The Best Remaining NFL Free Agents Entering Preseason
Just one more time…
We have penned our share of pieces this offseason when it comes to free agents. There has been the occasional signing in recent weeks, but there is still some talent available to all 32 NFL teams.
So we're taking some time to point out a baker’s dozen's worth of veterans—some past their prime and others who have yet to fulfill their potential—still on the open market as we enter the preseason (on Sunday night at Canton, Ohio, the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Hall of Fame Game).
What are the chances that any of these 13 players wind up with jobs before or during the 2015 season? Injuries always play a big part in such matters. But at this stage of the offseason game, the chances are somewhat slim that the majority of these veterans will wind up getting some work.
But it’s the unknown that makes such matters always very interesting.
Editor's note: Aldon Smith will not appear on this slideshow, as the 49ers announced his release after it was published.
RB Steven Jackson
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Holy America’s Team, Batman!
Even with free-agent pickup Darren McFadden battling injuries at the moment, we are not sure if the Dallas Cowboys are indeed interested in adding another running back to their roster.
But it appears veteran Steven Jackson thinks he would be a good addition to Jason Garrett’s team. And as you can see from his tweet, he's hoping the defending NFC East champions are getting the right signal.
When it comes to career credentials, the three-time Pro Bowler has them: Jackson ranks 16th in NFL history with 11,388 rushing yards. But after eight consecutive seasons with the St. Louis Rams in which he ran for 1,000-plus yards, the workhorse back totaled just 1,250 yards in 27 games for the Atlanta Falcons the past two seasons.
Just what Jackson has left after 11 seasons is anyone’s guess.
RB Chris Johnson
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Is there any interest out there for a running back who once ran for over 2,000 yards in a season, was named to three Pro Bowls and has totaled 1,000-plus yards in six of his seven NFL campaigns?
Not yet, at least. But those are the facts when it comes to running back Chris Johnson, who after six seasons with the Tennessee Titans spent 2014 with the New York Jets. He totaled 663 yards rushing and one touchdown on 155 carries before being released this offseason.
These days, if you’re the Dallas Cowboys, it seems like every available running back is on your radar and vice versa. That’s what happens when you lose 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray in free agency.
A little less than two weeks ago, Rand Getlin of NFL Network tweeted that Johnson’s agent had been in touch with the Cowboys. But as with Steven Jackson, does Johnson have a lot left to give?
RB Pierre Thomas
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Just when it appeared that one of the league’s more versatile and unsung running backs was about to find a new home, it seems that something has gone awry.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported that in addition to the recent news that Houston Texans running back Arian Foster could be sidelined for some time with a groin injury, the team failed to land free agent Pierre Thomas. The former New Orleans Saint had a problem agreeing on the terms of his contract.
Meanwhile, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that Foster will undergo surgery Friday.
So is there another team out there who could benefit from the addition of Thomas? In eight seasons with the Saints, the undrafted free agent totaled 6,353 yards from scrimmage and 40 touchdowns. Thomas also scored four touchdowns in five postseason games—one of those off a screen pass in the team’s win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
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WR Reggie Wayne
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It sounds more like a game of Connect the Dots than it does football.
Just over a week ago, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com wrote that the Cincinnati Bengals should add veteran wideout Reggie Wayne to a wide receiver corps that already includes perennial Pro Bowler A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones and offseason addition Denarius Moore.
There was talk in recent weeks that the 14-year pro still had a desire to play in 2015. The 2001 first-round pick and former Miami Hurricane racked up 1,070 receptions during his career with the Indianapolis Colts. That figure puts him seventh on the NFL’s all-time receptions list.
However, Wayne has had problems staying healthy the past two seasons, which was one factor in the Colts’ decision not to bring back the unrestricted free agent. The veteran wideout totaled just 102 catches for 1,282 yards and four scores in 22 games since 2013.
It wasn’t long ago that Wayne was racking up impressive numbers with a rookie quarterback named Andrew Luck. In 2012, the sure-handed receiver amassed 106 receptions for 1,355 yards and five scores. Perhaps there is another young signal-caller out there who would benefit from his presence.
T Jake Long
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Would it not be interesting to see the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft line up with the third overall selection (Matt Ryan) that same year?
That would be the case if the Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tackle Jake Long, who has played a combined seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams but has seen his share of injuries in recent years. But would new head coach Dan Quinn and the Falcons like to add the former Pro Bowler to the club?
“I think we're interested in everybody—not just one specific player—but anybody...that can help us perform better," said head coach Dan Quinn to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. “Jake was certainly someone that came in and had an awesome workout here.”
The offensive line was and continues to be an area of distress for this team, one that is looking to rebound from a combined 10 wins in two seasons after making four playoff appearances in five years.
T Gosder Cherilus
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Could the Detroit Lions, who have lost their share of defensive linemen this offseason, be getting ready to reunite with one of their former players on the other side of the trenches?
Released by the Indianapolis Colts less than two weeks ago, tackle Gosder Cherilus has been making the rounds. Last Thursday, Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News reported that the team’s first-round pick in 2008 was back in the Motor City for a visit. Earlier that week, the seven-year pro had met with the Buffalo Bills but wasn’t signed.
