NFL Free Agents 2015: Best Fits for Top 10 Remaining Players

The buildup obviously lasts a lot longer than the end result.

On Tuesday, the third week of NFL free agency begins, and nearly every big name who was available has either rejoined his team or moved on.

Of course, there are still some prominent names on the open market. Here, we will do our best to figure out which of the free agents on our list makes sense for a club that is still looking for help at a particular position. That also includes a player re-signing with his original team as well.

How did we come up with this top 10? Utilizing our previous work and considering the latest news regarding cuts around the NFL, we came up with a list representative of the entire league in terms of position.

The players are in football order in terms of offense and defense. Now let’s see how many will be available once we broach the subject once again down the road.

RB Steven Jackson (Released by Atlanta Falcons)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Prior to signing with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013, running back Steve Jackson had ripped off eight straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards rushing with the St. Louis Rams.

But in two seasons with his new team, the three-time Pro Bowler played in 27 games and ran for a combined 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Falcons released him this offseason.

So is there a team willing to take a chance on the NFL’s 16th-leading rusher of all time with 11,388 yards, as well as an 11-year veteran with 2,743 carries—to go along with 460 receptions? That’s a lot of touches as well as wear and tear.

Of course, a team that could use a backup running back to spell the workhorse on occasion might have a place for Jackson.

Best Fit: Washington Redskins

WR Reggie Wayne (UFA: Indianapolis Colts)

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne has enjoyed a fantastic career since the Indianapolis Colts made him a first-round selection in the 2001 NFL draft. But as the team made clear this offseason, he won't be re-signed by the franchise.

In 14 seasons, he ranks seventh in league history with 1,070 catches and eighth with 14,345 receiving yards. However, injuries have taken their toll the last two years. In 2014, he finished second on the team with 64 receptions, but that added up to only 779 yards and two touchdowns.

While some will try to connect the dots with the Denver Broncos and Wayne’s former quarterback in Peyton Manning, the veteran wideout may provide more help to a team with young wide receivers.

And who better to learn from than a pro like Wayne with his years of experience?

Best Fit: Jacksonville Jaguars

WR Greg Jennings (Released by Minnesota Vikings)

Cliff McBride/Getty Images

As the Minnesota Vikings move on with young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, they obviously won’t be doing it with wide receiver Greg Jennings.

The former Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler lasted just two years in the Twin Cities after signing with the Vikings in 2013. His resume with Minnesota includes 127 catches for 1,546 yards and 10 touchdowns in 31 games. But the team released him after trading for wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Jennings’ career numbers probably look a little more impressive when you consider how good he was in his seven seasons in Green Bay. In nine NFL seasons, he’s amassed 552 catches for 8,083 yards and 63 scores.

David Newton of ESPN.com mentioned several teams are interested in the veteran wideout’s services and within the next week Jennings will meet with the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.

We lean toward the latter. When it comes to quarterback Cam Newton and his 2014 star rookie wideout, it’s was all about the (Kelvin) Benjamin. Partnering Jennings with the talented wideout and Pro Bowl Greg Olsen makes an awful lot of sense.

Best Fit: Carolina Panthers

WR Michael Crabtree (UFA: San Francisco 49ers)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

It wasn’t that long ago that wide receiver Michael Crabtree was the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

After just six seasons, he’s looking for work and is having trouble finding it. Crabtree has missed his share of games along the way due to a rookie holdout and injuries. But when you total 347 receptions for 4,327 yards and 26 touchdowns in 79 regular-season games, you have to be worth a look or two. In 2014, he totaled just 68 catches for 698 yards and four scores in 16 contests.

Last week, Albert Breer of NFL Network (via Twitter) recently reported there were a few things holding back Crabtree, whom according to Breer met with the Miami Dolphins last Wednesday.

Still, a team not far from San Francisco could use more experience at wide receiver to go with 2014 free-agent pickup James Jones.

Best Fit: Oakland Raiders

T Joe Barksdale (UFA: St. Louis Rams)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

T Joe Barksdale (UFA: St. Louis Rams)

It’s been somewhat of a rough road for tackle Joe Barksdale. A third-round pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2011, he played all 16 games for the team as a rookie (zero starts), but by next September he was looking for work.

