NFL Players Looking to Salvage Their Careers Through 2016 Free Agency

Life in today's NFL is far from predictable, and even the most promising of careers can be derailed at a moment's notice.

Over the years, we've seen countless high draft picks fail to materialize. We've seen hundreds of promising young players fizzle out after strong starts and hundreds of veterans fade into obscurity with years seemingly left on their careers.

Sometimes, these players even hurt themselves by failing to follow the best career path. Like it or not, some players are going to do exactly this in less than a month. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford is just one example of a man who could be among them.

ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported that the Eagles are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Bradford, which means the former No. 1 overall pick is most likely headed to free agency.

If Bradford wants to avoid being another football footnote, he absolutely must find a home where he can re-establish himself as an NFL starter. He can utilize the free-agency period to accomplish this very goal, and he isn't the only player who should be hoping to do the same.

Today, we're going to examine a group of once-promising NFL players who need to use free agency as an opportunity to save their careers.

Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver

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Wide receiver Percy Harvin has been an enigma of sorts during his NFL career. He has been electrifying on the game field at times as a pass-catcher, runner and returner. However, he has also battled injuries, migraine issues and, apparently, teammates.

There were reports that Harvin found himself in multiple altercations with teammates while with the Seattle Seahawks, something Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin confirmed by downplaying.

“Yes, it is true,” Baldwin said of fighting Harvin, per Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. “However, when you deal with somebody 12, 14 hours a day, you’re going to have issues and conflict."

Harvin wound up with the Seahawks after the Minnesota Vikings traded him away. Seattle dealt him to the New York Jets in 2014, and the Buffalo Bills signed him this past offseason.

A bigger concern than rumors of fighting and Harvin's inability to stick with one team is the fact that he hasn't been an on-field factor in recent years. He started eight games for the Jets but produced just 460 combined rushing and receiving yards with one touchdown. Injuries limited him to five games in Buffalo, where he produced just 249 combined yards with one touchdown.

Technically, Harvin still has two years remaining on his current contract. However, those years—which would each pay him $9 million in base salary—are voidable by the Bills. Therefore, he is most likely to hit the open market when the new league year begins on March 9.

Harvin might be tempted to chase dollars or a ring when considering his free-agent options, but he shouldn't. He is still just 27 years old and can have a long, successful career ahead. However, he will have to prove he can be a productive player and a model teammate.

Whether Harvin returns to the Bills on a team-friendly deal or signs with a receiver-needy team, his goal is to find a team that will allow him to become a star again.

Vernon Davis, Tight End

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Tight end Vernon Davis only belongs on this list if he really wants to return to being the type of playmaker he was earlier in his career. He just won a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos a week after his 32nd birthday, so there's a chance he'll be content to just drift off into obscurity as a role player.

Davis, who was selected sixth overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2006 draft, was one of the league's most feared tight ends as recently as 2013. That season, he racked up 850 yards and 13 touchdowns while earning a spot in the Pro Bowl.

However, Davis has been a virtual afterthought over the past couple of seasons. He produced just 245 yards and two scores in 2014 and just 194 yards with the 49ers in six 2015 games. San Francisco then traded him to Denver, where he finished the season. The move allowed him to chase a ring.

“I dream about it,” Davis said a couple of days before Super Bowl 50, per Matthew Florjancic of WKYC.com. “I think about it every day, every night. It's constantly on my mind. I'm just thinking about that ring."

Davis might be able to chase another ring by re-signing with the Broncos, but he probably won't re-emerge as a top-tier tight end in Denver. Owen Daniels (517 yards, three scores in 2015) has established himself as the top target there and is under contract for two more years.

According to Pro Football Focus, Davis saw just 19 snaps with the Broncos in the postseason.

Davis should consider a team that relies on tight ends in the receiving game and needs a regular contributor at the position. Perhaps he could join former teammate Frank Gore with the Indianapolis Colts. Perhaps he could look at the San Diego Chargers, who are set to lose their top four tight ends to free agency if they don't re-sign them.

Whatever the choice, playing time has to be a priority if he wants to be a star again.

Jake Long, Offensive Tackle

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If you've been a fan of the NFL for even a moderate amount of time, you're probably familiar with offensive tackle Jake Long. The Miami Dolphins made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

Drafted one year after standout tackle Joe Thomas went to the Cleveland Browns, Long looked like he could be on a similar career path his first four years. Long started all but two games in his first four seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl after each one. He appeared to be a franchise left tackle.

Unfortunately, Long had a down year in 2012. He missed four games and was rated just 46th overall among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus. Miami let him slip away and sign with the St. Louis Rams.

Because of injuries, things just didn't work out for Long in St. Louis. He suffered torn ACLs in both 2013 and 2014 and was released with two years remaining on his contract. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons this past offseason but was virtually nonexistent in 2015.

