2016 NFL free agency: the best of the best
By jonfox
With NFL free agency upon us, let’s take a quick look at who I think are the best free agents available. There will be some names on this list that have been omitted and some that have been added that you might disagree with but I think that I fully agree with these being the best of the best in the sense of who can impact a team most the fastest.
Kelechi Osemele, OL Baltimore Ravens. Osemele quickly has become one of the best run blockers in the NFL and he’s only hitting the market because of the Ravens’ cap situation. The Ravens gave Flacco an extension to reduce his cap number for the sole purpose of trying to get enough room to resign Osemele. If he does hit the open market, a number of teams will be bidding for him.
Prediction: Back with the Ravens for 7 million a year on average.
Doug Martin, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Martin has had 1400 yards rushing in a season or 400 yards rushing in a season in his four year long career so far which would explain why the Bucs didn’t franchise tag him nor made a huge push to resign him. They’ll still try but it looks like Martin will be hitting the open market.
Prediction: Tennessee Titans for 8 million a year on average.
Eric Weddle, FS San Diego Chargers. The Chargers have enough money to give Weddle a market level contract, but it seems like both sides want the divorce. Weddle will still get an offer from the Bolts, but this is his big payday and will want to cash in.
Prediction: Oakland Raiders for 10 million a year on average.
Robert Griffin III, QB Washington Redskins. Speaking of sides headed for a divorce, the Redskins cut RG3 because no one was trading for RG3’s 16 million dollar obligation for 2016. Griffin is still a talented passer who’s DC career was cut short due to injuries and a lack of fit with the current offensive scheme. If you put him in a play action passing game where he has a good running back and can bootleg, he should thrive.
Prediction: Houston Texans for 6 million a year on average.
Matt Forte, RB Chicago Bears. Arguably one of the best dual threat backs to grace the field since Roger Craig retired. He’s got wide receiver level skills in the passing game and can grind out tough yards. But the Bears want to get cheaper at running back and Forte is 30.
Prediction: New England Patriots for 7 million a year on average.
Brock Osweiler, QB Denver Broncos. Osweiler is caught up in the latest Peyton Manning attention/money grab. The Broncos would love to keep him and he’d probably want to stay but with so many free agents on that defense they might lose their window to keep him.
Prediction: Stays with the Denver Broncos for 16.5 million a year on average.
Sean Smith, CB Kansas City Chiefs. A physical corner in the prime of his career, Smith also has the size to eventually make the move to free safety and extend that prime another few seasons. The Chiefs would love to keep him, but with Eric Berry up for free agency and Justin Houston’s contract kicking in fully, they can’t pay him much.
Prediction: New York Giants for 10 million a year on average.
Russell Okung, OT Seattle Seahawks. Seattle already has big holes in their offensive line and decided not to tag Okung this offseason because it would complicate their cap situation. Okung is a perfectly fine tackle, but it looks like he’ll never be consistent enough to be a great one.
Prediction: Oakland Raiders for 12 million a year on average.
Next: The rest