Head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead would eventually sign him. Barksdale has played all 32 games for the team these past two seasons, and in 2014 he made 16 starts for the first time in his brief career.

While Pro Football Focus ranked Barksdale as one of the better run-blocking tackles in the league this past season, his pass-blocking doesn’t exactly wow you. Still, a team that ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing in 2014 and 30th in total offense could use a little assistance.

Best Fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

T/G Daryn Colledge (UFA: Miami Dolphins)

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The nine-year veteran blocker, who has played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins, brings a lot to the table. And one of his biggest assets has been his impressive dependability.

Colledge has suited up for 141 games and made 137 starts for the aforementioned three teams. In 2014, he started 13 contests for Joe Philbin’s Dolphins but missed games (three) for the first time in his NFL career.

While he has spent the majority of his time in the league at left guard, he’s also played both tackle positions and offers a lot of versatility to a team that is looking to revamp its offensive front.

Best Fit: Atlanta Falcons

C Chris Myers (Released by Houston Texans)

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been the “Year of the Homecoming” in the Mile High City.

One-time quarterback and assistant coach Gary Kubiak is now the head coach of the Denver Broncos. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison also played and coached for the club, while defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was the Broncos head coach from 1993 to 1994.

So why not bring back center Chris Myers, who began his career in Denver but spent the last seven seasons starting every game for the Houston Texans? And most of that came under the guidance of Kubiak, who this past season was the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens before Denver general manager John Elway hired him to return to Denver.

The Broncos have yet to re-sign center Will Montgomery, hence this seems like a perfect situation for all involved.

Best Fit: Denver Broncos

NT/DE B.J. Raji (UFA: Green Bay Packers)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

It’s always nice to be wanted. Such is the case with the Green Bay Packers and defensive lineman B.J. Raji.

“I think our offensive and defensive line has a chance to be as strong as it’s ever been combining both units,” McCarthy said at the NFL owners meetings this past Sunday to Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel.

“We want all of our guys back, especially our big guys,” added McCarthy.

Obviously, that includes Raji, who missed all of 2014 with a torn biceps but is also an unrestricted free agent. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers could certainly use the former Pro Bowl defender. This past season, the Packers ranked just 23rd in the NFL against the run, and that liability cost them in the NFC title-game loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Raji will almost certainly get some offers once he’s healthy, but he’s simply too good of a fit for a team that really needs his help.

Best Fit: Green Bay Packers

ILB Brandon Spikes (UFA: Buffalo Bills)

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

It sure sounds like inside linebacker Brandon Spikes wouldn’t mind shuffling back to Buffalo.

“Of course I’d like to go back, but you know how it goes in this league,” said Spikes last week on NFL Network, as documented by Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com. “Guys with a new staff they like their guys, and everybody understands that. I love Buffalo.”

And the Bills seemed to like him. The former New England Patriots defender finished sixth on the team with 54 tackles in 2014. The team ranked fourth in the league in total defense and more importantly finished 11th in the NFL versus the run. Buffalo had been ranked 28th or worse in rushing defense each of the previous five seasons.

Perhaps reuniting with a former teammate such as defensive tackle Vince Wilfork may be the next best thing for not only Spikes but a club that ranked 10th in the NFL against the run this past season is and looking to get better.

Best Fit: Houston Texans

LB Mason Foster (UFA: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

It’s somewhat surprising that this young defender is still on the open market. Of course, when the team you played for this past season wins only two games, that can’t boost your marketability.

Then again, when you come off a year in which injuries limited you to only 10 appearances, that’s obviously not a good thing as well. Despite that, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster finished fifth on the team with 62 stops and also knocked down three passes.

In each of his first three NFL seasons, he has totaled at least 80 tackles and added a combined six sacks and five interceptions over that span.

Perhaps a trip up north to join a team that is now led by one of the best defensive minds in the league would be a perfect fit for Mason. And there's no doubt he could help a team that ranked 25th in the league in run defense this past season.

Best Fit: Minnesota Vikings

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth-chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.