According to Pro Football Focus, Long saw just 11 offensive snaps at right tackle during the season.

Long will find himself on the open market once again come March, and he needs to find a team that will allow him to compete for a defined role. After two major knee injuries, Long may never again be the athlete he once was, but as a third-stringer, he will never prove he can be healthy enough to start.

Long probably won't be able to leap right into the role of blindside protector because of his injury history and his lack of usage in 2015. However, he might be able to step in at right tackle or as a much-used swing tackle for a team in need of line help.

The Browns, who could lose right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to free agency, are one option. The Seattle Seahawks might be another. Seattle left tackle Russell Okung is scheduled to hit the market, and right tackle Garry Gilliam was rated just 133rd among all tackles by Pro Football Focus this past season.

Robert Turbin, Running Back

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The Seattle Seahawks drafted running back Robert Turbin in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, hoping he could be a part of their future backfield plans. Unfortunately, he didn't work out there and has struggled to establish himself as a viable option elsewhere.

The former Utah State standout rushed for 928 yards in three seasons with the Seahawks, serving primarily as the backup to Marshawn Lynch. However, Turbin never emerged as more than a backup, and the Seahawks waived him after he suffered an ankle sprain in the 2015 preseason.

Turbin was claimed off waivers by the Browns but was only active for three games before inefficiency and a penchant for mishandled handoffs caused Cleveland to dump him. He finished the 2015 season with the Dallas Cowboys, where he served as a purely rotational player.

Because of the nature of the position, Turbin could well be approaching his last chance to stick as an NFL veteran. Role-playing running backs are not hard to find, and he has thus far failed to prove that he isn't just another guy.

With the Cowboys, he did rush for a solid 4.3 yards per carry, but he didn't force his way onto the field with regularity. He only logged 32 carries in seven games, an average of 4.5 totes per contest.

Pro Football Focus rated the Dallas version of Turbin 68th overall among running backs in 2015, but the Cleveland version was rated just 143rd overall. This suggests Turbin needs a strong run-blocking line in front of him to be even moderately successful.

This is why Turbin needs to focus on finding a team that will not only give him an opportunity to establish himself but provide him with the blockers he needs to succeed. Re-signing with Dallas and fighting for a role could be a smart move. A team that utilizes multiple backs in its rotation, like the New England Patriots, might be another option.

Morris Claiborne, Cornerback

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Cornerback Morris Claiborne might not be in danger of an NFL exit this year, but he could be running out of opportunities to establish himself as an NFL starting cornerback.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Claiborne with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft. It's fair to say he hasn't lived up to his lofty draft status. Injuries and poor performances have limited Claiborne to just 36 starts in four seasons. He has produced just 125 tackles and three interceptions in that span.

After the 2014 season, the Cowboys made it clear they wouldn't pick up the fifth-year option for the former LSU standout. Claiborne started 11 games in 2015 but was rated just 212th overall among all cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus for the season.

Claiborne should focus less on finding an opportunity to start through free agency and more on finding a situation that can allow him to succeed when he is on the field. He also can't worry about taking a sizable pay cut from the $2.6 million in base salary he made this past year.

The trick here is for Claiborne to take a job, perhaps on a one-year deal, with a team that can help him improve as a player. He was thrust into a big role with the Cowboys and failed. Perhaps a role with a team like the Seahawks or the Cardinals could allow him to work on his skills and regain some confidence.

The last thing Claiborne should want is a starting job in a bad defense, where his inadequacies will be under an even brighter spotlight. This is what we saw with Brandon Browner with the New Orleans Saints in 2015, and it was difficult to watch.

Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End

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Defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been a solid player during his five-year NFL career, but he probably hasn't lived up the potential the Tampa Buccaneers thought he had when selecting him 20th overall back in 2011.

It's likely the Buccaneers envisioned Clayborn as more of a pass-rushing threat, since he produced 15.0 sacks between 2009 and 2010 at Iowa. He got off to a good start with 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2011 but produced just 5.5 sacks over the next three seasons.

As is often the case with players who don't meet their potential, injuries were an issue for Clayborn. He appeared in just three games in 2012 and one in 2014. The Buccaneers chose not to pick up his fifth-year option and allowed him to leave after the 2014 season. From there, he joined the Atlanta Falcons as a situational player.

Considering he wasn't asked to be a regular game-changer in the Falcons defense, Clayborn's 2015 campaign was a mild success. He appeared in all 16 games and produced 15 tackles and 3.0 sacks. However, he only saw 64 defensive snaps on the year, according to Pro Football Focus.

If Clayborn is happy simply being a contributor, then he should re-sign with Atlanta or seek a similar situation with a title contender.

If, however, Clayborn wants to avoid slipping into the ranks of the journeymen, he needs to look for a team that is willing to give him a significant role and to showcase him as a pass-rusher. One potential landing spot might be with the New York Giants, who are scheduled to lose Jason Pierre-Paul and Robert Ayers to free agency and were interested in Clayborn last offseason, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.

