PFR Originals - Pro Football Rumors

Top 2017 Free Agents By Position 2.0: Defense

By Dallas Robinson | at March 6, 2017 10:59 pm

NFL free agency gets underway on Thursday and while the list of free agents will change between now and then, we do have some idea of who will be available when free agency kicks off. Here is our updated outlook for each defensive and special teams position.

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each defensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as franchised players aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for this offseason:

Edge defender:

Now that Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, and Jason Pierre-Paul have all been assigned the franchise tag, Nick Perry stands as the top edge defender on the free agent market, and is now in a position to cash in. The Packers opted against the franchise tender for the 26-year-old Perry, so he’ll hit the open market following a career year which saw him post 11 sacks.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among players with youth still on their side, Datone Jones figures to interest clubs thanks to his versatility, as he can vacillate between end and linebacker, while fellow former first-round pick Jarvis Jones is solid against the run. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing Andre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. Charles Johnson, meanwhile, looks like a good bet to return to the Panthers, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

Calais Campbell
Johnathan Hankins
Brandon Williams
Dontari Poe
Chris Baker
Bennie Logan
Nick Fairley
Alan Branch
Jared Odrick
Karl Klug
Terrell McClain
Lawrence Guy
Stacy McGee
Stephen Paea
Sylvester Williams
Honorable mention: Paul Soliai

Calais Campbell is the best overall player among interior defenders, and though he’s entering his age-31 season and may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe, Campbell will still be highly-sought after as he searches for his last substantial payday Campbell’s agent met with the Cardinals last week, but other speculative fits for the veteran defender include the Broncos, Raiders, Ravens, Colts, and Titans.

Hankins is only 24 years old, and though the Giants are trying to retain him along with the rest of their defensive core, the 6’3″, 320-pound mauler should represent an attractive option to a number of clubs this offseason. Williams, too, offers a massive presence on the inside, while Poe could intrigue clubs based on his first-round pedigree and athleticism (though his play hasn’t always matched his potential). The Redskins’ Chris Baker is a solid, well-rounded defensive tackle, and could constitute a consolation prize for teams that miss out on their top targets.

The rest of the class offers an interesting mix of nose tackles (Bennie Logan), interior pass rushers (Nick Fairley, Karl Klug), and run stoppers (Alan Branch), so clubs hoping to bolster their defensive line should find no shortage of options. Jared Odrick recently hit free agency after being released by the Jaguars, while Terrell McClain, Lawrence Guy, and Stacy McGee could be underrated finds for the right team. McClain, for what it’s worth, has already been linked to the Falcons.

Dont’a Hightower
Zach Brown
Kevin Minter
Perry Riley
Lawrence Timmons
Gerald Hodges
A.J. Klein
Daryl Smith
Sio Moore
Sean Spence
Karlos Dansby
Malcolm Smith
Manti Te’o
Mike Morgan
Nick Bellore
Honorable mention: Erin Henderson

As usual, the non-rush linebacker market isn’t exactly overflowing with elite talent, and Dont’a Hightower stands as far-and-away the best player among this group. The Patriots already traded away several of their best defenders, including Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins, an indication that they view Hightower as the best best to stick around long term. New England didn’t place the franchise nor the transition tag on Hightower, so he’ll have the ability to set the market at linebacker.

Coming off a disappointing four-year run with the Titans in 2016, Zach Brown was last year forced to sign a one-year deal with the Bills for less than $1.5MM. That won’t be the case this spring, as Brown finally lived up to his second-round draft status by grading as one of the league’s best ‘backers. Brown especially excelled in pass coverage by using his speed to chase pass-catchers around the field, and in today’s NFL, that’s a skill-set that equals a hefty paycheck.

Kevin Minter has captained the Cardinals defense for the past two seasons, and has indicated he wouldn’t mind following Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to New York. Lawrence Timmons, meanwhile, is talking about a return to the Steelers, but general manager Kevin Colbert admitted an agreement between the two sides could be hard to reach. After years of playing behind Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, A.J. Klein is seeking a starting job, while Mike Morgan and Nick Bellore are more likely to be signed as primary special teamers.

