1 Free Agent Each NFL Team Should Let Walk
Free agency is just around the corner, and NFL teams will have plenty of talent to choose from come March 10.
They will first need to make decisions on who to keep on their own rosters, however. Keeping your better players makes absolute sense, but there are certainly players worth letting go.
Let's take a look at one player each team should simply let walk in free agency based on poor play or fits on the roster. These are players that are strictly unrestricted free agents—we'll avoid predicting cuts this time around.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
Player to Let Go: OLB John Abraham
It's amazing that John Abraham hasn't retired. He may well get there after his latest concussion, one that knocked him out for the 2014 season and brought him to the brink of retirement.
If he doesn't, the Cardinals should simply move on. Aside from an injury risk, Abraham is a shell of his former self. And who wouldn't be? Father Time gets the best of us, and the once-formidable pass-rusher will be 37 in May.
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
Player to Let Go: CB Robert McClain
The Atlanta Falcons could use all the help they can get on defense. That includes revamping their secondary.
That means overhauling personnel, including Robert McClain. The 27-year-old cornerback has been disappointing for the past couple of seasons, allowing five touchdowns on passes thrown to his receiver while intercepting just one in the past two years.
There are plenty of better options available in free agency or the draft—best for the Falcons to move on and retool.
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
Player to Let Go: WR Torrey Smith
It's difficult to let good players go in free agency. But what if they're overpriced?
That may be the case with receiver Torrey Smith, who has been more promise than delivery for the Baltimore Ravens. He has had his moments, and he still has potential to be an excellent receiver. He doesn't have the pedigree of a true No. 1 receiver, and he may not be the best fit in that offense.
Smith caught just 49 passes for 767 yards last season, though 11 of those receptions were touchdowns.
But he won't be worth a massive new deal if he's looking for one. Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun recently wrote Smith may not be back if he won't give the Ravens a hometown discount.
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
Player to Let Go: OT Erik Pears
Well, running back C.J. Spiller was slated for this spot, but there is no reason to put him here now that the Bills traded for LeSean McCoy. It's too obvious.
Offensive guard Erik Pears was awful for the Bills last season and a reason why Spiller couldn't get things going. He wasn't much better when he played tackle in previous seasons.
The Bills need to overhaul that offense. The rebuild starts with the offensive line and letting Pears walk seems .
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
Player to Let Go: OL Byron Bell
Speaking of terrible offensive linemen, Byron Bell couldn't do anything to fill the shoes of retired offensive tackle Jordan Gross.
He was a fish out of water on the left side, and it showed. He was the second-worst rated offensive tackle in the entire league according to Pro Football Focus, allowing a whopping 52 total quarterback pressures on the year.
Unless the Panthers plan to move him back to the right side—where he wasn't particularly good in years past—they should move on.
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
Player to Let Go: S Chris Conte
The Chicago Bears need to overhaul their secondary in a bad way. That means making easy decisions about some free agents.
One of those should be safety Chris Conte, who hasn't been particularly good on that back line.
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
Player to Let Go: CB Terence Newman
He has put in a long, quality career for the Cincinnati Bengals, but Terence Newman is providing diminishing returns these days.
That isn't to say Newman wasn't productive last year—he has 72 tackles and 14 passes defensed. But he also had just one interception. At 36 years of age—he will be 37 at the beginning of the 2015 season—it's easy to imagine Newman succumbing to the effects of age.
There haven't been too many productive cornerbacks in NFL history who were Newman's age or older, and that list tends to include names like Darrell Green and Rod Woodson. Newman might have had good seasons, but he isn't an all-time great.
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
Player to Let Go: TE Jordan Cameron
Rumors that Jordan Cameron didn't want to come back to Cleveland were quashed by owner Jimmy Haslam, per The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot, but that doesn't mean the Browns should bring him back.
Cameron had a great breakout season in 2013, and he had some big moments last year. But a concussion nearly knocked him out for the year, and the three he suffered in a two-year span are concerning going forward.
