Chiefswinitall 60 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 .https://www.sbnation.com/2018/3/14/17116970/nfl-free-agents-2018-best-available-legal-tampering . The new league year hasn’t even started yet, but many of the top NFL free agents have agreed to join new teams or re-sign with their old ones. The free agency negotiating or “legal tampering” period doesn’t allow contracts to be signed, but barring massive Josh McDaniels syle flip-flopping, the biggest reported deals will become official at 4 p.m. ET on March 14. It has been some of the most action we’ve seen prior to the start of free agency. From a slew of trades to some high-profile franchise tagging to Sam Bradford getting another $20 million thrown at what’s left of his ACLs, it’s hard even keeping track of who is still available. The top quarterbacks (and Bradford) went quickly, while the pass-rushing market dried up immediately with a pair of franchise tags to Demarcus Lawrence and Ezekiel Ansah. Wide receivers are getting paid a whole lot more than anybody expected, and that market is quickly evaporating. Running backs ... well, nobody is signing running backs yet. We’ve got you covered and there are still plenty of players worth signing, depending on the need. QuarterbackSigned: Jimmy Garoppolo, Drew Brees, Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater, Mike Glennon, Ryan Fitzpatrick, A.J. McCarron, Tom Savage, Chase DanielBest Available: Colin Kaepernick, Geno Smith, Jay Cutler McCarron was thought to have a potentially strong market, but it took until the league year actually switched over, and then some, for him to sign with the Bills. Imagine that! Cutler is included because he’s, at times, competent and that just happens to be the bar at this point in the free agent class. The big names are essentially all gone. Others available: Blaine Gabbert, Brock Osweiler, EJ Manuel, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore Running BackSigned: Le’Veon Bell (franchise tag), Chris Ivory, Jonathan Stewart, Isaiah Crowell, Dion Lewis, Jonathan Stewart, Carlos Hyde, Jerick McKinnon, Rex Burkhead, Corey Grand (RFA, tendered), Brandon BoldenBest Available: LeGarrette Blount, DeMarco Murray When Lewis went off the board, the market dried up quite a bit. Unless you want your team targeting a slew of veterans that may or may not have something left to offer. Other available: Frank Gore, Doug Martin, Orleans Darkwa, Alfred Morris, Jeremy Hill, Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, Alfred Blue Thomas Rawls (RFA) Wide ReceiverSigned: Jarvis Landry (franchise tag + trade), Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, Paul Richardson, Marqise Lee, Danny Amendola, Donte Moncrief, Cameron Meredith (RFA, tendered), Tyrell Williams (RFA, tendered), Quincy Enunwa (RFA, tendered) Albert Wilson, Willie Snead (RFA, tendered) Taylor Gabriel, De’Anthony ThomasBest Available: Terrelle Pryor, Jordan Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Mike Wallace The wide receiver market has been STRONG. They’re all getting paid, and fast. Nelson was released by the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, and he plans to keep playing despite his extensive injury history. For the right price, he could be a difference-maker for a year. Pryor had one really good season, and then disappeared with Washington a season ago. Other available: Eric Decker, Bruce Ellington, Brice Butler, Kendall Wright, Jeremy Maclin, Markus Wheaton Tight EndSigned: Jimmy Graham, Trey Burton, Cameron Brate, Derek Carrier, Virgil Green, Niles Paul, Lee Smith, Darren FellsBest Available: Tyler Eifert, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Martellus Bennett, Eric Ebron Boy, did Brate get paid or what? Eifert remains the top name on the market, but he’s a huge boom-or-bust kind of player. His injuries have been significant, but he’s legitimately one of the best tight ends in the league when healthy. Bennett has been a very productive tight end over the year, but again, there’s injury concerns. Seferian-Jenkins is the big, non-risky get, provided you don’t believe one season of heavy production equals a non-risk. Ebron was inconsistent in his career with the Lions, but was still a first-round pick. Other available: Antonio Gates, Ben Watson, Ed Dickson, Troy Niklas Offensive LineSigned: OT Nate Solder, OT Seantrel Henderson, OT Chris Hubbard, OT Andre Smith, OT Garry Gilliam, G Andrew Norwell, G Brandon Fusco, C Weston Richburg, C Daniel Kilgore, C Matt Paradis (RFA, tendered), G Zach Fulton, C Spencer LongBest Available: OT Cameron Fleming, G Josh Sitton, G Justin Pugh, G Jack Mewhort, C John Sullivan It’s a strong market for interior linemen, but the best LT (Solder), guard (Norwell), and center (Richburg) are off the market while the very good Paradis was tendered by the Broncos. Of the remaining players, there are still very good starters, including Pugh and Sitton, though age will catch