activities. As far as football, free agency will start in March, and I'll get with my people and get a game plan together."
Good: Jacksonville Jaguars
To say that the Toby Gerhart experiment in Jacksonville was a disaster is something of an insult—to disasters.
The Jaguars brought Gerhart aboard in free agency a year ago, only to see him battle injuries and plod his way to a woeful 326 yards and 3.2 yards per carry. The dude made Matt Asiata look explosive.
Denard Robinson (who has a similar skill set to Spiller) is coming off a Lisfranc injury and appears ill-suited to the pounding a "feature" back takes. Still, the duo of Robinson and Spiller could create an intriguing one-two punch in the Jacksonville backfield.
Better: Dallas Cowboys
This one comes with a rather obvious caveat: If DeMarco Murray stays with the Cowboys, they won't have much use for Spiller. However, if he departs in free agency, they are suddenly going to be in dire straits at running back, especially in light of Joseph Randle's legal issues.
Dallas was rumored to have interest in trading for Spiller back in October, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, and it doesn't get much better than running behind the Cowboys' stout offensive front. Add in that Spiller would probably come quite a bit more cheaply than Murray, and as fallback options go, the Cowboys could do worse.
Best: New York Jets
Spiller admitted to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News that a reunion with former Bills head coach and current New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is an appealing notion:
"There is that familiarity between me and him in that offense. So that would be a perfect match. Who knows what can happen, but I’d be foolish not to have those guys on my list. I had my best years in the league with Chan. So it’d be dumb not to give it serious thought.
"
It was Gailey who coached Spiller during his breakout 2012 campaign, and with the Jets ready to move on from Chris Johnson, according to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, the team has a need at the position and nearly $50 million in salary-cap space with which to address it.
Pairing Spiller with Chris Ivory could, in theory, provide the Jets with the "thunder and lightning" combination in the backfield the team was hoping for when it signed Johnson last year. Now, if Spiller could only throw the ball too.
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Randall Cobb
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This year's free-agent crop at the wide receiver position is loaded. Well, in theory, anyway.
The reality is Dez Bryant won't be going anywhere. It's highly unlikely the Denver Broncos would part with Demaryius Thomas. The Eagles will all but surely retain Jeremy Maclin.
One would think that after a 2014 season in which Randall Cobb set career highs with 1,287 yards and 12 touchdown grabs, the Green Bay Packers would have no intention of letting the 24-year-old depart Titletown.
However, the Packers already have a ton of money tied up in Jordy Nelson and a viable in-house replacement in Davante Adams. Plus, general manager Ted Thompson has been leery in the past of spending big money on free agents, be they in-house or outside.
So, there's a chance.
Good: Cleveland Browns
Only two teams in the National Football League have more salary-cap space than the Cleveland Browns (Raiders, Jaguars).
With Gordon suspended for the entire 2015 season (at least) and Miles Austin set to hit the open market, there also isn't another team in the league in more dire straits at the wide receiver position.
As Josh Edwards of Cleveland 247Sports reports, Cobb also has a couple of connections to the Browns:
"(In January), the Browns officially announced the hire of wide receiver coach Joker Phillips—Cobb's old coach at Kentucky. Cobb was also seen hanging out with cornerback Joe Haden on multiple occasions during their time in Glendale, Arizona, participating in the Pro Bowl. The two have forged a friendship that dates back a handful years, starting with a mutual respect during their time in the SEC.
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However, convincing Cobb to leave one of the NFL's best-run teams in Green Bay for the lunacy by the shores of Lake Erie wouldn't be an easy sell.
Better: Kansas City Chiefs
In 2014, the wide receivers of the Kansas City Chiefs lit up the league to the tune of zero touchdown catches. That's right. Over the course of the season, not a single Kansas City wideout caught an Alex Smith pass for a score. Not one.
No wonder the team narrowly missed the playoffs. It's also no wonder that Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star believes the Chiefs should take a long look at Cobb:
"Chiefs general manager John Dorsey knows Cobb well from his time in Green Bay, obviously. Cobb and Smith have the speed and talents to stretch the field vertically, which at least in theory would give [Dwayne] Bowe, the tight ends and running backs more space in intermediate and short routes.
"
It would take some doing to find the room to sign Cobb, however. Per Over the Cap, the Chiefs are actually about $2 million over the projected 2015 salary cap of $140 million.
Best: Green Bay Packers
Yes, it's boring, but it's Cobb's best option.
Bleacher Report NFC North Lead Writer Zach Kruse didn't mince words, writing "general manager Ted Thompson will face no task more important than re-signing Cobb to a deal that will keep him with the Packers long term."
He continued:
"Not only is Cobb a menacing terror from the slot, but he is also Aaron Rodgers' go-to receiver when a play breaks down and a versatile chess piece for play-caller Mike McCarthy. His abilities even extend to special teams, where he has three career return touchdowns.
Best yet, Cobb won't turn 25 years old until late August—despite his NFL career already spanning four seasons.
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Cobb made it clear to Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin that he wants to stay in green and gold:
"I mean, of course; I think I've made that obvious. But like I've said before, this is a business. You don't know how it's going to go, what direction it's going to go in. So you just have to sit around.