The talented tight end could command big money in free agency, which compounds the risk. Better to find a cheaper alternative or draft a replacement.
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
Player to Let Go: RB DeMarco Murray
How often do you hear that a league-leading rusher should be let go?
DeMarco Murray had a career year just before he was set to be a free agent, perfect timing for the dynamic running back. Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, that means he probably priced himself out of staying.
That is not to say Jerry Jones won't open up the pocket book, but should he? Murray had 500 touches last year including the playoffs, and running backs with that kind of mileage in one season haven't fared well in subsequent years.
With Dez Bryant to pay—$12.8 million in 2015 thanks to the franchise tag—there is little room for Murray, especially with so many alternatives in free agency and the draft. Unless Murray gives a deep discount, the Cowboys should move on.
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
Player to Let Go: TE Julius Thomas
The Denver Broncos can't keep them all. Now that they hit receiver Demaryius Thomas with the franchise tag, Julius Thomas has to go.
The big tight end had a nice couple of seasons, but he is going to command far too much money to be viable. It might not seem easy to replace 24 touchdowns over the past two years, but he was catching passes from Peyton Manning, after all.
The Broncos would be better served signing a guy like Owen Daniels—who could thrive with Manning at the helm—or finding a replacement in the draft.
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
Player to Let Go: C Dominic Raiola
This has already been decided, it seems, but here is affirmation that the Detroit Lions should be letting center Dominic Raiola go.
The big offensive lineman left his mark in all the wrong ways last season, earning the ire of players and media alike for some of his underhanded tactics. Here is what Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall had to say about his NFC North adversary after an incident last season, per Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune:
"It’s ridiculous. He’s shouldn’t be allowed in the NFL. He should be banned from the NFL… Like, bro, we play football, and I understand we’re rivals. But this is a brotherhood. We’re all men here. But this guy is a dirty player, and he’s a worse human being. This was clear. This was clear. This guy literally jumped and stomped on this guy’s ankle.
"
Yeah, the Lions definitely need to stick to their guns.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
Player to Let Go: CB Tramon Williams
It has been a bit of a roller coaster career for cornerback Tramon Williams, and he was on a bit of an upswing after a decent 2014 season. However, Williams has allowed 12 touchdowns on passes thrown his direction over the past two seasons.
It's time for the Packers to move on to more consistent options.
That is unless they can get him to take the deal they reportedly offered—a two-year, $8 million deal in line with his actual value, per Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
Player to Let Go: DT Jerrell Powe
Jerrell Powe was a rotational player for the Houston Texans, but he wasn't particularly good when he was on the field.
Powe was one of the worst defensive tackles in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus, amassing just 10 total tackles on the year despite playing in every game.
He was pressed into starting action after rookie Louis Nix III was lost for the season, but it quickly became apparent he wasn't cut out for the gig. With Nix presumably back for 2015, Powe doesn't seem to be a good fit in Houston anymore.
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
Player to Let Go: WR Reggie Wayne
It's tough to let go of a team legend. But the Indianapolis Colts are well-versed in that department.
Reggie Wayne is the club's second-best receiver in history, just behind Marvin Harrison in receptions and receiving yards. Sentimentality would bring him back to try to nab those records for the Colts—they're certainly attainable if he can stay healthy—but will that help the team?
It's hard to argue Wayne isn't in decline at this point, and the Colts need to start surrounding quarterback Andrew Luck with better players. He might provide some invaluable leadership, but Wayne may be better off retiring.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
Player to Let Go: WR Cecil Shorts
The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't talent rich, but this would be a good time to walk away from wide receiver Cecil Shorts III.
He has certainly had some big games, but Shorts has been an injury waiting to happen for years now. With Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns in tow, a nice free-agent market and another great draft class upcoming, the Jaguars should be able to find a quality replacement for their oft-injured receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG Mike McGlynn
Who is Mike McGlynn?
No, seriously, who is he? Pro Football Focus knows who he is—the worst offensive guard in the league. The journeyman was a cheap signing for a Kansas City team that was strapped for cash last offseason, and the Chiefs got what they paid for.
