Impending 2016 Free Agents Who Can Cash in with Big Super Bowl 50 Performances
Legacies will be made in Super Bowl 50, and so will a lot of money. Because as long as the Super Bowl and free agency have coexisted, players from reigning championship teams have hit home runs on the open market.
The term for this phenomenon—coined nearly two decades ago by agent Leigh Steinberg—is a Super Bowl premium.
Just last year, we saw free agents from the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots benefit from the optics associated with helping their team achieve its ultimate goal.
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Cornerback Darrelle Revis signed a five-year, $70.1 million deal with the New York Jets, running back Shane Vereen inked a three-year, $12.3 million contract with the New York Giants, corner Brandon Browner signed a three-year, $15 million pact with the New Orleans Saints and linebacker Akeem Ayers landed a two-year, $6 million deal with the St. Louis Rams.
Nobody's suggesting those guys wouldn't have found work regardless of whether they benefited from Super Bowl limelight, but it does seem as though fresh champions tend to gain value on the open market.
Wide receiver Golden Tate had never gone over 1,000 yards in his career before signing a five-year, $31 million contract with the Detroit Lions only six weeks after winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
And that same offseason, reigning Seahawk champions Clinton McDonald, Walter Thurmond, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Breno Giacomini all signed free-agent deals worth at least $3 million per year, despite the fact none had ever sniffed a Pro Bowl.
Here's a look at key and not-so-key members of the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos who may have a chance to parlay a victory next weekend into a pay hike on the free-agent market.
Notable Panthers Impending Free Agents
CB Josh Norman
| 1. Josh Norman | 54.0 |
| 2. Trumaine Johnson | 55.0 |
| 3. Darrelle Revis | 56.5 |
| 4. Quinten Rollins | 58.4 |
| 5. Adam Jones | 60.7 |
| 6. Patrick Peterson | 61.8 |
Although Norman is the biggest name on this list, he might have the least to gain in Super Bowl 50. That's because the first-team All-Pro is already in line to get paid in a major way.
Norman could make as much as $14 million under the franchise tag. But if he does sign a long-term deal this offseason, don't be surprised if the 28-year-old lands close to $40 million guaranteed. Right now, only Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals and Richard Sherman of the Seahawks make that kind of cash at corner, but the tape and the numbers indicate Norman is in the same range.
A big performance against the Broncos would only help drive that projected guaranteed total up, but every game comes with an injury risk, and it's hard to imagine Norman's stock rising much higher than it already has.
S Roman Harper
The 33-year-old was a Pro Bowler in New Orleans back in 2009 and 2010, and while he's no longer in his prime, he continues to be effective. Harper hasn't missed a start in two seasons with the Panthers, and he had four interceptions in 2014.
He won't get a long-term deal at his age, but if Harper can suit up next Sunday (despite an eye injury), he'll have a chance to show the football world that he's a worthwhile veteran addition.
FB Mike Tolbert
He doesn't play a glamour position, but the two-time first-team All-Pro is coming off another steady season as a blocker, runner and receiver. At the age of 30, Tolbert is likely to be paid handsomely in free agency.
He's already the second-highest-paid fullback in the game, but a nice performance in the Super Bowl will surely move him into the top spot.
OT Mike Remmers
A journeyman before arriving in Carolina midway through the 2014 season, Remmers is the only Panthers player who hasn't missed a single snap on offense this year. That alone isn't grounds for a seven-figure salary, though, and the 26-year-old right tackle has frequently struggled.
According to Pro Football Focus, only five qualified offensive tackles took more penalties and only 12 surrendered more sacks during the regular season. Still, Remmers had a pretty clean NFC Championship Game performance, so as long as he isn't embarrassed by a strong Denver pass rush next Sunday, he should get a nice raise somewhere.
CB Cortland Finnegan
Finnegan was a Pro Bowler seven years ago, but the 31-year-old was out of the game entirely before the Panthers picked him up to help fill holes in their leaking secondary in November.
No, he hasn't performed particularly well, but the 10-year veteran has yet to give up any major plays. No touchdowns and nothing beyond 40 yards, per PFF.