Cornerback:

A.J. Bouye
Logan Ryan
Stephon Gilmore
Morris Claiborne
Dre Kirkpatrick
Prince Amukamara
Brandon Carr
Terence Newman
Nickell Robey-Coleman
Kayvon Webster
Captain Munnerlyn
Darrelle Revis
Brandon Flowers
Sterling Moore
Davon House
Honorable mention: Alterraun Verner, Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, Jerraud Powers

The Texans are didn’t use the franchise tag on A.J. Bouye, a decision which sets up the young corner to be the single-most intriguing player on the 2017 free agent market. Only 25 years old, Bouye came out of nowhere to grade as PFF’s No. 3 corner in 2016. But the former undrafted free agent played on less than 900 defensive snaps over the first three years of his career, so he’s going to get paid on essentially one season of production. Bouye earned less than $3MM total during his time with Houston — his next contract could contain five times that amount…annually.

The cornerback market stands as one of the best free agent positional groups this offseason, as strong players permeate the list from top-to-bottom. Stephon Gilmore is a more high-profile name than Logan Ryan, but Ryan has simply played better over the last few campaigns, and offers a more dependable output. The Bears are expected to make a run at Gilmore, while the Bengals have already been linked to Ryan.

Morris Claiborne is a former first-round pick but didn’t play like it until last season. Dre Kirkpatrick is a former first-round pick but has never played like it. The rest of the cornerback list has warts, as well: Prince Amukamara has dealt with injury, Kayvon Webster has only two career starts, Terence Newman is entering his age-39 season, and Sam Shields is coming off multiple concussions. All of these players offer upside, but they are all undoubtedly attached to risk.

Safety:

Tony Jefferson is expected to hit free agency, and could be in for a contract that nears the $8-9MM range. Jefferson did reach the free agent market in 2016 as a restricted free agent, but he didn’t come with draft compensation attached. Any club could have signed him to an offer sheet, and if the Cardinals declined to match, would have acquired Jefferson scot-free. No team did so, which could be an indication that Jefferson’s 2016 market could be less robust than expected.

Also working against Jefferson is the fact that he plays close to the line of scrimmage, a role that’s relatively easy to fill, as Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus explained on a recent podcast. Duron Harmon, on the other hand, has demonstrated an ability to play deep safety, and thus could be in for a surprisingly high salary. The Cowboys’ Barry Church is “solid at everything, great at nothing,” tweets Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated, while Jonathan Cyprien and T.J. McDonald are primarily run defenders. Darius Butler may be the most fascinating case among this list of safeties, as the former corner should theoretically offer above-average coverage skills.

Micah Hyde could have been listed among the free agent corners, as the do-it-all defensive back is capable of playing multiple roles. His versatility is central to the Packers’ defense, and D.J. Swearinger provides the same sort of flexibility to the Cardinals. If Jefferson defects via the open market, Arizona will likely hone in on re-signing Swearinger as his full-time replacement. Jairus Byrd is a late addition to the safety market after being released by the Saints, and it’s possible another will hope he can rebound to his All Pro days as he enters his age-30 season.

Kicker:

The Seahawks don’t figure to re-sign Steven Hauschka after bringing in fellow kicker Blair Walsh, but the longtime Seattle placekicker should be able to quickly find a new home in free agency. Nick Novak attempted the second-most field goals in the NFL last season after many Texans’ drives stalled, while Robbie Gould filled in admirably for the Giants after they released Josh Brown, converting of all ten of his field goal attempts.

Nick Folk was released as a cap casualty, and still has the talent to become another club’s kicker, while Mike Nugent — cut by the Bengals at midseason — may be nearing the end of the road after missing six extra points. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phil Dawson come back for a fifth season with the 49ers, but Greg Zuerlein could move on from the Rams after the club threatened to bring in competition last offseason.

Punter:

Jeff Locke, 27, managed to pin opposing clubs inside the 20-yard line 34 times in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Now 40 years old, Shane Lechler is a seven-time Pro Bowler, but the Texans lost 12.7 points of field position on punts last season, meaning Houston could go in another direction at punter.

