10 NFL Free Agents Who Could Prove to Be Steals Next Season

The 2016 NFL league year officially begins at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. Once that begins, top free agents can officially begin signing lucrative new deals with their respective teams.

Although many players will get paid handsomely for having proven their worth, there are also many underrated players who will prove to be steals for their respective teams. Last year, Jabaal Sheard (New England Patriots) and Chris Johnson (Arizona Cardinals) embodied this mantra.

This offseason, a new crop of free agents will surely yield the same result: a handful of players whose underrated skill and team-friendly contract will propel their team's chances to reach Super Bowl LI.

But which players will prove to be the biggest steals, and which teams will sign them?

This list will discuss 10 potential free-agency steals and their projected team for the 2016 season.

OT Kelvin Beachum

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Coming off a torn ACL, Kelvin Beachum could prove to be a major steal for a team that is willing to overlook his injury risk.

Logically, Kelvin Beachum should be one of the marquee free agents in this class.

He's only 26 years old and played left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly excelling in pass coverage. In its 2014 left tackle rankings, Pro Football Focus ranked him fifth overall.

Unfortunately, the former SMU Mustang suffered a devastating torn ACL in Week 6 last season against the Arizona Cardinals, bringing a once-promising season to a screeching halt.

It will be interesting to see what the free-agency market holds for Beachum. He stands alongside Russell Okung, Mitchell Schwartz and Andre Smith as the premier tackles on the market, so any potential deals signed by those three will be a great indicator of a potential Beachum contract.

What complicates the matter, however, is the Steelers' salary-cap woes. Per Spotrac, the Steelers are $10.6 million under the cap, but wish to re-sign Beachum, guard Ramon Foster and cornerback Brandon Boykin—and that doesn't include any potential outside free agents the team wishes to sign.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler indicates that the team may have to choose between Beachum or Foster:

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Both [Beachum and Foster] want to return but that's hardly a guarantee, depending where the money falls. There could be healthy markets for both players -- not outrageous money, but steady coin. In Beachum's case, the Steelers would likely want a team-friendly deal since they have Alejandro Villanueva playing capable football.

"

Given that ultimatum, the team will likely choose Foster. He's cheaper and Villanueva is good enough to keep Ben Roethlisberger on his feet. 

Though Beachum won't get the big contract he deserves, there are several teams who he would fit well with under a team-friendly deal.

Among the teams that could sign him, the Detroit Lions are by far the best fit. Riley Reiff struggled greatly last season, and Michael Ola shouldn't be a starter. The Lions have many problems, but if they can sign Beachum and move Reiff back to right tackle, it's a great start in the right direction.

Prediction: Signs with Detroit Lions 

DT Nick Fairley

Associated Press

Nick Fairley (center) is a highly talented player who can make a team very happy—if he can find his motivation.

Lions fans know Nick Fairley all too well: a highly talented player whose lack of motivation makes him expendable.

Fairley was actually quite solid in Detroit, having the luxury of playing next to Ndamukong Suh. In his only two healthy seasons to date—2012 and 2013—he had 49.0 tackles, 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Despite his talent, Fairley took plays off, which dissuaded the Lions front office from ever extending their former first-round pick. He ended his tenure in Detroit as a frustrating bust. 

When the then-St. Louis Rams took a chance on Fairley last season on a one-year deal, the signing was expected to be a steal for the Rams, who boasted a sensational defensive line.

Unfortunately, this team strength proved to be a detriment to Fairley's performance. Playing on a defensive line with Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald and Chris Long limited his ability to make plays—in the rare instances when he even saw the field.

Having wasted a prime year of his career as a backup, Fairley will not land the lucrative contract he was hoping for when he signed with the Rams last offseason. Still, his raw talent as an interior pass-rusher is quite appealing to teams.

The 28-year-old Auburn product has netted no shortage of suitors, particularly the New York Jets. According to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News, the Jets have labeled Fairley as a "contingency plan" in the increasingly likely event that the team can't re-sign nose tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison.

The possibility of Fairley signing with a team like the Eagles or Dolphins has also been discussed, but in the end the Jets appear to be the favorite to sign him.

Though the Jets boast a strong defensive line with Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson, chances are that the trio won't remain intact. In the same column, Mehta noted that the Jets "would love to trade" Wilkerson, which would place Fairley right in the middle between Richardson and Williams.

If Fairley can even slightly increase his intensity, he'll be a complete steal.

Prediction: Signs with New York Jets

DT Ian Williams

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One of the most underrated players in the league last season, Ian Williams will have to wait another year for a big payday.

Poor Ian Williams: so talented, but so overlooked.

After being snubbed for the Pro Bowl last season, the 26-year-old defensive tackle is a distant second behind Snacks Harrison in the free-agent defensive tackle market—and it could be argued that Fairley is ahead of him too.

