2015 NFL Free Agency: Best Players Available at Each Position After Day 3
We are now three days into the NFL’s 2015 free-agency period, and while clubs remain active, few big names still available.
Of course, this is where some of the bargain shopping takes place, and many of the players still available will play key roles for teams later this year.
So who’s still left out there to sign when it seemed like nearly every big name on the 2015 market has been scooped up since Tuesday?
We will take a look at each position and a few of the best players still available. We will update you on any possible moves involving these unrestricted free agents and “street” free agents (players released by their teams) as well.
The players are listed in alphabetical order according to their former teams. You can find a complete free-agent list at each position via the hyperlink at the top of each page.
It’s been quite the whirlwind week, and there’s still a little more fun to be had.
Quarterbacks
1 of 14
Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins
We didn't see much of Moore in 2014, as Ryan Tannehill really emerged in his third NFL season. The former undrafted free agent is a solid veteran who could well wind up re-signing with the Dolphins but is certainly capable of competing elsewhere.
Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings
Back in 2011, the Vikings selected the former Florida State product with the 12th overall pick. Now Teddy Bridgewater is the team’s quarterback, and so far, there hasn't been much buzz around Ponder (who started one game in 2014) on the free-agent market.
Michael Vick, New York Jets
The first overall pick way back in the 2001 NFL draft started a handful of games in 2014 and struggled, throwing three touchdown passes and committing four turnovers. Vick was also sacked 19 times and completed only 52.9 percent of his passes. Things could be winding down for the veteran signal-caller.
Running Backs
2 of 14
Steven Jackson (Released by Atlanta Falcons)
Is there a market for an 11-year running back and the NFL’s 16th-leading rusher of all time with 11,388 yards? Jackson was let go after two disappointing seasons with the Falcons. Does he really have anything left in the tank?
C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
The one-time first-round pick seems like a hot name, but i coming off an injury-shortened season. Spiller is a home run threat out of the backfield and can also help on kickoff returns.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the New Orleans Saints were suddenly “in the mix” for the former Pro Bowler. This offseason, the Saints re-signed 2014 team rushing leader Mark Ingram but parted ways with veteran running back Pierre Thomas.
Trent Richardson (Released by Indianapolis Colts)
The third overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft is looking for work after just three seasons.
"I was expecting this," running back Trent Richardson told Mike Wells of ESPN.com after he was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. "It just didn't work out.”
Although he led the team in rushing with 519 yards, the former Cleveland Browns runner was not part of the Colts plans late in the year and in the playoffs. According the Richardson, that was far from surprising.
“I'm not saying anything bad about the program,” added Richardson, “but that program just didn't fit me at all. Me and the GM didn't see eye to eye. It was a bad marriage for us."
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
In 2014, the Raiders finished dead last in the NFL in rushing yards despite the fact that McFadden finally played a full 16-game season for the first time in his seven-year career. Oakland just added running back Roy Helu to the backfield and appears to be moving on from the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft.
Wide Receivers
3 of 14
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
Despite finishing second on the team in 2014 with 64 catches, Wayne totaled just 779 yards and two scores for the AFC South champions. The 14-year pro ranks seventh in the league's annals with 1,070 receptions but is either headed elsewhere or into retirement.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Wayne and Andre Johnson actually switch teams? Stephen Holder of IndyStar.com has the details of the former Houston Texans star joining the Colts on Wednesday, while the market for Wayne remains quiet.
Dwayne Bowe (Released by Kansas City Chiefs)
We all know by now that no wide receiver on the Kansas City Chiefs caught a touchdown pass in 2014.
Now for the third time this offseason, a player at the position on the team has been given his walking papers. Via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, Dwayne Bowe joined Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins as Chiefs’ wideouts shown the door in 2015.
This past season, the former Pro Bowler finished second on the team with 60 catches and 754 receiving yards. But with the addition of Jeremy Maclin this offseason, Bowe gave way to one of Andy Reid’s prized pupils from his days in Philadelphia.
Percy Harvin (Released by New York Jets)
We have seen the speedy big-play artist in few games for numerous teams the last couple of years. After the Seattle Seahawks dealt him to the New York Jets midseason in 2014, the new regime in green and white let him go.
Speaking of the Jets, former head coach Rex Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley, both running the Buffalo Bills these days, had Harvin in for a visit on Wednesday, and according to Josina Anderson of ESPN (via Twitter), Harvin’s Buffalo visit will extend at least one more day.