Hopefully I've put myself in position where it will handle itself. But only time can tell.
"
There you go, Ted. Muscle that checkbook open and make it happen.
Michael Crabtree
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During the San Francisco 49ers' run to Super Bowl XLVII, wide receiver Michael Crabtree appeared on his way to joining the elite young players at his position. He reeled in 85 passes for over 1,100 yards and nine scores.
Of course, since that breakout season, he has battled injuries, failing to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 2013 and 2014 combined. It makes the 27-year-old one of this year's most interesting free agents, because even after six years in the NFL, there's still no consensus on how good Crabtree is (or isn't).
Good: San Francisco 49ers
It's a time of great uncertainty for the 49ers.
In addition to an all-new coaching staff fronted by Jim Tomsula, the 49ers also face personnel decisions on a number of in-house free agents, from Crabtree to guard Mike Iupati and cornerback Chris Culliver.
The 49ers also are right up against the salary cap, which will make re-signing Crabtree problematic, according to Bleacher Report's Bryan Knowles:
"In fact, it is going to be exceptionally difficult to the 49ers to even keep their own players together, much less sign anyone new. This is one of the two main reasons why Michael Crabtree will be wearing someone else’s uniform in 2015.
The other reason, of course, is that he hasn’t been very productive since 2012. Combine that lack of production with the team's lack of money, and it’s clear it’s time for a rookie to come in and try to take over a starting receiving role.
"
Of course, a first-year starter at wide receiver isn't going to make it any easier for quarterback Colin Kaepernick to turn things around after a disappointing 2014.
Better: Oakland Raiders
As Chris Chase of Yahoo Sports reported all the way back in 2009, many pundits expected the Oakland Raiders to select Crabtree with the seventh pick in that year's draft.
Instead, the Raiders stunned the crowd at Radio City Music Hall by opting for Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, drawing a ton of criticism from the draft community in the process. Well, all these years later, the Raiders are still searching for wide receiver help, and this year they have plenty of money in the kitty to help with that search.
The Raiders have over $50 million in cap space to work with in 2015, allowing the team the flexibility to outbid other suitors for the free agents it covets. That may well be what it takes to overcome the stigma of over a decade of futility in the Bay Area.
Best: Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South for the second straight season in 2014. While rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin played very well last season, a three-peat by the team is going to require an upgrade opposite No. 13.
Last year, the cap-strapped Panthers didn't do a whole lot in free agency, but as ESPN.com's David Newton reports, general manager Dave Gettleman indicated the team will be more active this go-round:
"'Last year we were shopping at the dollar store,' Gettleman said. 'This year, we might be able to move up in class a little bit.'
Asked if that might be at a Nordstrom level, Gettleman laughed.
'I don't go shopping, so where's Nordstrom on the scale?' he said. 'We're not going to Tiffany's, I'll tell you that.'
"
If the likes of Bryant, Thomas and Cobb represent Tiffany's in this scenario, then Crabtree should be just the sort of "second-tier" Target that's right up the Panthers' alley.
Get it, Target?
Julius Thomas
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The Denver Broncos face a similar dilemma to that of the Dallas Cowboys this spring. Two offensive stars are set to hit free agency, and the team potentially only has enough cap space to bring back one of them.
According to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is "by far the top in-house priority." If the team can't reach a long-term agreement with Thomas, the belief is that the team will use the franchise tag, which would pay him in the neighborhood of $13 million in 2015.
However, if the Broncos sink that much into Thomas No. 1, it's going to make it that much harder to retain the services of tight end Julius Thomas. He is the top player at his position about to hit the open market.
Good: Green Bay Packers
We're going to make a bit of an assumption with Thomas—that in addition to looking for a fat paycheck in free agency, he would just as soon continue playing for a playoff contender.
Players develop a taste for that whole "winning" thing. If that's the case, then Evan Massey of FanSided believes the Green Bay Packers could be in play for Thomas, although it comes with a caveat:
"It would be a huge addition for Green Bay, and it would be a very expensive move as well. They would likely only look to make this signing if they don’t feel that Randall Cobb will be back, but if they could get both of them their offense would be ridiculous. At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, Thomas is a nightmare for any defender to go up against.
"
Laying out the big bucks for Thomas would also be somewhat out of character for general manager Ted Thompson, although as he showed in signing Julius Peppers last year, he does know which drawer holds the checkbook.
Better: Denver Broncos
It's often easier said than done, but in the NFL, sometimes the best course of action is the status quo.
It isn't going to be an easy task for the Broncos to retain both of the Thomases, especially with Julius looking for the biggest payday possible, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold:
"Julius Thomas’ representatives have made it clear they’re interested in negotiating in the highest-paid-player-at-the-position area, as you would expect, and that might prove too daunting for a Broncos front office that is already planning for a potential salary-cap squeeze in 2016.
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Still, Thomas' rise from rags to riches was due at least in part to playing with Peyton Manning, and one can argue that his best chance at future success lies with a familiar arm throwing him the ball.
Best: New England Patriots
This would just be filthy.