An excellent run-stopper, part of what limits Williams' value is the fact that he's basically a two-down tackle, and on 3rd-and-long passing situations he's somewhat of a liability on the field. Though the 49ers have over $61 million in cap space, breaking the bank for Williams may not be in their best interest.

It's not in Williams' best interest, either.

The 49ers could very well give Williams a multiyear deal, but he wouldn't get as much money as he would next offseason if he shows some pass-rushing potential.

At this point, there is virtually no interest in Williams outside of the Bay Area, so it looks like Williams will remain a Niner for at least one season more.

Next offseason, Williams can make his payday, but for now he'll prove to be one of the biggest offseason steals.

Prediction: Re-signs with San Francisco 49ers

RB Bilal Powell

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Often overlooked with the Jets, Bilal Powell could be a great bargain for a team looking for a solid tandem back.

Bilal Powell was underutilized with the Jets, but his new home will likely offer him more playing time at a steep discount.

The 27-year-old back was second fiddle to Pro Bowler Chris Ivory, and was used primarily on passing situations. While his best attribute is undoubtedly his pass catching, Powell has shown significant improvement on carries as well. Even though his carries have fluctuated over the years, his average yards per carry has risen each year.

In his piece on Powell, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that though the Louisville graduate "hardly will break the bank," he appears to be a great fit for every other AFC East team.

Recent reports have speculated that the Jets feel the Buffalo Bills are highly interested in Powell. This wouldn't be a surprise, considering that Bills head coach Rex Ryan drafted and cultivated Powell. 

Coupled with LeSean McCoy's offseason disaster, the Bills could end up with a gap in their roster that Powell would fill perfectly.

Another interesting fit is the Patriots, whose penchant for taking low-value running backs and turning them into key cogs on their offense is well-known and highly envied. Powell would be quite an interesting fit in Foxborough.

However, the pass-catching running back slot is currently filled by Dion Lewis, and the team is more likely to make a run at Matt Forte than add Powell.

It would be difficult to see Powell leave the AFC East, given the fact that he knows the division all too well—and the division is likewise familiar. It wouldn't be surprising to see Powell re-sign with the Jets or head up to New England, but in the end the man who drafted Powell will be the man to obtain Powell as an offseason steal.

Prediction: Signs with Buffalo Bills 

WR Rishard Matthews

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The forgotten man on Miami's wide receiver corps, Rishard Matthews will prove to be a steal for whichever lucky team signs him.

When all is said and done, Rishard Matthews could end up being the biggest steal of the offseason.

The current free-agent market is thin, containing a handful of No. 2 wide receivers looking to get paid like No. 1 guys—and most of them probably will. Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu and the aging Anquan Boldin will likely cash in on the weak market.

But, somehow, Matthews will get overlooked. 

The 26-year-old made a big jump this past season, catching 43 passes for 662 yards before a rib injury limited him to 11 games.

Even though previous reports suggested otherwise, the Dolphins' recent offseason frenzy will likely draw them away from re-signing Matthews. Developing DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills is a priority for them anyway.

ESPN's James Walker broke down a list of potential suitors for Matthews, which included the Rams, Patriots and Chargers.

Of the three teams, the Patriots are the most intriguing. Walker discerned exactly what makes Matthews a viable option for New England: "The Patriots need wide receivers, and they also know Matthews well after playing against him twice a season. His physical style and run after the catch would be a nice addition for future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, especially if they can get him at a bargain price."

The last phrase is the most crucial. Matthews will need to sign a very team-friendly deal in order to join the Patriots. But if Matthews can keep his price reasonable, New England can offer him both a Super Bowl opportunity and the chance to be a top-two receiver that Miami simply couldn't give him.

Prediction: Signs with New England Patriots

DE Derrick Shelby

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Often overshadowed in Miami, Derrick Shelby is a stellar talent entering the prime of his career.

When you play on the same defensive line as Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon, you're bound to be overlooked and underappreciated.

Such is the case for Derrick Shelby, a 27-year-old defensive end who emerged as a strong all-around player in 2015. His 25.0 tackles and 3.5 sacks were a career high, and he added four defensed passes and two forced fumbles.

Having placed the transition tag on Vernon and signed Mario Williams to a two-year deal, Shelby doesn't appear poised to return to Miami, even if it offered him a new deal. He's simply too talented to be a rotational player on anyone's defense.

Though there doesn't appear to be much vocal interest in Shelby right now, it's apparent that several teams will compete to land him. 

The Giants, Falcons and Raiders are all viable options for Shelby. Each team has the cap space to sign him, and each can offer him a starting job on a rising defense.

Of the three, the Falcons are the best fit for him.

Atlanta's defensive front seven is perhaps its most glaring weakness, but it is quickly on the rise. Plugging Shelby into a young front with Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett, Ra'Shede Hageman and Paul Worrilow—and perhaps another defender via the No. 17 pick in the draft—would give the Falcons a talented young corps to build off in future years.

Prediction: Signs with Atlanta Falcons

FS Rodney McLeod

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A standout in the Rams secondary, Rodney McLeod could prove to be a steal for whichever team signs him.