Now, in order to land a fresh contract, all Finnegan needs is one more half-decent performance against a passing offense that doesn't exactly strike fear into opponents.
Notable Broncos Impending Free Agents
OLB Von Miller
Although he's a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro, the 26-year-old Miller can still make himself a lot of extra cash with a big performance against the Panthers. Because the one thing the 2011 No. 2 overall pick has to prove is that he can consistently rise up in big moments.
In the AFC Championship Game, he did exactly that with 2.5 sacks and an interception. Do that twice in a row and help your team upset a 17-1 team in the Super Bowl, and you'll be able to name your price in free agency.
RB Ronnie Hillman
Hillman led the Broncos with 863 rushing yards in the regular season, so the 24-year-old will likely be a warm commodity on the free-agent market.
| 2012 | 84 | 327 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 2013 | 55 | 218 | 1 | 4 |
| 2014 | 106 | 434 | 3 | 4.1 |
| 2015 | 207 | 863 | 7 | 4.2 |
The problem is he isn't a particularly good blocker or receiver, and he clearly lacks consistency. Head coach Gary Kubiak has continued to give him a lot of work in the playoffs, but Hillman has averaged just two yards per attempt on his 27 postseason carries.
So while he's young and talented enough to be alluring on the open market in March, he might have to up his game against a good Carolina defense if he wants to land a true Super Bowl premium.
G Evan Mathis
| 1. Richie Incognito | 35.0 |
| 2. Evan Mathis | 32.1 |
| 3. Josh Sitton | 28.9 |
| 4. Andrew Norwell | 27.2 |
| 5. Mike Iupati | 18.9 |
Mathis' case is interesting. On one hand, he's consistently one of the highest-rated players at his position at PFF and has made two Pro Bowls. But on the other hand, he lingered for more than two months on the free-agent market after the Philadelphia Eagles released him last summer.
That probably had to do with the fact Mathis is 34 years old. But now that he has put together another stellar season while helping drive Denver to the Super Bowl, expect Mathis to be in high demand when free agency arrives.
LB Danny Trevathan
After missing much of the 2014 season, the 25-year-old Trevathan bounced back with a great year that included 73 tackles and two picks in the regular season.
You could argue that he's been Denver's best defensive player not named Miller this postseason, which means he's likely to land a deal that pays him in excess of $15 million guaranteed.
DE Malik Jackson
The 26-year-old was a star in his first full season as a starter, putting together 5.5 sacks while posting the second-highest defensive PFF grade on the team. And with Derek Wolfe's long-term future in Denver now secure, Jackson is likely to hit the open market just a few weeks after what has been the hottest stretch of his career.
Like Miller and Trevathan, Jackson is going to demand a hell of a ransom on the open market, regardless of what happens on Super Bowl Sunday. And the exposure from his performances this January and February definitely doesn't hurt.
OT Ryan Harris
The 30-year-old Harris has been a reliable swing tackle throughout his well-traveled eight-year career, but now he's holding things down on the blind side in a Super Bowl. He didn't have a particularly strong season in that spot, but he played the most snaps of his career.
With Ryan Clady expected to return from injury next year, Harris likely won't be viewed as a top priority for the Broncos. But don't be surprised if he parlays this Super Bowl season into a multiyear contract elsewhere.
WR Jordan Norwood
Super Bowl premiums are relative. Don't expect Norwood—a 29-year-old with one career touchdown—to fetch an eight-figure deal on the open market. But a lot of folks didn't even know Norwood's name before he gained a semi-regular role with the Broncos down the stretch this year.
A few grabs in the Super Bowl might be enough for the Penn State product to get some looks as a slot option elsewhere.
S Shiloh Keo
The 28-year-old, who is somewhat of a pet of Kubiak's, played 36 snaps in place of the injured Darian Stewart in the AFC Championship Game, making three tackles. He also had an interception in Week 17 and accumulated 61 tackles and a pair of picks with Houston in 2012 and 2013.
Nobody's going to pay Keo starter money, but Stewart is a question mark for the Super Bowl with a knee injury, which means Keo may have a chance to make a lot of green in Santa Clara.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.
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