Before you dismiss the idea of Thomas signing with the Super Bowl champions, consider this: When Bleacher Report's Adam Lefkoe, Chris Simms and Jonathan Vilma recently discussed potential landing spots for the 26-year-old Thomas, the first team Vilma mentioned was the Patriots.
According to Vilma, with Thomas in the fold, the Patriots could "definitely take it to another level."
We've already seen the Patriots use a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber tight ends on the field at the same time with great success, and Thomas might be an even better player than Aaron Hernandez was. However, it's going to take more than a little creative financing to get Thomas in New England. According to Over the Cap, only the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints have less space as we enter 2015.
If the Pats could make it happen, though—look out.
Jordan Cameron
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Well, we know this much: It doesn't appear tight end Jordan Cameron will be re-upping with the Cleveland Browns. That's the latest from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, who reports the 26-year-old, weary of the never-ending sideshow in Cleveland, is "not interested" in returning to the Browns.
There won't be any shortage of suitors for Cameron's services. The four-year veteran struggled with injuries in 2014, but he hauled in 80 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013. Athletic, field-stretching tight ends are very much in demand in today's NFL, and Cameron more than fits the bill.
Good: Jacksonville Jaguars
No team in the National Football League is better positioned to do some damage in free agency in 2015 than the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team is flush with cap space—to the tune of nearly $62.5 million.
The Jaguars also have a need at the tight end position. Granted, Marcedes Lewis gets paid like an elite tight end, with a cap hit of $8.25 million in 2014. However, the 30-year-old hasn't played like one since catching 10 touchdown passes in 2010. In fact, that's the same number of touchdowns that Lewis has in the four seasons since.
Cameron would provide young quarterback Blake Bortles with a reliable target over the middle of the field, and while general manager Dave Caldwell has been leery of "big splash" free-agent signings, this would be a good time to make an exception.
Better: Oakland Raiders
Like the Jaguars, the Oakland Raiders are in a position to be big players in free agency this year. Like the Jaguars, they need to improve their options in the passing game to assist in the NFL maturation of young quarterback Derek Carr.
Lauren Moranor of Sports World Report believes those factors combine to make Oakland an excellent fit for Cameron:
"The Oakland Raiders are looking to sign playmakers on offense, including getting help at the tight end position. Mychal Rivera has certainly done well at the position in his two years with the team, but the Raiders could use help in the coming seasons as Derek Carr continues to develop. With that, the Raiders are examining some of the best upcoming free agents, and Jordan Cameron could be a priority in March.
"
Of course, it's unknown if Cameron would be willing to trade playing for one cellar-dweller for a similar situation in the Bay Area.
Best: Atlanta Falcons
After the retirement of Tony Gonzalez, Levine Toilolo moved into the starting lineup for the Atlanta Falcons at tight end in 2014. It didn't take long for folks to realize that Toilolo ain't no Tony Gonzalez.
That's not the only reason that Graham Barfield of NumberFire sees the Falcons as a fine fit for Cameron:
"Clearly, the athletic, coverage-beating tight end, Jordan Cameron, would be a welcome addition to the 2015 Atlanta Falcons and give them an option in the middle of the field they so desperately miss since Tony Gonzalez retired. Falcons new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan obviously knows Cameron well from his 2014 season in Cleveland, so connecting these dots makes a lot of sense.
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The Falcons aren't far away from a return to contention in a winnable NFC South. Adding Cameron would be a big step in the right direction.
Mike Iupati
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As is usually the case, it's a relatively thin free-agent class where offensive linemen are concerned. Simply put, teams are loath to let elite options at the position so much as sniff the open market.
Still, that doesn't mean the cupboard is completely bare, and the top of this year's free-agent class up front is headlined by guard Mike Iupati of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 27-year-old, who was named to his third straight Pro Bowl in 2014, checks in at seventh among all NFL free agents in 2015, according to NFL.com's Around the NFL crew, per Taylor Price of 49ers.com.
Good: Washington Redskins
Given that Washington's offensive line ranked 19th in run blocking and 31st in pass protection in 2014, per Football Outsiders, getting better in the trenches has to a be priority for the team in the offseason.
Bleacher Report's Marcel Davis believes that makes it imperative the Redskins take a run at Iupati:
"Iupati is a player who checks all the boxes (age, health, production and fit) that teams look for in evaluating free agents—at least, the good ones.
In five seasons, Iupati has missed all of five games. Most importantly, he showed no ill-effects from the broken fibula he suffered in the 2013 postseason. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Iupati also has his age going for him. He'll open the 2015 campaign at 28 years old.
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With around $13.7 million in salary-cap space, bringing Iupati on board would be a bit tricky. But it's doable, and Daniel Snyder has certainly never been shy about free-agent spending in the past.
Better: New York Giants
As Doug Rush of Giants 101 reports, the New York Giants have already made it clear that improving the offensive front tops their list of priorities this offseason.