PFR Originals: 2/26/17 – 3/5/17

By Sam Robinson | at March 5, 2017 2:45 pm

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

Free agency officially opens on Thursday, and PFR’s Zach Links unveiled his first top 50 free agents list for the 2017 class, removing players given the franchise tag designation. With the cap rising to $167MM, it’s going to cost more than usual to procure top guards this year. And a player who would have flown well under the radar a year ago resides at No. 1.
Zach also examined which franchise tag candidates received that distinction and which standouts will be entering free agency. More than one player received the exclusive tag this season, with Le’Veon Bell and Kirk Cousins begin given that designation.
PFR’s The Beat series continued when Zach caught up with the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers to discuss the Lions’ status going into free agency.
As the offseason progresses, PFR will assess each team by examining the top three needs on each respective roster. We covered three organizations last week:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots

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Top 3 Offseason Needs: New England Patriots

By Ben Levine | at March 3, 2017 8:44 am

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors has been detailing each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We conclude the series today with the Super Bowl champs.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Martellus Bennett, TE
LeGarrette Blount, RB
Brandon Bolden, RB
Alan Branch, DT
Malcolm Butler, CB
Justin Coleman, CB
James Develin, RB
Cameron Fleming, OT
Michael Floyd, WR
Duron Harmon, S
Dont’a Hightower, LB
Brandon King, S
Matt Lengel, TE (ERFA)
Chris Long, DE
Barkevious Mingo, LB
Logan Ryan, CB
Greg Scruggs, TE
Jabaal Sheard, DE
Michael Williams, TE

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Tom Brady, QB: $14MM
Nate Solder, LT: $11.17MM
Devin McCourty, S: $10.94MM
Danny Amendola, WR: $7.8MM
Rob Gronkowski, TE: $6.75MM
Julian Edelman, WR: $5.75MM
Patrick Chung, S: $5.4MM
Stephen Gostkowski, K: $4.5MM
Marcus Cannon, LT: $3.37MM
Shea McClellin, LB: $3.2MM

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over The Cap): $59,667,426
No. 32 overall pick in draft

Three needs:

1) Help on the Defensive Line: With linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Malcolm Butler set to hit free agency, most pundits will say that those two positions should be the Patriots’ main priority as they head into the draft and free agency.

However, the team should be absolutely fine at both spots, even in the unlikely event that both of these top free agents depart. Now, there’s nothing to suggest that the potential linebacker or cornerback replacements would immediately replace the production of Hightower and/or Butler. Rather, history tells us that the Patriots will adequately fill those roles with rookies or veterans.

Hightower didn’t have his most productive season when it comes to plain statistics. In 13 games, the former first-rounder finished with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Of course, the 26-year-old proved his worth in the Super Bowl, where he collected a sack and a key forced fumble. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was particularly fond of his performance this past season, as the website ranked him as the 12^th best linebacker in 2016 (as well as the second best at his position in pass rushing).

The organization made it clear that they were committed to Hightower following the trades of impending free agents Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones. Despite the team’s abundance of cap room, it was unlikely that the organization would be able (or willing) to sign the trio to lengthy, lucrative contracts. By moving on from the other talented defenders, the front office made it clear that Hightower was going to be the anchor of their defense for years to come.

That sentiment still seems to be the case, although a recent report indicated that the team wasn’t going to slap Hightower with their franchise tag. The linebacker presumably won’t command the franchise tag’s $14.7MM annual salary in free agency (although it may be close), so this news seems to be more of a financial decision, and there haven’t been any reports suggesting that the Patriots are prepared to move on without Hightower. Rather, I’d expect the team to approach his situation similarly to how they handled Devin McCourty’s free agency. They’ll offer the linebacker a contract and allow him to shop around for better offers from inferior teams. Assuming Hightower gets a better offer, he’ll presumably allow the Patriots to match. Therefore, the ball still seems to be in the organization’s court.

If Hightower does leave the Patriots, the team’s remaining linebackers shouldn’t be relied on to fill his starting role. Following the trade of Collins, coach Bill Belichick relied on a rotation of Elandon Roberts, Shea McClellin, Barkevious Mingo, Kyle Van Noy, and Rob Ninkovich (when he wasn’t playing defensive end) to play opposite Hightower. While the Patriots were able to rely on the hot hand through the rest of the season and the playoffs, it’d be tough to rely on two of those guys as starters next season.

Fortunately, in the event that Hightower does leave town, the Patriots shouldn’t be overly worried. While the team has generally struck out on all of their recent late-round linebackers (Xzavier Dickson, anyone?), the team has had plenty of success drafting the position in the first two rounds. Hightower, Collins, Jerod Mayo, and Brandon Spikes are among the team’s successful linebackers taken in the first two rounds of the draft. Furthermore, there’s plenty of depth at the position in free agency, and a number of aging veterans could adequately fit the role that the Patriots coaching staff is seeking. After all, the team doesn’t need a game-changer at linebacker. Instead, they just need someone who is capable in pass protection and stopping the run. Of course, all of this is moot if Hightower re-signs with the team.

