2016 NFL Free Agency: Best Potential Bargain at Every Offensive Position

When free agency opens on March 9, NFL teams will throw millions and millions of dollars at the best players in the sport.

There will also be savvy-spending franchises that scour the market and find the best buys.

In the following slides, we will look at the biggest potential bargain at every offensive position in the 2016 free-agency class. These players may not command the biggest salaries, but they could provide the biggest bang for the buck.

Honorable Mentions

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RB Alfred Morris

Morris has suffered from declining production for three straight years. However, he's still only 27 years old, and he hasn't missed a game since entering the NFL. A team wanting a two-down back could get a major deal on a player who once rushed for 1,600 yards as a rookie. 

OT Joe Barksdale

The 27-year-old has started at least 13 games for three straight seasons. Barksdale isn't going to blow anyone away physically, but he's a dependable player at right tackle. Last season, he played on a one-year deal worth just over $1 million. 

RB Tim Hightower

The once-forgotten-about back came on strong as a fill-in for the New Orleans Saints late last season. He ended up scoring four touchdowns with over 500 yards from scrimmage in just eight games. 

QB Chase Daniel

He has started only three games over six NFL seasons. No team is going to pay a 30-year-old career backup big money, but Daniel is probably ready for a chance at a bigger opportunity.

Quarterback: Scott Tolzien

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After three seasons backing up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Scott Tolzien will enter free agency hoping to find an opportunity to compete for a starting job.

"I feel like I've improved every year and played for two great organizations and been behind some great quarterbacks," Tolzien said, per Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I've learned from some of the best. So I feel prepared and it's been a priority of mine to get better every day. But right now you're playing a waiting game."

Tolzien, 28, doesn't have a huge arm or game-changing athletic ability. But his arm has steadily improved since landing in Green Bay in 2013, and any team looking to add competition to the quarterback room won't have to pay big bucks to sign him.

In analyzing his ability to be a true starting quarterback in the NFL, Tolzien is probably far closer to Matt Flynn than Matt Hasselbeck in terms of former Packers backups. Then again, he won't cost anything close to the deal Flynn signed with the Seattle Seahawks following the 2011 season.

In a market where even average quarterbacks are paid small fortunes, the investment needed to bring in Tolzien could make him a big bargain for a team needing help at the game's most important position.

Running Back: Matt Forte

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The Chicago Bears are ending their eight-year run with Matt Forte, who is now 30 years old with over 2,500 career touches in the NFL. 

His age, usage and thirst for winning could make Forte one of the great bargains of free agency. 

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, a few people inside the NFL said Forte will be "lucky" to get $4 million per season on his next deal. While a harsh reality for a player as productive (no player has more yards from scrimmage since 2008) as Forte, salary isn't at the top of his priority list. 

"It's not even about the money," Forte said, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. "I want to be in the Super Bowls."

Forte's agent probably wasn't thrilled with that statement, but it likely made every contender with a need at running back happy. He's clearly willing to take less money to play for a team capable of playing for a Super Bowl in 2016.

A team with a good roster will likely be adding a versatile, effective and win-hungry running back at a discount price next month. Talk about a bargain. 

Receiver: Rishard Matthews

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Rishard Matthews' breakout season in 2015 should give him an opportunity to seek a starting job in free agency. 

Over just 11 games, Matthews produced 43 receptions for 662 yards and four touchdowns. He caught 71 percent of his 61 targets and averaged 15.4 yards per catch, with two 100-yard games, four receptions over 40 yards and 31 first downs. 

However, Matthews missed five games with a rib injury, and he caught just four touchdowns over his first 38 NFL games. 

Back in November, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com predicted Matthews could get a four-year, $17-18 million deal worth roughly $4.5 million per season. That was before the Dolphins put him on injured reserve in January. His final price tag could be lower by next month. 

The receiver market has Alshon Jeffery at the top and a number of others making up the second tier, including Matthews. If the Dolphins let him test free agency, a team could find a quality No. 2 or 3 option in the passing game at a palatable price.

Tight End: Dwayne Allen

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It's been a crazy three years for a tight end the Colts drafted 64th overall back in 2012. 

Three years ago, Dwayne Allen missed all but one game after needing surgery for a major hip injury. He rebounded in 2014 with eight touchdowns in 13 games, only to catch 16 passes for 109 yards and no scores during a 2015 season in which he did more blocking than route-running. 

Now, Allen is entering free agency with an uncertain market and value. 

Mike Wells of ESPN.com doesn't believe he will be back in Indianapolis, stating Allen could find a bigger role in the passing game elsewhere. The Colts may also prioritize fellow free agent Coby Fleener over Allen at tight end. 

Still only 25, Allen is a willing blocker and a capable pass-catcher. His injury issues—combined with his pedestrian numbers in 2015—figure to keep his price tag low on the open market, where Allen could look for a "prove it" deal in a more pass-friendly system. 

Offensive Tackle: Kelvin Beachum

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A torn ACL suffered in October 2015 opened the door for Kelvin Beachum—an emerging left tackle with 34 straight starts before the injury—to leave Pittsburgh and explore the open market. 

He's going to get paid in free agency despite the injury and his somewhat smallish frame (6'3", 303 lbs). Left tackles with starting ability under 30 years old (Beachum is only 26) don't last long in free agency. But it's also possible he could come at a discount rate due to missing 10 games last season. 

Beachum strongly believes he'll be ready for the 2016 season. 

"I know I will be ready for the start of the season," Beachum said, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That's not a question. I am making sure that I am ready regardless of who makes the call. I have to look at all options and all situations. I am not a person to make rash decisions."

Before his injury, Beachum was becoming one of the league's most underrated left tackles. He played every snap in 2014 and had a strong season, especially as a pass protector. 

A team in need at the position is going to spend money on Beachum, but he'll likely go for far less than the typical ascending 26-year-old left tackle.

Offensive Guard: Geoff Schwartz

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After signing a four-year deal with the New York Giants before the 2014 season, Geoff Schwartz went on to start just 13 of 32 possible games over the last two years. He was released by New York last week, sending him back to free agency.

There is considerable risk in Schwartz, who suffered through toe and ankle injuries during his time in New York. He will also turn 30 years old this summer.

However, when healthy, Schwartz can make a positive impact at either guard position. He may also come at a significant discount considering his recent injury past.

"I hope they see that is what I went through," Schwartz said, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. "I know it's a results-oriented business. I get that. … But when I'm healthy, I'm a very good football player. That is not going to change now."

A short, incentive-laden deal for Schwartz could pay off big for any team willing to take the risk.

Center: Stefen Wisniewski

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A year ago, many believed Stefen Wisniewski—a former second-round pick of the Oakland Raiders—would find a strong deal in free agency. The offer never came, and he ended up settling for a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The 26-year-old center is now back in the same uncertain situation this year. 

Wisniewski is coming off a 2015 season in which he started all 16 games for Jacksonville. He already has 77 career starts, with only three missed games in five seasons. 

As the top center in a weak free-agent class, Wisniewski could find the deal he missed out on last season.

Then again, the market hasn't been kind to centers who aren't of the elite variety. It's certainly possible Wisniewski won't command much more than the $2.5 million he secured on his one-year deal last spring. A team in need of a plug-and-play option could do much worse than signing Wisniewski at a reasonable price this offseason.