With that in mind, Rush posits that Iupati should be at the top of the Giants' free-agent wish list:
"Iupati, the former first-round pick of the 49ers back in the 2010 NFL draft, would give the Giants offensive line an instant boost and a help to their running game for Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams since Iupati is considered one of, if not, the very best guard in the game at run blocking. At 6'5" and 330 pounds, he's extremely mobile and agile for someone his size and tends to get used for sweep plays in which he pulls and takes out a potential tackler, thus then using his brute size and strength to his advantage.
Plus, adding Iupati would allow the Giants to keep [Justin] Pugh at the spot where he's wanted to stay and the position he's played since Syracuse; at the right tackle spot. Pugh had been public about wanting to remain at right tackle; adding Iupati would allow the Giants to keep their former first-round pick at his right tackle spot for a third season and allow a massive run-blocker to play alongside him and make the right side of the line a force.
"
It's an acquisition that makes a lot of sense for the Giants, and one they should be able to afford.
Best: San Francisco 49ers
If it's all the same to Iupati, apparently he'd like nothing more than to just stay where he's at. The five-year veteran told Price, "I really want to stay here, and I'm sure we'll try to work something out."
It would seem to be in the 49ers' best interest to do so. Much of the team's success in recent years stemmed from its ability to "win" at the line of scrimmage, and Iupati was a big part of that. As a matter of fact, even in a "down" 2014, Iupati was the league's top-ranked run-blocking left guard, according to Pro Football Focus.
With San Francisco pledging to recommit to the ground game under new head coach Jim Tomsula, keeping Iuapati in red and gold would appear an easy decision to make. The problem? San Francisco has less than $2 million in cap space.
Jason Pierre-Paul
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It wasn't too long ago that New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul appeared on the fast track to superstardom. He terrorized the NFL in 2011, making 86 tackles while adding 16.5 sacks.
Pierre-Paul battled injuries in 2012 and 2013, and the first half of 2014 appeared to be on a similarly disappointing track. However, the 26-year-old caught fire down the stretch, racking up nine sacks over the last five games of the season.
While speaking with Stephen Lorenzo of the New York Daily News, Pierre-Paul admitted that he isn't sure what the future holds: "Who knows if I’m going to be in a Giant uniform? Like I say now, the numbers are there, I had a great season, everybody sees it. There’s really nothing else to say, just negotiations, and (they’re) coming."
Pierre-Paul then added, "I think I’m worth a lot of money. What do you think?"
Good: Oakland Raiders
The bad news is the Oakland Raiders went the free-agent route at defensive end in 2014, only to see Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley combine for all of five sacks on the season. The good news is that only one team in the National Football League has more cap space than the Raiders, so they have resources.
Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton thinks that Pierre-Paul is among a number of potential pass-rush targets for the Raiders in free agency: "Jason Pierre-Paul, Jerry Hughes, Mason Foster and Rey Maualuga are also names that should appear at the top of Oakland’s free-agent targets to address the holes within the front seven."
It's amazing what more than $50 million in cap space can do for your options.
Better: Jacksonville Jaguars
That one team in the NFL with more cap space than the Raiders? The Jacksonville Jaguars, who are swimming in over $62 million in room.
The Jaguars don't just have money to burn. Since Gus Bradley took over as head coach in Jacksonville, the team hasn't had a true "Leo" pass-rusher, the motor that drives Bradley's 4-3 "under" front. The team brought in Chris Clemons a year ago, and he played well in tallying eight sacks in 2014. He's also 33 years old.
If the Jaguars are going to spend some of that massive chunk of cap space on a big contract, it makes a lot more sense for it to be used on a player in his prime (like Pierre-Paul) than an aging star. If Pierre-Paul can continue his career renaissance in 2015, he would appear a perfect fit as Bradley's Leo, where his speed and athleticism would be major assets.
Best: New York Giants
Pierre-Paul doesn't appear inclined to offer a hometown discount, but that doesn't preclude a return to the Big Apple for the five-year veteran.
In fact, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com thinks the Giants should make up Pierre-Paul's mind for him by using the franchise tag:
"Since the Giants don't need to do a long-term deal with Pierre-Paul just to keep his 2015 cap number low, I don't see the reason to do it at all. Pierre-Paul is immensely talented and still very young (he just turned 26 last month), but his career hasn't been a consistent one. Brilliant in 2011 with 16.5 sacks in the Super Bowl season, Pierre-Paul had only 8.5 sacks total over the two years that followed. He was slowed significantly by injuries in both of those seasons, and missed five games with shoulder and back issues in 2013, but that's part of the resume, right? Those two years give them legitimate reason to wonder about his ability to stay healthy.
Now, this past season, Pierre-Paul did stay healthy. He played all 16 games, was stout against the run from start to finish and ended up with 12.5 sacks thanks to nine in his final five games. So the Giants can put 2011 and 2014 in the "pro" column and 2012 and 2013 in the "con" column (while just chalking up his developmental 2010 season) when considering whether to commit big, long-term money to him.
"
It's a great idea. The Giants get to keep Pierre-Paul in the fold while buying themselves another year to determine which player is the "real" JPP—the one who can't stay healthy or the one who might well be the best 4-3 end in the NFL.
Jerry Hughes
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It's a good year to be in the market for pass-rush help. Jason Pierre-Paul may be the biggest name on the list, but he's far from the only one. In fact, based on the last two seasons, Pierre-Paul isn't even the most productive.