up with some of them soon. Other available: OT Austin Howard, OT Greg Robinson, G/C Matt Slauson, G/C Joe Berger, G/C Evan Smith, G Jahri Evans, C Ryan Jensen, C Wesley Johnson, C Travis Swanson, C Brett Jones (RFA) EDGESigned: Demarcus Lawrence (franchise tag), Ezekiel Ansah (franchise tag), Shaquil Barrett (RFA), Muhammad Wilkerson, Trent Murphy, Dion Jordan (RFA, tendered)Best Available: Adrian Clayborn, Alex Okafor One of the most-needed positions in the NFL it seems, and it was hit hard with its top two players getting the franchise tag. Okafor is the most intriguing name remaining, but he’s coming off a torn Achilles. He’s improved every year he’s been in the league though, and will probably be worth a roll of the dice. Clayborn is solid all-around but isn’t going to fix a team’s pass-rushing woes. Other available: Aaron Lynch, Junior Galette, Kony Ealy, Tank Carradine, Pernell McPhee, Elvis Dumervil, Ahmad Brooks, James Harrison Defensive TackleSigned: Star Lotulelei, Chris Baker, Justin Ellis, Kyle Williams, Haloti Ngata, Chris Baker, David Irving (RFA), DaQuan Jones, Mitch UnreinBest Available: Ndamukong Suh, Sheldon Richardson, Dontari Poe Provided Suh is actually released by the Dolphins, as has been widely reported, he’d be the best name to hit the market at the position. He has his concerns, but he’s effective. Richardson is a very productive player, but has some other concerns. Irving might be a pipe dream, because he will almost certainly be tendered at a high level. Other available: Bennie Logan, Dominique Easley, Nick Fairley, Jay Bromley LinebackerSigned: Anthony Hitchens, Mason Foster, Avery Williamson, Nigel Bradham, Demario Davis, Todd Davis, Barkevious Mingo, Brock CoyleBest Available: Tahir Whitehead, NaVorro Bowman It’s a generally strong linebacker class overall, whether your team needs an inside guy or an outside guy. We’ve tried to separate as many edge players out as possible, but linebackers are notoriously versatile. For example, Bowman showed that he still has plenty left in the tank with the Raiders last year. Other available: Zach Brown, Connor Barwin, Lamarr Houston, Brian Cushing, Jerrell Freeman, Derrick Johnson, Jon Bostic, Kevin Minter, Gerald Hodges CornerbackSigned: Richard Sherman, Malcolm Butler, Trumaine Johnson, Bashaud Breeland, Kyle Fuller (transition tag), Vontae Davis, David Amerson, Brent Grimes, Aaron Colvin, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Bryce Callahan (RFA, tendered), Prince Amukamara, Patrick Robinson, DeShawn Shead, T.J. CarrieBest Available: E.J. Gaines, Rashaan Melvin A ridiculously strong market at the position, there are still some nice cornerbacks available. Gaines is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but he has injury concerns. Melvin doesn’t have a whole lot of film as a top player, but he was very, very good in 2017. The rest of the list includes a lot of aging players and a lot of players with durability concerns, but it remains a strong class. Other available: Morris Claiborne, Justin Bethel, Tramon Williams, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Johnathan Joseph, Marcus Cooper SafetySigned: Lamarcus Joyner (franchise tag), Tavon Wilson, Ricardo Allen (RFA, tendered), Bradley McDouglad, Kurt Coleman, Terrence Brooks, Rafael BushBest Available: Tyrann Mathieu, Morgan Burnett, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyvon Branch Mathieu should command a hefty price after he was released by the Cardinals. Reid is the most intriguing option remaining. He’s said he wouldn’t be surprised if his protests alongside Colin Kaepernick (he was the first to join Kaepernick) lead to him getting fewer looks in free agency. But he’s a high-level safety with mild injury concerns, and whoever gets him will be getting a very good player. Vaccaro hasn’t been quite as good as advertised, but he was covering well before an injury in 2017. Other available: Steven Terrell, Tre Boston, Marcus Gilchrist, Cody Davis, Quintin Demps, Reggie Nelson, Ron Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balto 723 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Thanks for posting this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefswinitall 60 Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 "Best Available: Ndamukong Suh, Sheldon Richardson, Dontari Poe Provided Suh is actually released by the Dolphins, as has been widely reported, he’d be the best name to hit the market at the position. He has his concerns, but he’s effective. Richardson is a very productive player, but has some other concerns. Irving might be a pipe dream, because he will almost certainly be tendered at a high level. Other available: Bennie Logan, Dominique Easley, Nick Fairley, Jay Bromley" David Irving was one of our guys. What he says about Richardson is interesting. Off the field stuff i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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