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers scored 100 fewer points in 2014 (306) than they did the previous season. The team just added big-play wideout Torrey Smith from the Baltimore Ravens, so where does Crabtree fit in? The one-time first-round pick totaled just 68 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns this past season.
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Tight Ends
4 of 14
Scott Chandler (Released by Buffalo Bills)
Over the past four seasons, Chandler caught 181 passes for the Bills, good for 17 touchdowns. In 2014, he finished fourth on the club with 47 receptions, 497 yards and three touchdowns.
The veteran tight end was released with the thoughts that Buffalo would be signing Miami Dolphins transition player Charles Clay to an offer sheet. But according to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel, that may or may not still be in play since the Dolphins signed former Cleveland Browns Pro Bowler Jordan Cameron on Thursday.
Will Miami keep the tag on Clay? More importantly, at least here, will Chandler be able to find work with another NFL team?
Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals made Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert a first-round pick in 2013, so the writing may have been on the wall even then for Gresham. The two-time Pro Bowler finished second on the team in 2014 with 62 catches and five touchdowns but averaged a disappointing 7.4 yards per reception. An injury also kept him out of the playoff tilt with the Indianapolis Colts.
Anthony Fasano (Released by Kansas City Chiefs)
The one-time Miami Dolphin was cut loose by Kansas City this offseason. Fellow tight end Travis Kelce emerged as the Chiefs’ leading receiver, but Fasano did his part for a team that didn't see a wideout catch a touchdown pass. The veteran totaled 25 catches for 226 yards and four touchdowns but averaged only nine yards per grab.
Tackles
5 of 14
Ryan Harris, Kansas City Chiefs
Harris has spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. He started 15 games at right tackle for Andy Reid’s team this past season—the most by the former third-round pick since his days with the Broncos in 2008.
Joe Barksdale, St. Louis Rams
While he won’t wow you with his ability to pass-block (stats via Pro Football Focus), the Oakland Raiders' 2011 third-round pick is one of the better road graders in the league and would help a team bolster its ground attack. He started all 16 games for Jeff Fisher’s club this past season.
Anthony Collins (Released by Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The one-time Cincinnati Bengals tackle got big bucks from Tampa Bay to join the team last season. Collins started 10 games and was shown the door after just one year with the Bucs, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
Via Pro Football Focus, Collins struggled with pass protection all season, and although he was credited with allowing one sack, he drew more than his share of penalties and gave up plenty of quarterback hits and hurries.
Tyler Polumbus, Washington Redskins
The seven-year pro bounced around with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks early in his career and seemed to find a home in Washington in 2011. But in 2014, he played in only 11 games and made just seven starts. His days as a regular with the Redskins seem to be over.
Guards
6 of 14
Justin Blalock (Released by Atlanta Falcons)
A second-round pick by the Falcons back in 2007, Blalock has been the team’s primary starter at left guard for eight seasons, playing and starting in 125 of a possible 128 regular-season games. He made 15 starts in 2014 but became part of the team’s housecleaning under new head coach Dan Quinn.
Daryn Colledge, Miami Dolphins
The versatile pro spent this past season in Miami, and while he failed to play in all 16 games for the first time in his nine-year career, he was a 13-game starter for Joe Philbin’s team. Colledge has played left and right tackle during his career as well, and would be a welcome veteran addition.
Charlie Johnson (Released by Minnesota Vikings)
A sixth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2006, Johnson has split his career between the Colts and the Minnesota Vikings. He has also played tackle during his nine NFL seasons. In four years in the Twin Cities, the veteran lineman started 61 out of 64 contests.
Dan Connolly, New England Patriots
It has not been a fun few days for the defending Super Bowl champions. The Patriots have already seen Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis sign with the Jets and running back Shane Vereen ink a deal with the Giants. We would say that the team can’t afford to lose Connolly, but we certainly know better, given Bill Belichick’s history.
Centers
7 of 14
Lyle Sendlein (Released by Arizona Cardinals)
There have already been plenty of comings and goings when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals this offseason.
One addition to the team is center A.Q. Shipley, recently of the Indianapolis Colts. The residual effect of that move, as reported by Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, was veteran Lyle Sendlein's release on Thursday.
Pro Football Focus rated 70 NFL centers in 2014, and the former University of Texas product ranked 69th. It was far from a ringing endorsement. Let's see if he finds work elsewhere.
Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions
The veteran pivot found out in late January that he would not be back in the Motor City for a 15th NFL season.
“Obviously, I still think I can play,” said Raiola to Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News in January. “I think a bunch of people might not think I can, but a bunch of people haven’t taken a snap in the NFL either.”
This past December at Soldier Field, Raiola stomped on Chicago Bears rookie defensive tackle Ego Ferguson, and the act saw him get suspended by the NFL for one game. Will his pro football career continue after 14 solid seasons with the Lions?
Chris Myers (Released by Houston Texans)
The 10-year pro began his career with the Denver Broncos. He not only played, but started every game for the Texans each of the last seven seasons, earning a pair of Pro Bowl invitations along the way. Could a team like the Kansas City Chiefs (who lost Rodney Hudson to free agency) be in the market for Myers’ services?
Stefen Wisniewski, Oakland Raiders
The second-round pick in 2011 will apparently be snapping the ball for another team, as the Raiders have already inked underrated center Rodney Hudson (formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs) to a contract. Wisniewski had his ups and down this past season (via Pro Football Focus), but he could jump-start his career elsewhere.
Defensive Ends
8 of 14
Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers
The 2013 Pro Bowler played only one game with the Panthers due to his issues off the field. And we are still waiting to see what Hardy’s immediate NFL future will hold. On Wednesday, Bleacher Report colleague Jason Cole gave us the latest on Hardy’s situation, which could involve a one- or two-game suspension for the five-year pro.
The talented defender has totaled 27 sacks in his last 32 regular-season games dating back to 2012.
Red Bryant (Released by Jacksonville Jaguars)
According to Pro Football Focus, only two 4-3 defensive ends played the run better than Bryant. That’s certainly no surprise and one of the reasons Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley signed him last year after he was cut loose by the Seattle Seahawks.
However, per Pro Football Focus, only two players at the same position struggled more when it came to pressuring the passer than Bryant, who was let go by Jacksonville on Thursday, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
Simply put, a player who excels in one aspect of the game, such as Bryant, should find a home somewhere around the league.
Michael Johnson (Released by Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
When the Buccaneers gave Johnson a big contract last offseason, they were hoping the emerging defender could help bolster their pass rush. The team was looking for the performer who came up with 11.5 sacks for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012.
Instead, Johnson totaled only four sacks in 14 games this past season, and on Wednesday, Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com reported the team had released the six-year pro.
Where could Johnson wind up? If you play connect the dots, he could either return to Cincinnati or join his former defensive coordinator in Mike Zimmer, who is now the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. And sure enough, Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune reports that colleague Mark Craig guestimates that Johnson will head to the Twin Cities this Friday.
Defensive Tackles
9 of 14
Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions
One-time teammate Ndamukong Suh is taking his talents to South Beach, and both Fairley and veteran C.J. Mosley are unrestricted free agents as well. With the exception of the occasional flash, the former first-rounder has disappointed for a number of reasons. This past season, Fairley played in only eight games and racked up a mere 14 tackles.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions have no plans to bring back their first-round pick from 2011.
B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers
The former Pro Bowler has spent the majority of his career at nose tackle, although he lined up at defensive end in 2013 for coordinator Dom Capers. But he missed all of 2014, and it will be interesting to see if the Packers opt to bring back the former 2009 first-round pick.
Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots
Wilfork spent 11 seasons and made four Super Bowl appearances with the Patriots, yet he is not in the team’s plans going forward, and his suitors figure to be many. The Patriots finished ninth in the NFL against the run this past season after ranking 30th in the same department in 2013—when Wilfork wound up on injured reserve.
Outside Linebackers
10 of 14
John Abraham, Arizona Cardinals
With 133.5 career sacks and the ability to play either defensive end or outside linebacker, Abraham will get looks soon, despite the fact he missed all but one game in 2014. The well-traveled five-time Pro Bowler, when healthy, had a team-high 11.5 sacks with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013.
Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears
The seven-time Pro Bowler has played 12 seasons but has appeared in only 17 contests in the last two years combined. While the savvy veteran won’t be back in the Windy City, look for him to wind up on a roster sooner rather than later, as teams will look for an experienced pro like Briggs to round out their roster.
Philip Wheeler (Released by Miami Dolphins)
When you take a look at Pro Football Focus and see where Wheeler’s overall performance in 2014 ranks among 4-3 linebackers, you wonder why he was shown the door in Miami. A closer look reveals that the veteran defender slumped midseason, especially when it came to pass coverage. He could warrant a look from a few teams later in the free-agent period.
Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins
Staying healthy has been a problem in recent seasons for the team’s designated franchise player in 2014. Orakpo is a three-time Pro Bowler who played in only seven games this past season and finished with 24 tackles and 0.5 sacks. Orakpo missed the final 14 games in 2012 as well, but in six NFL campaigns, he’s totaled 40 sacks in 71 games.
Via Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean, Orakpo was still in Nashville on Thursday afternoon visiting the Tennessee Titans with the hopes the team could sign him.
Inside Linebackers
11 of 14
Brandon Spikes, Buffalo Bills
After finishing in the bottom five of the league in rushing defense each of the previous five seasons, the Bills ranked 11th in the league against the run this past year. In his first season at Orchard Park, Spikes finished sixth on the team with 54 stops.
Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys
The eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft made solid contributions to the Cowboys defense in 2014. But last month, Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported (via Twitter) that McClain had violated the league’s substance-abuse policy. Jared Dubin of CBSSports.com recapped the full story of the former Raider, who didn’t play a game in 2013.
Mason Foster, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers won just two games during Lovie Smith’s first season on the job. They also ranked a disappointing 25th in the NFL in total defense this season (19th versus the run). Foster appeared in only 10 games in 2014 but still managed to total 62 tackles—fifth-best on the club—while adding three passes defended.
Cornerbacks
12 of 14
Tramon Williams, Green Bay Packers
The veteran cornerback finished the season fourth on the Packers with 71 tackles. Williams also totaled three interceptions and led Mike McCarthy’s team with 13 passes defended, according to ESPN.com. The Packers went from 11 interceptions in 2013 to 18 picks this season.
Now that Davon House has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, could Williams be headed back to Green Bay? That’s certainly possible, considering that Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (via Twitter) reported that the veteran is back home after failing to secure a deal with the New Orleans Saints.
Perrish Cox, San Francisco 49ers
It has been quite the offseason exodus in the Bay Area, and some wonder if that will come to include the San Francisco 49ers cornerback tandem of Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox, both unrestricted free agents.
Cox was fourth on the club with 53 tackles and led San Francisco with five interceptions and 18 passes defended. He also managed a pair of fumble recoveries, giving him seven of the team’s 29 takeaways in 2014.
Chris Culliver, San Francisco 49ers
Speaking of Culliver, the four-year pro comes off quite the impressive season as well.
The former third-round pick in 2011 finished fifth on the team with 45 tackles, second on the club with 15 passes defended and tied for second on the Niners with four interceptions. The solid defender also returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Safeties
13 of 14
FS Thomas DeCoud (Released by Carolina Panthers)
In his first and only season with the Panthers, the former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowler ranked fifth on the team with 50 tackles, totaling three passes defended and one interception. But he wasn’t on Carolina’s mind when it came to 2015 and is back on the open market for the second straight offseason.
SS/FS Will Allen, Pittsburgh Steelers
When called upon this season to fill in for Troy Polamalu, Allen did an admirable job. He finished 2014 with 36 tackles and one forced fumble. He will command some attention on the free-agent market and could be back with the Steelers, who have some decisions to make regarding Polamalu’s future with the club.
SS Brandon Meriweather, Washington Redskins
The hard-hitting defender comes off a respectable season, totaling 55 tackles, three sacks, three passes defended, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He’s now on the open market, and free safety Ryan Clark announced his retirement. Will Meriweather be part of Washington’s defensive makeover?
Kickers and Punters
14 of 14
PK Jay Feely, Chicago Bears
The well-traveled veteran filled in for the Bears when Robbie Gould went down. But does Feely still have a football future? This past season, the 14-year pro connected on three of his four field-goal attempts and scored a total of 14 points in four appearances. Feely has played for six teams during his career.
P Mat McBriar, San Diego Chargers
Following eight seasons with the Cowboys and a pair of Pro Bowl invites, McBriar has been the ultimate journeyman the last few seasons, suiting up for four different teams in as many years. He played in three games for the Chargers in 2014, averaging 46.9 yards per boot.
PK Ryan Succop, Tennessee Titans
The former Mr. Irrelevant became just that in Kansas City, and after five seasons with the Chiefs, he wound up in Nashville. This past season, Succop connected on 19 of his 22 field-goal attempts (two of those missed coming in a Week 3 loss at Cincinnati) and led the club in scoring with 84 points.
All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com.
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