That honor (at least from a sacks standpoint) goes to Jerry Hughes of the Buffalo Bills. The five-year veteran has thrived since joining the Bills before the 2013 season, amassing 10 sacks in each of his two years in Buffalo.
That productivity means there will be no shortage of interest in him on the open market.
Good: Buffalo Bills
There's still plenty of interest in Hughes from his old team. That's what head coach Rex Ryan told Ross Jones of Fox Sports when asked if he envisions Hughes coming back for a third season in Buffalo:
"I absolutely envision that. I think Jerry is an outstanding player. The last two years I've been against him and he's tremendous. I hope he's still a Buffalo Bill moving forward. Sometimes things happen where that might not be a possibility, but I believe he's a great player and I hope he's a Buffalo Bill for a long time.
"
Hughes would aid in the transition to a 3-4 defense in 2015. After all, he didn't appear to mind playing in that front two years ago with the Bills.
Better: Dallas Cowboys
If there's one area where the Dallas Cowboys most need to get better in 2015, it's a pass rush that ranked 26th in the NFL a season ago.
In the opinion of Ryan Ratty of FanSided, that makes Hughes an obvious fit in Big D:
"With Hughes, you get a player who really doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on him. Hughes was a right defensive end in Buffalo, as Mario Williams was the more important left defensive end. Considering that, Hughes has already played in a 4-3 defensive front, and he would fill a need for the Cowboys as they are in the market for a right defensive end. With Rod Marinelli’s tutelage, Hughes could become a star in Dallas. Management is trying to build this team through the draft, but Hughes is a young piece, and contenders need to take add players of need when they are near the top of the pedestal.
"
The problem is that top-of-the-pedestal players command top-of-the-pedestal prices, and the Cowboys only have about $7.5 million in cap space. And that's before re-signing Dez Bryant and/or DeMarco Murray.
Best: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons made the Cowboys look like the '85 Bears when it came to (not) getting after the quarterback in 2014. Atlanta ranked dead last in the NFC, managing only 22 sacks all season long.
New head coach Dan Quinn brings with him a lot of changes in Atlanta, including a switch to Seattle's 4-3 "under" front on defense. That's where Hughes comes in. Much like Pierre-Paul, Hughes is the sort of rangy, athletic defensive end who would appear an excellent fit as the Leo pass-rusher in that scheme.
Simply put, there isn't bigger area of need for the Falcons this year than bolstering the pass rush. Whether it's Hughes or a player like the Eagles' Brandon Graham, the Falcons all but have to make a move here...and a better one than recent free-agent busts Osi Umenyiora and Tyson Jackson.
Greg Hardy
11 of 17
Did I mention it's a good year to be in the market for pass-rushers?
2014 definitely wasn't a good year for Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy. After being slapped with the franchise tag by the Panthers, he made it only one game into that contract year before being placed on the commissioner's exempt list as the result of an arrest (and conviction by a North Carolina judge) on assault charges.
However, Hardy appealed the verdict, and his jury trial started stunningly Monday with a dismissal of the charges, as reported by Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer. With Hardy "extremely unlikely" to face further discipline from the NFL, according to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, the free-agent market for the 26-year-old likely just heated up considerably.
Good: Carolina Panthers
According to Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer, the Panthers want no part of that market. He wrote that "the team is not expected to bring Hardy back next season, according to multiple team sources."
However, as former NFL general manager (and current ESPN analyst) Bill Polian told Person last week, "It’s foolish to think that someone won’t (sign Hardy), assuming a not-guilty verdict." Hardy's teammates have publicly stated that they would welcome him back, and there's no denying the impact his absence had on a Carolina defense that led the NFL in sacks two seasons ago.
With the charges against Hardy now dismissed, it's possible the Panthers will revisit the notion of washing their hands of him outright.
Better: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Heading into the 2014 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared to have one of the better front fours in the NFL on paper. With the newly signed Michael Johnson joining Adrian Clayborn and Gerald McCoy, the Bucs looked set to get after the quarterback.
Well, McCoy was great, but Clayborn got hurt (again), Johnson was awful, and the Buccaneers finished the season 21st in sacks on their way to the worst record in the NFL. However, even after sinking that money into Johnson, the Buccaneers have more than $25 million in cap space, and young end Jacquies Smith was a bright spot for the team in 2014.
What Smith isn't, however, is an elite pass-rusher. After racking up 26 sacks from 2012 to 2013, Hardy is another story.
Best: Cincinnati Bengals
Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News didn't mince words when it came to the Cincinnati Bengals pursuing Greg Hardy. In fact, Iyer wrote they would be "crazy not to go hard" after the five-year veteran:
"The numbers all add up here. They have more than $34 million in salary cap space, run a 4-3 under Marvin Lewis and they posted a league-worst 20 sacks last season, a major dropoff after producing 43 in 2013. They really missed the impact of Michael Johnson off the edge, and Hardy can fill that void. Just as important, they have been able to look past any character concerns and get reliable defensive play from others, including Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones.
