2016 NFL Free Agency: Backups Who Could Flourish as Starters with New Teams

The money is already flowing freely in the NFL. Big names are changing zip codes or rumored to be doing so imminently. The landscape is shifting yet again.

Chances are, though, that some of the lesser names on the market will have the biggest impacts in the NFL next season. Think about how many free-agent busts we have seen over the years only to see unheralded signees do damage.

There are always underrated free agents hitting the market, but a lot of those guys are typically starters. What about the backups?

Let's look at a few of the backups of today who could be stars tomorrow if they land in good situations in which they can start.

Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets

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We got a good look at what Bilal Powell can do last season.

The second half of the season saw Powell flourish, becoming a vital cog in the Jets offense that was sorely missed in the last game of the season. He tallied 499 total yards and three touchdowns in six games from Week 10 on last season before getting injured for Week 17.

Powell isn't a workhorse but could flourish as a starter in the right situation. Just look at Dion Lewis, who came back from the NFL dead to become a force for the New England Patriots. Powell has already shown more than Lewis did before getting to New England, so teams should be more aware of the former's ability.

In fact, Powell could be Lewis 2.0 in New England: Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweeted that the Patriots are interested in the Jets standout.

Pass-catching is Powell's strength, making him an ideal third-down back at worst. But the right offense could make him a star.

Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Once a big-money starter for the Jaguars, Marcedes Lewis has been relegated to a bit role in the Jacksonville offense.

Lewis never really lived up to the $34 million contract he signed way back in 2011, whether or not injuries hampered his production. The fact that he didn't have a particularly good quarterback until it was too late didn't help matters, either.

By the time Blake Bortles established himself as a bona fide NFL starter, Julius Thomas was in town and Lewis was fighting Clay Harbor for snaps. So what could he do if he landed with, say, the Green Bay Packers as the starter?

Lewis isn't exactly Antonio Gates or Rob Gronkowski as a receiver, but he is a solid pass-catcher with great blocking skills. He is certainly an improvement over some of the starters around the league last year.

Of course, Lewis may like his role with the Jaguars, so that may be moot—he is reportedly close to re-signing with Jacksonville, as tweeted by ESPN's Mike DiRocco—and the Jaguars have plenty of money to burn.

But we can dream, can't we? 

Rishard Matthews, WR, Miami Dolphins

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Rishard Matthews was a starting receiver for the Miami Dolphins at the beginning of the 2015 season, but that was mostly due to injury. Once rookie DeVante Parker got healthy, Matthews was going to be shunted into a backup role, which is why he sought a trade when Parker was drafted.

Matthews won't have to worry about that this offseason, assuming he can find a team that will make him a starter on a permanent basis. He was a pleasant surprise in Miami last season, showing out when he was given a chance to strut his stuff.

The 6'0", 200-pound wideout out of Nevada broke out for 42 receptions and 647 yards with four touchdowns in the first nine games of the season before losing playing time and ultimately getting injured for the rest of the season. He had one of the highest drop rates in the league, though, something he will need to rectify to continue ascending in the league.

The question is whether any teams will look at Matthews as a starter. He's not a prototypical No. 1 and won't burn by opposing defenders on defense. But if he does get his shot in a decent or good offense, Matthews could hit his first 1,000-yard season in 2016. 

Derrick Shelby, DE, Miami Dolphins

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It seems the Miami Dolphins might be moving on from defensive end Derrick Shelby, too, given the fact they signed defensive end Mario Williams, according to ESPN, and Cameron Wake's presence on the roster. Yahoo's Charles Robinson reported that the Dolphins could rescind Olivier Vernon's transition tender, though, so Shelby may be an important depth piece to keep.

That's because he has been a nice backup for the Dolphins for a few seasons now.

Shelby has been greatly overshadowed by Cameron Wake and Vernon on that defensive line, both of whom have been great as starters. But that doesn't mean Shelby hasn't performed well in relief duty. 

He only had nine official sacks over the past three seasons, but Pro Football Focus graded him among the top 25 edge defenders in the league despite his limited role.

The four-year veteran won a restricted free-agent tender a year ago, but the Dolphins seem to be making wholesale changes on the defensive side of the ball. That means Shelby will be free to sign elsewhere, where he can make a huge impact if given the opportunity to start.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington

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Is this cheating? It's probably cheating, but Robert Griffin III was definitely a backup last season.

Griffin's time in Washington was poisoned near the end of his rookie season. Misuse at the hands of head coach Mike Shanahan got his knee shredded, and the former Baylor star never recovered his confidence.

The acrimony in Washington probably didn't help matters, which is why his release was a huge blessing. No other player will benefit more from a change of scenery—well, assuming he doesn't end up in Cleveland.

Griffin won't have too many options, but there are certainly job openings out there. The Houston Texans or San Francisco 49ers seem like the most attractive options. Yes, the Browns have a starting job available, but the dysfunction in Cleveland rivals that of the nation's capital.

Houston probably offers Griffin the best opportunity, given the talent he would have immediately at his disposal. But Chip Kelly could do great things with Griffin's all-around ability, assuming the fallen star can pick himself back up.