Rodney McLeod is still only 25 years old, played safety on one of the league's best defenses and has numerous teams suiting him in free agency.

Even still, he'll be a steal for whichever team signs him, unless he gets top-tier money.

A notch behind Tashaun Gipson on the free-agent safety hierarchy, McLeod is a truly elite free safety. He's a power-hitting defensive back who forced fumbles, but still has the range and speed to cover receivers and break up passes.

McLeod posted career-best numbers in several categories, among them being his 82 combined tackles and three forced fumbles. There's no reason to think his 2016 season won't be even better.

Though he has primarily been tied to the Rams thus far, McLeod is also seen as a great fit for the Giants, Bears and Chargers. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Rams re-sign him, but Chicago has plenty of cap space and a glaring hole at free safety.

Adrian Amos will not be the Bears' starting free safety next season, and McLeod would be a bargain for anything under Devin McCourty or Eric Berry-type money ($10 million). Don't be surprised if you see him representing the Bears at next year's Pro Bowl.

Prediction: Signs with Chicago Bears

DT Akiem Hicks

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After getting traded to the New England Patriots, Akiem Hicks played very well last season. He'll be a steal for whichever team lands him.

Akiem Hicks is another example of how well the Patriots orchestrate midseason trades.

Having been traded from the Saints to the Patriots in September, Hicks played a pivotal role in shoring up New England's interior defensive line.

Even though he didn't start a single game, Hicks notched three sacks and 21 combined tackles, providing key depth after starter Dominique Easley went down for the season.

Now that his value has been expanded, Hicks will get a new contract—though he will still be greatly undervalued. Even now, the race to sign Hicks appears to be down to the Patriots and Bears.

According to NESN.com's Doug Kyed, the Patriots have expressed interest in bringing Hicks back. It would be a major benefit to the Patriots to bring back their core defensive tackle group, including Alan Branch, Easley and Malcom Brown.

However, the Bears will also likely pursue Hicks, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Now that the team is out on Malik Jackson, defensive tackle is still a huge need for the Bears, and Hicks would be a great replacement at a major discount.

The Patriots would be thrilled to have Hicks back, but they have other needs as well. In addition, they have a poor track record in re-signing these midseason acquisitions once their contracts expired. 

Aqib Talib, Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas all proved to be great acquisitions by the Patriots, but once their contracts ran out the Patriots didn't hesitate to let them walk.

Prediction: Signs with Chicago Bears

SS Rashad Johnson

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In the midst of a talented Arizona Cardinals secondary, Rashad Johnson is the underrated piece that keeps them together.

Rashad Johnson is the overlooked piece on a very talented Arizona Cardinals secondary.

Everyone wants to talk about Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu as the stars of the secondary, and rightly so. The duo have combined to form a cornerback tandem as talented as any other in the league.

But it's the 30-year-old Johnson who serves as the leader of the secondary, having braved seven up-and-down seasons with the Cardinals. He's been their best safety; a trend that continued this past season.

Johnson's five interceptions were a career high, and his 61 combined tackles were second-most in his career. He also added seven defensed passes to his season stats.

For most safeties, this would be an opportune time to get one final payday on the open market. For Johnson though, it's a chance to sign one final deal with the team he loves.

In an interview with Robby Baker of 12 News in Arizona, Johnson expressed his desire to remain a "Cardinal for life":

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It would be great, seven years, I think another deal here could solidify that. I would love to go back to Alabama and be able to tell the story for the rest of my life that I was a Cardinal for life, one team. I built my legacy from the ground up. I was a walk on, when I got here I was drafted in the third round I had to sit out a few years and just play special teams. Didn't get a chance to play until my fifth year. I would love for that to be my legacy.

"

Johnson appears to be a man of his word, and that means a nice hometown discount for the Cardinals to keep their secondary intact.

Prediction: Re-signs with Arizona Cardinals

WR Brian Quick

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Often overlooked with the Rams, Brian Quick could benefit greatly from a change of scenery—and his new team will benefit as well.

Say what you want about Brian Quick, but he didn't exactly get a chance to prove himself with the Rams.

Whether through injuries or lack of playing time, Quick was always deterred from reaching his full potential. Now 26 years old and a free agent, he can prove to be a big steal for a team willing to take a risk on him.

This past season was nothing short of a disaster for Quick, as he caught only 10 passes for 102 yards. This was a big step back from 2014, when he had 25 receptions and 375 yards in only seven games.

It would be a big surprise if the Rams opt to re-sign Quick, but that doesn't matter. There are several much better fits for him, including the Patriots, Falcons and Eagles.

Quick would fit in very well in Philadelphia.

The Eagles have plenty of cap space and a need at wide receiver that Quick could help fill. Their wide receiver corps of Quick, Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor isn't amazing, but it's definitely an improvement over last year—especially if each player takes a step forward in 2016.

Prediction: Signs with Philadelphia Eagles