"
Iyer's logic is on point, especially given just how badly the Bengals' pass rush fell off a cliff in 2014. Now, if the team can just get the notoriously frugal Mike Brown to pry open his wallet.
Ndamukong Suh
12 of 17
If given his choice, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh would reportedly like to head west, young man. That's the latest from Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, who recently reported Suh would like to sign with the Seattle Seahawks.
According to Cole, Suh "would love to be with the Seattle Seahawks. This is his No. 1 choice." Cole added that "because Suh is from the Northwest area, grew up in Portland, he'd like to be there."
Of course, Suh has also made it clear he expects to become one of the NFL's highest-paid defenders, with an annual salary topping $15 million per season.
Good: Oakland Raiders
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Suh is "angling" to become the highest-paid defender in the National Football League. That means a deal in excess of the six-year, $100 million mega-extension recently signed by J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans.
Well, the Oakland Raiders are in a position to pay that king's ransom, with over $50 million in available cap space. They're also sorely in need of Suh's ability to collapse the pocket after a season in which the team got to opposing quarterbacks only 22 times.
Raiders safety Charles Woodson told ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein he's on board with the idea: "I don’t think there’s a team in the NFL that wouldn’t want to see Ndamukong Suh on their team. I know I would be no different. That guy is one of the best, overall, period, in the NFL."
Now all they have to do is convince Suh.
Better: Indianapolis Colts
Suh has been a 3-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 front throughout his five-year NFL career, but there's little reason to think the 28-year-old can't make the switch to end in a 3-4 defense.
As Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star reports, that puts the Colts in play. Doyel thinks the Colts would be well-advised to take a hard run at the mercurial Pro Bowler:
"Ndamukong Suh is the right guy—no, the perfect guy—for the Colts to sign this offseason. He's disruptive, gifted. Dominant. The Colts need a player like that around here.
So for the Colts, what it comes down to is this: How badly do they want to be great?
Sign Suh, a free agent after five years in Detroit—and four Pro Bowls at defensive tackle—and sell your soul to whatever demons drive him to greatness and beyond. But win, baby. Sign Suh, and win. Win big. Win it all? Yeah, maybe so.
"
It would be an aggressive move from the Colts after coming up just short in 2014, and with over $32 million in cap space this year, it's easily doable from a financial standpoint.
Best: Detroit Lions
Noticing a theme here?
The truth is that while free agency is entertaining to talk about, more and more NFL teams are leery of sinking big money into free agency. More often than not, players wind up returning to their "old" squads.
If Lions team president Tom Lewand has his way, that's exactly what's going to happen with Suh.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Lewand said, "He wants to have success in the NFL, obviously, but he wants to do that with us. And I think that—I think there's a very, very good chance that we can get something done with him in the next few weeks."
Detroit rode its defense to the playoffs in 2014, and Suh was an integral part of it. Add in that the Lions are already accustomed to having Suh's fat cap number on the books, and the smart money says he isn't going anywhere.
Brian Orakpo
13 of 17
If you're looking for Justin Houston's name in this article, this is as close as you're going to get.
There is no chance the Kansas City Chiefs are going to allow Houston to so much as test the free-agent waters. Not coming off a 22-sack season. If an agreement can't be reached on an extension, you can bet the rent that the Chiefs will use the franchise tag on Houston.
For 3-4 teams looking for pass-rush help, the best consolation prize is probably Washington's Brian Orakpo. The 28-year-old has shown disruptive pass-rush ability when healthy, but Orakpo has also had all sorts of problems staying that way.
Of a possible 48 games over the past three seasons, Orakpo has missed half and managed only a half-sack in 2014 before a pectoral injury ended his season.
Good: Dallas Cowboys
At first glance, Orakpo might seem like an odd fit in Dallas, as the Cowboys run a four-man front under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. However, at 257 pounds, Orakpo wouldn't be that undersized as a "hybrid" pass-rusher.
It's a fit that Adam Boedeker of NBC Dallas thinks could work:
"When healthy, he's averaged just shy of 10 sacks per season when you throw out the 2012 season (two games) and 2014 (seven games). If healthy, he could provide the Cowboys with a much-needed boost to their pass rush that suffered in 2014 as Jeremy Mincey led the team with just six sacks.
He's also a Texas guy, having grown up in Houston before starring at the University of Texas, so he'd be coming home in a sense, which can always bring the best out of a player.
"
The Cowboys need pass-rush help in the worst way imaginable, but cap issues may keep the team out of the running for the top-tier options. If that's the case, a player like Orakpo may wind up being the team's best bet.
Better: Tennessee Titans
To say the Tennessee Titans struggled in their first year in the 3-4 in 2014 would be one lulu of an understatement. The Titans ranked 27th in the NFL in total defense and were a middle-of-the-pack team when it came to pressuring quarterbacks.
Part of the issue was a lack of consistent pressure off the edge, and with outside linebacker Derrick Morgan (who struggled a bit in his new position last year) set to hit free agency, it remains a looming area of need for the team in 2015.
Orakpo would upgrade the options available outside to new assistant head coach (and defensive guru) Dick LeBeau. With over $40 million in wiggle room, it's a deal the Titans can readily afford.