Time for the Chiefs to cut their losses and upgrade at guard.
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG Daryn Colledge
The Miami Dolphins haven't been able to field a good offensive line for a long while. It seemed like they had finally fixed things for a few games last season, but that hope collapsed along with Branden Albert.
One aspect of that offensive line that was never good was Daryn Colledge, a stopgap measure who wound up starting 13 games for Miami last season. He would be rated as one of the worst guards in the league over at PFF.
If the Dolphins are ever going to fix that line, they will need to cut the chaff and sign or draft quality interior linemen.
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 32
Player to Let Go: DE Corey Wootton
Perhaps he was playing out of position at defensive end, but Corey Wootton had an awful season for the Minnesota Vikings. In just 275 snaps, the 27-year-old had the fifth-worst rating in the entire league according to Pro Football Focus.
That was by far the worst per-snap rating in the NFL. To wit, he had just one sack and 11 tackles on the year.
The Vikings don't have a ton of impending free agents, but Wootton seems like an ill fit for that defense.
New England Patriots
19 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG Dan Connolly
Bill Belichick has never had an issue letting an over-the-hill player go in free agency or via a trade. Hence, the Patriots head coach should have no problem letting guard Dan Connolly walk.
That's because Connolly was one of the worst guards in the league last season, at least as far as Pro Football Focus is concerned.
The 32-year-old garnered the seventh-worst rating in the league, and that's despite playing just 10 games and several hundred fewer snaps than most ranked near him. In other words, he was the worst guard in the league on a per-snap basis.
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
Player to Let Go: C Jonathan Goodwin
Once upon a time, Jonathan Goodwin was one of the best centers in the league. At 36, however, his time has all but passed.
That much is evident in his rating over at PFF. He was among the worst in the league with a minus-6.8 overall rating, with his pass-blocking rating being a particularly atrocious minus-10.5.
With the Saints hurting for cap space, they will probably be best served by finding a replacement in the draft.
New York Giants
21 of 32
Player to Let Go: S Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rolle has been a great locker room presence and leader for the New York Giants, but his performance on the field needs to keep pace.
That hasn't been the case in recent years as Rolle has gotten a bit long in the tooth. The 32-year-old was one of the worst safeties in the entire league last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Perhaps he might be wroth bringing back at a good price, but Rolle is reportedly looking for a contract worth something close to the $7 million per season he was earning with his previous deal, according to Ralph Vacchiano of New York's Daily News.
New York Jets
22 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG Willie Colon
The New York Jets are probably going to move on from Willie Colon, making this fait accompli. Here is what a source told Kristian Dyer of Metro New York regarding the Jets' plans along the offensive line:
"There's a push to go younger along the offensive line. In particular at right guard the Jets are going to want to go a different route. It isn't anything Willie did or didn't do.
"
Colon is 32, and he hasn't been very good for years now. There is no reason to change course at this point—get younger and better in the draft.
Oakland Raiders
23 of 32
Player to Let Go: RB Darren McFadden
The Oakland Raiders gave Darren McFadden another chance, though he made it easy by taking a one-year "prove it" deal last offseason.
All he proved is that he is washed up, and there is no reason for the Raiders to bring him back for another tour of the Bay Area.
The once-explosive running back has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over the past three years. That's what we might call a trend. With the emergence of Latavius Murray and plenty of backs to choose from in free agency or the draft, the Raiders would be just fine without McFadden going forward.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
Player to Let Go: CB Bradley Fletcher
The Philadelphia Eagles have taken a flamethrower to their roster this offseason. Why stop now?
They already cut disappointing cornerback Cary Williams, so they may not be inclined to let their other starter go in free agency. But Bradley Fletcher wasn't much better in the grand scheme of things.
Fletcher certainly had good games, but he was ultimately part of the problem in that secondary. Fletcher allowed a whopping nine touchdowns on passes thrown his direction last season—second-most in the league—and he had just one interception.
