Ranking the Most Overlooked Moves of 2016 NFL Free Agency

Every year at the start of NFL free agency, the big names come off the board rather quickly. They sign for large dollars and then take their turn being evaluated as being sound or sorry additions.

There are also many more veterans whose change from one franchise to another receives little attention.

And then there are these 10 performers. Call them overlooked and/or underpublicized. Or how about an old-fashioned “when did they sign that guy?”

There will be a lot more talk about each player as the season unfolds. They are ranked in order of the impact they will make on their new employers in 2016.

10. Tennessee Titans: Signed ILB Sean Spence

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Better late than never.

Back in 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers made University of Miami linebacker Sean Spence a third-round selection.

It wasn’t until 2014 that the club saw him on the field when it counted. He suffered a knee injury during the preseason as a rookie, which kept him out of action for two years.

Last month, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the 25-year-old defender was on the radar of both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins. But it was the Tennessee Titans who inked him to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Spence made a combined 13 starts the past two seasons.

It is a low-risk and smart move by the Titans, who add a young player who is more than familiar with the teachings of defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau—Spencer’s coach his first two years in the Steel City. No doubt the young linebacker learned his share while rehabilitating his knee.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Signed ILB Daryl Smith

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a few key acquisitions this offseason to aid a defense that ranked 10th in the NFL in total yards allowed in 2015.

The Bucs signed cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Josh Robinson to help a team that allowed 31 touchdown passes last year.

Like Grimes, linebacker Daryl Smith has played for new Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Grimes worked under the coach in Atlanta, while Smith’s days with the former Falcons sideline leader go back to the duo’s time together in Jacksonville.

"We're excited to add a player of Daryl's caliber to our defense," said Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht in a statement last month, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. "He's a smart, consistent linebacker who has performed at a very high level throughout his career. Daryl's combination of leadership and experience will serve us well."

Notice it is linebacker Daryl Smith. During his 12-year career, he’s played in a variety of defenses. He’s been a starter at five different positions in the 4-3 and later the 3-4. He spent the past three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, starting every game and totaling 120-plus tackles each year. His familiarity with Coach Smith, as well as his versatility, makes him a can’t-miss addition to the Buccaneers depth chart.

8. Detroit Lions: Signed SS Tavon Wilson

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The Detroit Lions have a new general manager in Bob Quinn.

The one-time executive with the New England Patriots opted to sign an old friend in safety Tavon Wilson.

"Old" may be a bit strong. The 26-year-old pro spent four seasons in Foxborough and was seemingly forgotten in recent years following a strong rookie campaign.

A second-round selection in 2012, Wilson played in all 16 games, made four starts, totaled 41 tackles and six of the team’s 41 takeaways that season. He hasn’t been in the opening lineup since. His role has also decreased over the years. This past year, he played a total of 73 defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

He is a perfect fit for the Lions, who opted not to re-sign strong safety James Ihedigbo.

Paired with playmaking free safety Glover Quin, Wilson was a wise addition. Last month, he spoke with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I’m looking to contribute any way I can. If it’s defensive, special teams. I expect to contribute on defense, but whatever it is, I’m going to give everything I got for this team.”

7. Indianapolis Colts: Signed RB Robert Turbin

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General manager Ryan Grigson has tried his best to cure what ails the Indianapolis Colts ground attack.

Instead, it seems like the team has gotten worse instead of better when it comes to running the football. This past season, only three teams in the league gained fewer yards on the ground than the Colts.

In 2012, the team made Vick Ballard a fifth-round pick, but after a solid rookie year, injuries took their toll. There’s no use rehashing the failed experiment know as Trent Richardson. This past season, veteran Frank Gore led the team with 967 yards on the ground. But he turns 33 in May, and his 3.7 yards per carry was the lowest of his great 11-year career.

Enter Robert Turbin, the one-time heir apparent to Marshawn Lynch in Seattle. He spent 2015 with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys and in 10 games rushed for a combined 199 yards and a score on 50 carries. The 26-year-old runner brings well-rested legs to Indianapolis. Grigson added both him and running back Jordan Todman this offseason without much fanfare. But it will be Turbin who will unseat Gore as the starter sometime in 2016.

That ought to attract some attention.

6. New England Patriots: Signed WR Nate Washington

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While many were busy trying to assess the impact that the two-tight end combo of Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett will have this season, the New England Patriots were nonchalantly adding another productive target for quarterback Tom Brady.

Veteran wide receiver Nate Washington spent 2015 with the Houston Texans. He finished second on the team in catches (47), receiving yards (658) and touchdown grabs (four) behind superstar DeAndre Hopkins. In 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Texans, the 32-year-old wideout totaled 458 receptions for 6,954 yards and 44 scores.

The defending AFC East champions had problems keeping Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell on the field this past season. The latter was given the pink slip.