Best: Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are the reason why the Kansas City Chiefs aren't about to let Justin Houston hit the open market.
With over $32 million in cap space, the Colts have plenty of space to offer Houston a fat contract, even with Andrew Luck's extension looming over the team. Erik Walden finished second on the Colts with six sacks last year, but relative to the size of his contract, Walden's been a disappointment since joining them prior to the 2013 season.
Still, even with Houston slapped with a "not for sale" sticker, that doesn't mean the Colts can't improve their pass rush in free agency. If Orakpo can show that he's fully recovered from last year's torn pectoral muscle (or if the Colts can convince Orakpo to sign a relatively short-term "prove it" deal), then he could be a "finishing touch" pickup for a team that finished 2014 one win short of the Super Bowl.
Orakpo lining up opposite Robert Mathis? Yeah, that would be fun to watch.
Rolando McClain
14 of 17
Rolando McClain's was one of the NFL's true feel-good stories in 2014.
After washing out in Oakland and then retiring from the NFL before ever playing a snap for the Baltimore Ravens, McClain was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys before the season.
And in Dallas, McClain was reborn. The 25-year-old stayed out of trouble, became the starting middle linebacker for a vastly improved Cowboys defense and finished the season as a top-10 inside linebacker at Pro Football Focus.
Quite the rebound.
Good: Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have had a revolving door at inside linebacker over the past couple of seasons.
Brad Jones. A.J. Hawk. Jamari Lattimore. Sam Barrington. All have seen significant playing time at inside linebacker for the Packers over the past two years. The team even kicked Clay Matthews inside at times this past season in an effort to improve its leaky run defense.
Another way to improve it would be signing a player who ranked ninth among inside linebackers against the run in 2014 (among those with 500-plus snaps), per PFF. The Packers have ample cap space to make the signing, especially since McClain's big raise won't be the sort of contract that will give general manager Ted Thompson the vapors.
That would be Cobb's deal.
Better: Cincinnati Bengals
According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Cincinnati considered trading for Rolando McClain back in 2013. Acquiring the four-year veteran is an idea the team should revisit.
It's a time of great uncertainty for the Bengals' linebackers. Rey Maualuga is a free agent, as is Emmanuel Lamur. Vontaze Burfict struggled through an injury-marred 2014 that ended with microfracture surgery.
The Bengals need to stabilize the group, and with well over $30 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, finding the coin for McClain isn't an issue. Neither is his checkered past, given the Bengals' long history of rolling the dice (successfully) on players with character issues.
Best: Dallas Cowboys
According to Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News, there's a better than 50-50 shot McClain isn't going anywhere:
"72.5 percent [chance McClain stays]. How's that? The Cowboys want to sign him, although his occasional inability to get on the field or almost every practice is something of a concern. The interesting thing—and maybe advantage to Cowboys—is that they have three linebackers who are free agents ([Bruce] Carter, McClain, [Justin] Durant) and a lot of depth at the position with [Anthony] Hitchens, [Kyle] Wilber, Sean Lee in place. They don't have to keep them all, but I would say they would like to keep them all but one.
"
McClain's durability is indeed a concern (he has yet to play in a full season), but the best thing here for player and team is probably the status quo that worked so well a year ago.
Byron Maxwell
15 of 17
There may not be a more sought-after position in free agency than cornerback. Not only is the demand annually sky-high at the position, but as we saw with players such as Aqib Talib and Darrelle Revis a season ago, every now and again a big name slides onto the open market.
There aren't any superstars this season, but the top option available plays on a star-studded unit.
Sure, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell doesn't get the publicity of his teammates in the "Legion of Boom," but as a key contributor for a pair of Super Bowl teams in Seattle, Maxwell's phone will be ringing plenty starting March 10.
Good: Jacksonville Jaguars
One of those calls will surely be from the Seahawks, but as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports, it's possible Seattle won't be able to stay in the bidding for long:
"He’s probably played well enough to price himself out of Seattle. An unrestricted free agent this offseason, Maxwell will likely find a lucrative offer elsewhere—Jacksonville and Atlanta (two teams led by former Seahawks defensive coordinators) are among the teams with rumored interest—so look for Tharold Simon to enter the 2015 season as the presumed starter in Maxie's place.
"
The Jaguars have no such issues, with a war chest topping $60 million. They also have a defensive scheme with which Maxwell is familiar and a big need at the cornerback spot.
Better: Philadelphia Eagles
When asked about Maxwell's potential down the road during Super Bowl week, teammate Richard Sherman told Corey Seidman of CSN Philadelphia that the sky's the limit:
"I think he can be the best corner in this league. I think he has flashes of it nowadays. He's incredibly consistent about being a very good corner, but he has flashes when he's a great, phenomenal corner, and I think the more playing time he gets, the more he's out there, the longer the flashes will be, and then he'll kind of show who he really is, and he's going to be phenomenal.
"
The Eagles improved against the pass last year after finishing in the NFL's cellar in that category two seasons ago, but not by much—as in from 32nd in 2013 to 31st in 2014. For a team with playoff aspirations, that isn't going to cut it.