With head coach Chip Kelly clearing out the dead wood, there is no reason to bring Fletcher back.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25 of 32
Player to Let Go: CB Ike Taylor
After a long career in Pittsburgh, it's time for Ike Taylor to take his talents elsewhere. If anyone would take him, at any rate.
The 34-year-old cornerback has been in decline for some time, and his 2014 season was an injury-marred mess. Taylor managed to allow four touchdowns in five games on passes thrown his direction. Quarterbacks had a 157.2 passer rating when targeting the veteran corner.
Pittsburgh had an awful secondary last season, and Taylor was definitely part of the problem.
San Diego Chargers
26 of 32
Player to Let Go: RB Ryan Mathews
The running back market is flush with talent, and the draft class is loaded. Why hold onto an injury-prone back?
That is the question the San Diego Chargers should be asking themselves of Mathews, who has been unable to sustain success due to various injuries in recent years. He has been quite good at times, but there are plenty of younger or more durable options out there.
San Francisco 49ers
27 of 32
Player to Let Go: WR Michael Crabtree
At one point, it seemed like Michael Crabtree would live up to the hype after a stumbling start to his pro career. Then his Achilles betrayed him.
Crabtree was lost for most of the 2013 season after rupturing his Achilles, and he hasn't been the same receiver since. Granted, he may not have been much better either way, but the 49ers have certainly not seen great play from their former first-round pick.
San Francisco certainly needs good receivers. So why should they let him go?
Not only is Crabtree a disappointment, but he isn't a great fit for quarterback Colin Kaepernick in that offense.
Seattle Seahawks
28 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG James Carpenter
It's not as if James Carpenter has been awful for the Seattle Seahawks. It's just that, if they are going to let anyone walk, it may as well be him.
Carpenter has been good when healthy, but that's the rub—he has dealt with injuries since coming into the league, missing 16 games in his first two years and three last season. He also suffered a concussion in the Super Bowl.
Given he might be seeking $4 million a year, per ESPN's John Clayton, the cost-benefit numbers may not work for the Seahawks.
St. Louis Rams
29 of 32
Player to Let Go: OG Davin Joseph
Davin Joseph continues a long list of disappointing offensive linemen in this article. Then again, the big offensive guard has been one of the worst offensive linemen in the league for a little while now.
Joseph had a minus-24.6 overall rating over at PFF last season, good for fourth-worst in the league last season. That was actually an improvement from his awful 2013 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There isn't much reason to bring him back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
Player to Let Go: OT Oniel Cousins
There are so many things wrong with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and one of the biggest problems is the offensive line.
Oniel Cousins isn't helping things.
The journeyman offensive lineman managed the eighth-worst PFF rating at offensive tackle despite just 343 snaps in seven games last season. He allowed four sacks and 29 total quarterback pressures in that span, too.
Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns fans would tell you that was expected.
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
Player to Let Go: QB Jake Locker
The Tennessee Titans are unsettled at the quarterback position, so it might be tempting to bring Jake Locker back. After all, Locker did show promise when he was on the field in recent years.
But his flashes of potential were few and far between and injuries just kept finding the former first-round pick. Locker has played an average of 7.5 games per year since coming into the league thanks to a myriad of maladies, stunting whatever development he might have been experiencing.
With the No. 2 pick and Zach Mettenberger in tow, the Titans would be better off starting fresh and cutting bait.
Washington Redskins
32 of 32
Player to Let Go: OT Tyler Polumbus or Tom Compton
Washington needs to overhaul several areas of the team. One of those is the offensive line.
Which right tackle was worse—Tyler Polumbus or Tom Compton? Flip a coin, why don't you?
If we are going by PFF ratings, Compton was worse. But that shouldn't stop Washington from letting them both walk in free agency. Polumbus has seesawed over the last few seasons, but he fell back down to one of the worse tackles in the leagues.
Whoever plays right tackle for Washington next season, it had better be someone other than Compton or Polumbus.
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