In 2015, Washington played in only 14 games. It was the first time he had missed at least one contest since his rookie year in 2005. His arrival in Foxborough went largely unnoticed last month, but that will change this September.

5. Washington Redskins: Signed SS David Bruton

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With all the big names (Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, etc.) on a defensive unit that paved the way for a Super Bowl title, it’s easy for a reserve strong safety to get lost in the mix.

Now, David Bruton starts anew, this time with the Washington Redskins. The former Notre Dame Golden Domer was a fourth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2009 and played seven seasons for the club. He suited up for 104 regular-season contests but made just eight starts. The 28-year-old defender will no doubt earn a spot in the lineup this fall.

Bruton is also a player whom Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Berry is familiar with from his days with the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. The duo hopes to fix what ails a unit that ranked 28th in the NFL in total defense and allowed 30 touchdown passes. The seven-year pro will also aid a group that finished 26th in the league versus the run.

4. Chicago Bears: Signed G Manny Ramirez

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This offseason, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace has done two things in free agency.

He’s fortified the defensive front seven and has also added depth to and competition on the offensive line.

Offensive lineman Manny Ramirez has been around the block. That’s because the 33-year-old veteran can still block with the best of them. A fourth-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 2007, he returned to the Motor City this past season after four years in Denver.

Ramirez played in 16 games in 2015 and made seven starts: three at right guard and two each at center and left guard. He earned solid grades at each position at Pro Football Focus and now gives head coach John Fox some options along the offensive line. His arrival will prove to be most beneficial to pivot Hroniss Grasu, a third-round pick in 2015 who made eight starts as a rookie. 

“The things that give me confidence in (Grasu) is he’s a smart guy (and) he’s a hard worker,” Pace said, per Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times in late March. “All the things that he needs to do, you’re going to see an improvement from Year 1 to Year 2. But all these positions, we’re going to keep trying to create competition.”

It’s been the defense that has received the lion’s share of attention in Chicago this year. Now, a former Lion has quietly made the Bears offensive line a much better unit.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Signed S Tyvon Branch

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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has pushed all the right buttons, especially when it comes to getting the most out of veteran additions. The list in recent years includes quarterback Carson Palmer and running back Chris Johnson.

Now, general manager Steve Keim and the club appear to have another quality gem in safety Tyvon Branch. He spent 2015 in Kansas City following seven seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He comes off a year in which he totaled 43 tackles and also scored a pair of touchdowns—via a fumble recovery (73 yards) and an interception (38 yards).

Branch signed a two-year, $8 million contract. He’s proven insurance for a secondary that didn’t bother to re-sign safety Rashad Johnson (now with the Titans) and has star Tyrann Mathieu on the mend.

2. Kansas City Chiefs: Signed WR Rod Streater

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After being a prominent part of the Oakland Raiders passing attack early in his career, wide receiver Rod Streater was overlooked by his own team in 2015.

A foot injury limited him to three games in 2014. The addition of free-agent wideout Michael Crabtree and the emergence of Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts limited the 28-year-old performer to one catch in one game this past season.

The former undrafted free agent from Temple (who signed a one-year, $810,000 contract) remains in the AFC West after joining with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first two seasons with the Silver and Black, he hauled in a combined 99 passes for 1,472 yards and seven touchdowns—averaging an impressive 14.9 yards per reception.

Streater only became expendable because the club had done a great job of upgrading its talent at wideout. He’ll be making plenty of noise for head coach Andy Reid, who is high on a guy who played with his son Spencer and was coached by his other son, Britt, with the Owls.

Reid told Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:

"

He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got good change of direction and all those things fit both outside and inside. He’s got experience playing the inside position there, so I just think he’s come off a couple years where he’d been banged up, although this past year he was pretty healthy, so it just kind of became a number count there for him.

This will give him a fresh start and an opportunity to hop in this offense and digest it, which I think he’ll be able to do and we’ll see how he does.

"

The Raiders will get their first look at their former project in Week 6 (October 16). It may not be a quiet night for Streater in terms of production.

1. Buffalo Bills: Signed ILB Zach Brown

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Over the last few weeks, the Buffalo Bills have finally opted to get busy during free agency.

Salary-cap issues will do that to a team. Via Spotrac, the club is less than $6.4 million under the cap at the moment. That ranks 26th in the league.

Zach Brown has played both inside and outside linebacker in his brief career. The 26-year-old defender played all 16 games last season. He made five starts (four at right inside linebacker, one at the left inside spot) and totaled 77 tackles and two interceptions. A year earlier, a pectoral injury suffered on opening weekend cut his campaign short.

During the first week of April, the 2012 second-round pick from North Carolina signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal to play football for Rex Ryan. The versatile defender, who began his career at outside linebacker, will show the Bills what Brown can do for them. He gives Buffalo a number of options, and don’t be shocked when he leads his new team in tackles in 2016.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 free-agent and salary-cap information, contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth charts via Ourlads.