Other options might include teams in need of a major defensive overhaul such as the New Orleans Saints (29.8 points per game allowed and just 31 sacks in 2015) and Cleveland Browns (27.0 points per game allowed and 29 sacks). 

Jermaine Gresham, Tight End

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Tight end Jermaine Gresham is in an interesting position heading into free agency. He has played for a contender for nearly his entire NFL career but needs to focus on re-establishing himself as a No. 1 tight end.

Gresham came into the league as a first-round draft pick of the Bengals back in 2010 and spent the better part of five seasons as Cincinnati's go-to target at the position. However, the Bengals moved on from Gresham this past season in favor of Notre Dame product Tyler Eifert.

Though Gresham did manage to land with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, he didn't catch on quickly. He underwent offseason surgery to repair a herniated disk, and the ensuing recovery likely scared several potential suitors. A number of minor injuries also limited his production with Arizona, which could significantly hurt his free-agent stock this year.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gresham was second on the team at tight end with 606 offensive snaps in 2015. He finished the regular season with just 18 receptions for 223 yards and one touchdown.

Gresham has ideal size for his position (6'5", 260 lbs) and will only be 28 years old at the start of next season. Therefore, he should be a fairly attractive option for a potential contender. If, however, Gresham wants to get back to being a No. 1 tight end, he needs to search for a team that can provide the opportunity.

A team such as the Indianapolis Colts—who are scheduled to lose tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen to free agency—might give Gresham the chance to become a primary starter and get back into the postseason.

Terrelle Pryor, Wide Receiver

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Terrelle Pryor finds himself in a unique position on our list because he needs to find a place to flourish at the second position of his NFL career.

Pryor entered the league as a quarterback out of Ohio State back in 2011. He was selected in the third round of the supplemental draft and went on to start 10 games at quarterback while appearing in 15 total with Oakland.

Unfortunately, Pryor never materialized as a franchise-caliber signal-caller with the Raiders and bounced around the league, trying to find a team that would give him an opportunity. He spent offseason time with the Seahawks, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals but never found a team willing to give him a real shot at quarterback.

Finally, Pryor announced that he would try to utilize his size (6'4", 233 lbs) and athleticism to make a transition to wide receiver.

According to ESPN.com's Ashley Fox, Pryor spent time during this past offseason working with both Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown under the guidance of Randy Moss. However, the transition to receiver hasn't been a smooth one.

The Browns signed Pryor at the position, but he missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. He made the regular-season roster but was cut shortly after the season began. Cleveland re-signed him late in the season, and he appeared in a total of three games with the team. He finished with one reception and 42 receiving yards.

It's hard to deny that Pryor has the size and speed to be an NFL receiver, but he's learning a new position at 26 years old. The fact no team was willing to take a chance on him between his stays in Cleveland speaks volumes.

Pryor can't be picky when it comes to free agency this season. He simply needs to find a team that is willing to give him a realistic chance to make the roster at receiver. However, he has to make sure the opportunity is favorable. A camp invite with a receiver-loaded team such as the Arizona Cardinals is probably something Pryor should pass on if other opportunities are available.

Sam Bradford, Quarterback

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We opened this article with Bradford, and we're going to close out the list with him, because he was one of the hottest names of last offseason and may be the same this year.

A former first overall pick by the St. Louis Rams, Bradford has already been traded away by the team that drafted him and will likely be tossed aside by the Eagles as well.

Even though Bradford is just 28 years old, his next stop may represent his last chance to be an NFL starter.

Bradford has had some shining moments over the years, but they have been brief and broken up by even longer periods of injury. He has finished a season on injured reserve twice and has missed a total of 33 games in six years.

Last year with Philadelphia, Bradford managed to stick it out through 14 contests, but his performance on the field was less than impressive. He tossed just 19 touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions and finished with a good-but-not-great passer rating of 86.4.

It wouldn't be fair to call Bradford's 2015 campaign a disaster, though. Pro Football Focus rated him 12th overall among quarterbacks, and he is sure to get another opportunity to start.

The trick for Bradford will be to find a team that will give him an opportunity to start and a realistic opportunity to succeed. We've seen far too many good quarterbacks earn chances to start, only to be destroyed by terrible situations. Just look at Josh McCown over the past couple of seasons for an example.

Bradford might want to try to land with the Houston Texans, who have a playoff-caliber defense and a top-flight receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. He might want to seek a similar opportunity with the New York Jets, if they don't reach a new deal with Ryan Fitzpatrick first.

The bottom line is that Bradford needs to go to a team where he can start, succeed and stay healthy. Otherwise, he might soon become a career backup. Even worse, he could join the likes of Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow as former first-rounders who are no longer in the NFL.

All contract information via Spotrac.com.