Best: Atlanta Falcons
It was the Atlanta Falcons who took the Eagles' "title" of the NFL's worst pass defense in 2014. The team allowed almost 280 passing yards a game, and while cornerback Desmond Trufant is a promising youngster, the Falcons have very little around him.
There's also the familiarity factor, with new Seattle head coach Dan Quinn having served as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator the past two seasons. We've already seen former Seattle DC (and current Jaguars head man) Gus Bradley set up a pipeline of sorts with his old team, signing the likes of Chris Clemons and Red Bryant.
The biggest stumbling block here may be money. The Falcons are OK in the cap-space department (around $23.5 million), but Atlanta also has holes all over the defense (especially up front). It's a matter of where Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff decide to allocate those resources.
Brandon Flowers
16 of 17
There may not be any mega-names among this year's crop of free agents at cornerback, but there are a couple of players who finished among the top-15 options at their position in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus.
One of them, Brandon Flowers of the San Diego Chargers, has done an excellent job rehabbing his NFL stock since being released by the Kansas City Chiefs last year. The 28-year-old wound up starting 14 games for the Chargers in 2014, picking off three passes and racking up 52 total tackles.
Good: New England Patriots
When Flowers was let go by the Chiefs last year, the New England Patriots were rumored to be one of the teams interested in the seven-year veteran, per The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson.
Depending on how things shake out over the next several weeks, it may be wise for the Patriots to reconsider adding Flowers to the mix. Technically, cornerback Darelle Revis is still on the team, but the odds of the Pats picking up Revis' $20 million option for 2015 aren't good.
According to Mike Cole of NESN, team owner Robert Kraft indicated the Super Bowl champions are going to try to bring Revis back. "We’ll get to work on trying to make that happen," Kraft told WEEI Radio. However, if the two teams can't work out an agreement and Revis does hit the open market, Flowers would be a capable fallback option.
Better: New York Jets
Were Revis to somehow depart New England, his old team in the Big Apple has been touted as the most likely landing spot. However, it's more likely the Jets will have to look elsewhere to address their need in the secondary.
With nearly $49 million in cap space, Darryl Slater of NFL.com reports new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has pledged to be active in free agency:
"I will say this: We definitely have a lot of cap space. Our goal is to look at all avenues possible in free agency. So our goal is to ideally fill some of our needs via free agency, which will allow us to be a little more flexible in the draft, in terms of looking for the best player available. Building through the draft is ideally what I'd like to do. We'll be very active in free agency.
"
Given their mess in the defensive backfield, picking up a cornerback like Flowers would be a good start.
Best: Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens were another team that expressed interest in Flowers after the Chiefs showed him the door last June. Well, if at first you don't succeed...because the Ravens' need at the position hasn't changed since then.
Injuries devastated the Ravens secondary last year, including a Lisfranc injury that ended cornerback Jimmy Smith's season. Veteran Lardarius Webb is set to cost $12 million against the cap in 2015 and could be released if he refuses to restructure that deal.
Most draftniks expect the Ravens to address the cornerback position early in the 2015 draft, but depending on how things unfold in the next few weeks, the Ravens may need quantity as much as quality at the back end of their defense.
Antrel Rolle
17 of 17
We'll close this look at free agency with a different sort of player: the aging star.
To his credit, Antrel Rolle has had quite the 10-year NFL career. Three times Rolle has been named a Pro Bowler. As recently as 2013, he graded out as a top-10 safety, according to Pro Football Focus. However, at 32, Rolle is much closer to the end of the line than the beginning, and his ranking at PFF fell all the way to 81st a year ago.
Those numbers are both going to make potential suitors nervous.
Good: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson hasn't been shy about addressing the team's needs in free agency. Last year, it was with the secondary in just such a manner, signing veteran safety LaRon Landry.
It didn't work out so well. Not only was Landry a big disappointment in 2014, but battery-mate Mike Adams is himself a 33-year-old free agent after a career year in Indy.
If Rolle can convince the Colts' front office that last year was an aberration, he could be the sort of win-now signing that makes sense.
Better: New York Giants
It isn't a foregone conclusion that Rolle will be playing for a new team in 2015.
In fact, according to Jordan Ranaan of NJ.com, team chairman John Mara said he'd very much like to have Rolle back with Big Blue—at the right price: "We would like to have [Rolle] back, but again, at the right price. I could say that about anybody. We would like them all back at the right price. What that is, depends on the circumstances."
Mind you, the Giants still have a need for Rolle, whose departure would render the Giants' safety spots one huge question mark. However, with only about $16 million and change in cap room and Jason Pierre-Paul also set to hit free agency, they can't afford to get caught up in a bidding war.
Best: Chicago Bears
It's been so long since the Bears had good safeties that I'm not sure they'd know one if they saw him.
The past several years have been a carousel of midround rookies and journeyman veterans and castoffs. The Bears haven't placed a safety inside the top 20 at Pro Football Focus since 2011.
Add in over $26 million in salary-cap space, a defense in transition in need of help from front to back and a head coach in John Fox who has long been a fan of veteran players, and inking Rolle to a short-term deal makes sense for both sides.
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