The NFL Free Agency is within reach! From 14. March, all Unrestricted Free Agents will be allowed to change – and this year again some big names will be there. SPOX looks at the top free agents on each position, dares to make some forecasts and provides an overview of all changes.
Disclaimer: This document will be constantly updated with the new teams and contracts of the players during the Free Agency to provide an overview of the changes.
Everyone generally assumes that Brees will stay in New Orleans. He is already in the Saints books for 2018 with at least six million dollars, and if there is no new contract with the Saints, Brees’ cap hit is 18 million dollars – without playing for New Orleans. For Brees, every season can be the last season now, so it’s unlikely that he will give up head coach Sean Payton and his offense on the one hand, but also the great situation in New Orleans – a very good O-Line, one of the best running-back duo and in Michael Thomas one of the best young wide receivers of the NFL – for a little more money elsewhere. Nevertheless, the Saints do not have much time to make an offer to Brees and the franchise day is not an option with a contractual clause.
SPOX tip: New Orleans Saints
The most exciting Free Agent of the year by far – because this kind of Free Agent never really exists in the NFL. The franchise quarterback is still less than 30, without any problems of injury or other concerns outside the pitch. Cousins could in many ways reorganize the market, for example by demanding a fixed percentage of the salary cap for his salary or by guaranteeing the deal in full. Numerous teams will be competing for the 29-year-old’s services, including the Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, Browns and presumably the Vikings. The latter could offer the best total package and the biggest title chance, the jets should open all doors financially.
SPOX tip: Denver Broncos
Keenum had an extremely impressive season as Minnesota’s emergency solution from scratch. On the one hand, this was due to the scheme and play designs of Pat Shurmur as well as the shiny wide-receiver duo consisting of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. But Keenum himself was also impressive individually, especially with regard to his work against pressure and his behaviour in the pocket. Would be a candidate for the franchise or at least the transition day.
SPOX tip: Minnesota Vikings
As a pure passport, Bradford must not hide from anyone in this free agent class except Brees. But every team will be sceptical about the 30-year-old’s knees: since 2012, Bradford hasn’t played all 16 games in any season since then, he missed the 2014 season completely and many are likely to remember Bradford’s comeback game last season in Week 5 against Chicago when he was never allowed to play and couldn’t move at all. Wherever Bradford goes, nobody should plan with him as a long-term solution.
SPOX tip: Arizona Cardinals
It was quite surprising that McCarron won his complaint against the Bengals and became an unrestricted instead of a restricted free agent. This mixes the quarterback market even further and gives teams the option of a temporary solution – in the eyes of some with potential for higher tasks. Coach Hue Jackson wanted to sign McCarron last season, and Cleveland was apparently prepared to invest even high picks (speaking of a second and third round pick) in the long-standing Bengal backup quarterback. Now it could come to this union without giving up draft capital.
SPOX tip: Cleveland Browns
The third Viking in the quarterback league – and perhaps the most difficult to judge player of the entire Free Agency. Ultimately, no one knows for sure whether Bridgewater will ever be the player he was before his serious knee injury and whether his development will continue. Bridgewater will never have the strongest arm of the NFL, but he impressed with precision and timing and is a picture book leader. The big question will be: Who takes the risk?
Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos
Josh McCown, New York Jets
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins
Geno Smith, New York Giants
Tom Savage, Houston Texans
Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins
Blaine Gabbert, Arizona Cardinals
Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals
Matt Barkley, Arizona Cardinals
Bell is still the best allround back of the NFL and only 25 years old. In the past season, he cut back somewhat on his efficiency and the contract poker table is already open. The Steelers are supposed to consider a second franchise day in a row, which the Running Back fought against provisionally. Bell then recently announced that the talks had gone much further than in the previous year. The Steelers are still in win-now mode with Roethlisberger – and for that they need Bell. However, he will not receive a long-term contract in Pittsburgh.
SPOX tip: Pittsburgh Steelers
Showed during the past season that it can be quite a 3-Down-Back. But how much did he owe in total to the Patriots Scheme and how much is transferable? Do teams see him potentially as some kind of better, more explosive version of Danny Woodhead? And if so, what’s it worth in front of a draft packed with running backs?
SPOX tip: Baltimore Ravens
For years McKinnon seemed to have potential, but he never seemed to be able to call it up constantly. This changed last season after the injury of Dalvin Cook: 570 rushing yards and especially 421 receiving yards at 8.3 yards per catch could make him interesting for several teams as a “co-starter”. Kyle Shanahan has already had great success with Tevin Coleman in this role in Atlanta.
SPOX tip: San Francisco 49ers
Is Hyde really the running back Kyle Shanahan wants for his offense? The tendency in answering this question seems to be more in the direction of “no”. Hyde is an above-average 2-Down-Back in any case, but this has a manageable value.
SPOX tip: Indianapolis Colts
Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts
Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Brown’ s
Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants
Shane Clubs, New York Giants
Rex Burkhead, New England Patiots
LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia Eagles
Alfred Morris, Dallas Cowboys
Terrance West, Baltimore Ravens
Kerwynn Williams, Arizona Cardinals
Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Damien Williams, Seattle Seahawks
Zach Line, New Orleans Saints
Anthony Sherman, Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Coleman, Atlanta Falcons
Mike Tolbert, Buffalo Bills
Page 1: Quarterbacks and Running Backs
Page 2: Wide Receiver and Tight Ends
Page 3: Offensive and Defensive Line
Page 4: Linebacker, Cornerbacks and Safeties