The Lions are looking for more help along an offensive front that had its issues this past season. One year after finishing second in the league in fewest sacks allowed (23), Detroit saw quarterback Matthew Stafford sacked 45 times in 2014.
Several teams are looking for offensive line depth, which means Cherilus will more than likely find his way onto an NFL roster sooner rather than later.
G Evan Mathis
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By now, some thought that highly rated guard Evan Mathis would be swimming with the Miami Dolphins.
As of now, the two-time Pro Bowler is swimming with the fishes, metaphorically speaking.
We are not talking about foul play. Rather, the talented blocker (just ask Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated) has yet to land on an NFL roster after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.
However, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald found the skinny on why Mathis isn’t quite yet a member of Joe Philbin’s team. This is a team that could certainly use some more help on the offensive line, a unit that has had more downs than ups in recent years.
Chances are Mathis will wind up in South Florida. Perhaps he is just waiting for the Dolphins to make him an offer…that works for the front office.
C Chris Myers
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In seven seasons with the Houston Texans, center Chris Myers started every game and earned two Pro Bowl invitations.
But now the 10-year veteran, who began his career in 2005 with the Denver Broncos, has not been the center of attention during this free-agency period. The Texans released Myers this offseason after a year in which he excelled as a run-blocker but struggled mightily in terms of pass protection, as noted by Pro Football Focus.
With training camps in full swing, it will be interesting to see if any clubs wind up dissatisfied with their situations at center. Myers is arguably the best player at his position available on the market these days. We have brought up the notion that the Denver Broncos are now led by head coach Gary Kubiak, who is more than familiar with Myers.
If center Gino Gradkowski doesn’t pan out, could Kubiak put in a call to his former pivot?
DE Red Bryant
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Just as we tried to make a connection between the Denver Broncos and center Chris Myers, so have we tried to pair the New York Giants and run-stopping defensive end Red Bryant, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year.
Why Bryant? Under returning defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants will find a way to get after opposing quarterbacks—even with unsigned franchise player Jason Pierre-Paul (team-high 12.5 sacks in 2014) a question mark these days.
Players such as Damontre Moore, 2014 free-agent pickup Robert Ayers and this year’s offseason addition of defensive end George Selvie should assist in such matters. This was a club that totaled 47 sacks this past season.
But this was also a Giants defensive unit that allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league, and the addition of Bryant could be a big plus.
This past year, in his only season in Jacksonville, the veteran defender was tied for third in the league among 4-3 defensive ends in rushing defense, according to Pro Football Focus. Bryant has started 63 out of a possible 64 regular-season games the past four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Jaguars. The imposing 6’5”, 326-pound performer could be a quality pickup for any team looking to shore up its rushing defenses.
DE/OLB Mathias Kiwanuka
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It’s safe to say that there has not been a lot of news or interest in defensive end/outside linebacker Mathis Kiwanuka.
Perhaps some feel his best years are behind him after nine seasons with the New York Giants. Then again, the final pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft didn’t exactly wow everyone with big numbers during his career with Big Blue.
Over that span, the former Boston College product played in 120 games, made 82 starts and lined up at both defensive end spots as well as both left and right outside linebacker in New York’s 4-3 defense.
The career resume includes 38.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and three interceptions. The numbers are far from overwhelming, and Kiwanuka comes off a season in which he totaled 2.5 sacks in 11 contests. The only saving grace for the veteran defender may be his versatility.
ILB Brandon Spikes
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Is there a chance that inside linebacker Brandon Spikes will play football in 2015?
Despite coming off a season with the Buffalo Bills in which he totaled 54 tackles, the team opted not to re-sign him. This offseason, the New England Patriots brought him back to the place where he started his career.
But Spikes was involved in an accident in which he fled the scene, and when it was all said and done, according to Shannon McMahon of Boston.com, the five-year pro plead guilty to the crime and was sentenced to one year of probation. Even before that, the Patriots gave him his walking papers.
Could the run-stopping defender wind up on an NFL roster by year’s end? Stranger things have happened.
CB Chris Cook
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It wasn’t long ago that we were projecting that cornerback Chris Cook could be a surprise starter for the San Francisco 49ers this upcoming season.
Now, that would probably be considered a shock. As reported by Marc Sessler of NFL.com, the Niners released the five-year pro on Wednesday, who played in just six games for the team in 2014.
It will be interesting to see if Cook gets a third chance to succeed in this league with yet another team. The second-round pick of the Vikings has played a combined 40 games with Minnesota and San Francisco and has yet to pick off a pass.
While teams are always looking for cornerback help these days, what is the market for a player who has totaled zero interceptions in his somewhat brief but certainly disappointing career?
CB Alfonzo Dennard
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Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard must feel like a baseball player starting at a 0-2 count.
Now let’s see if he winds up on a third NFL team this offseason and whether he stays or not.
On Thursday morning, Josina Anderson of ESPN tweeted that Dennard would be working out with the Saints.
Later in the day, Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com tweeted that the former New England Patriots defender, who had been released by the defending Super Bowl champions earlier this year and was recently cut loose by the Arizona Cardinals, left the Crescent City without a deal.
In three seasons and 29 games with the Pats, the seventh-round pick from Nebraska totaled five interceptions and 16 passes defensed. In 2014, Dennard played in only six contests and picked off one pass.
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.
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