Butler’s situation is a bit different than Hightower’s. There’s no denying that the cornerback is one of the most indispensable members of the Patriots defense, and his role is arguably more essential to the Patriots’ success than Hightower’s. The former undrafted free agent put his name on the map during the 2015 Super Bowl, and he was solid during his first season as a starter. In 2016, the 26-year-old established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the game. Butler finished the campaign with 63 tackles, two fumbles recoveries, and four interceptions, and PFF ranked him as the seventh-best cornerback in the NFL.

Logan Ryan may have had his best season in a Patriots uniform (ranking 16^th among cornerbacks by PFF), but there’s no way the former third-rounder can be relied on as a number-one cornerback (not to mention that he’s a free agent himself). Additionally, former Eagles cornerback Eric Rowe flashed plenty of potential during his nine games this season, and the squad clearly thinks highly of rookie Cyrus Jones. Still, there’s no reason to think that any of these players could step in and seamlessly replace Butler.

Fortunately for the Patriots, Butler is a restricted free agent, so the team will have the opportunity to match any contract he receives. Belichick has shown that he’s willing to spend big on the position (Darrelle Revis and Aqib Talib come to mind), so it’d be a shock if the team let Butler walk without a clear replacement in place. His return is all but inevitable, and that means cornerback shouldn’t be a position of need.

That brings me back to my original point. While a hypothetical Butler or Hightower departure would certainly open a giant hole on the depth chart, no part of the Patriots defense needs as much work as the defensive line. The team’s pass rush was plenty impressive during the Super Bowl, but the unit struggled for stretches during the season. Despite finishing the season as one of the top defenses in the NFL, the Patriots still ranked 16^th in sacks (34) and failed to develop a consistent pass-rush.

Furthermore, while Hightower and Butler more-or-less seem to be shoo-ins to return to New England, many of the team’s impending defensive line free agents do not. Chris Long already made it clear that he won’t be returning next season, and Alan Branch may be looking for a payday following the best season of his career (49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble). Jabaal Sheard is also set to be a free agent, and I’m not convinced that he’ll return after getting benched during the regular season.

Fortunately, the team does have some young stars on the defensive line in Trey Flowers and Malcom Brown. Flowers was a revelation this past season as he essentially replaced Chandler Jones in the lineup. After sitting out his entire rookie campaign, the former fourth-rounder responded with 45 tackles and seven sacks in 2016. Meanwhile, Brown looked a lot more confident during his second season in the league, compiling 50 tackles and three sacks while ranking as PFF’s 31^st-best interior defender. The Patriots can at least take solace in the fact that they have two spots on their defensive line covered.

However, considering the impending free agency of Long, Sheard, and Branch, the Patriots could be lacking depth at multiple positions, and these players all played an integral role in the team having one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The draft seems to have plenty of talented edge defenders, so the team could theoretically use several of their picks to fill that depth. The team could also look to free agency to fill those holes, especially if they’re seeking the play-making type of player they lost when they traded Jones.

2) Offensive Skill-Player Depth: It seems a bit silly to suggest that the Patriots need even more offensive reinforcement, especially when the team finished towards the top of the league in most offensive categories this past season. The team especially showcased that depth in the Super Bowl, as Tom Brady completed a pass to seven different receivers. Still, you can never use enough depth when it comes to offensive skill players, and the offense could take a considerable hit depending on how the offseason shapes out.

It likely starts at tight end, where Martellus Bennett is set to get paid. The veteran bounced back following an underwhelming 2015 campaign in Chicago, collecting 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. The 29-year-old is obviously getting older, but his ability to serve as a dependable big target will certainly earn him a huge contract this offseason. He isn’t vital to the Patriots offensive success, but the team has proved that they’re even more dangerous when they have a pair of pass-catching tight ends on the field.

The status of Rob Gronkowski could also play a role in Bennett’s future with the team. The 27-year-old hasn’t played in 16 games since 2011, and his 25 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns were all career-lows. While there have been trade rumors surrounding the talented tight end, I’m under the belief that the team would be foolish to bail on him in a year where he holds an incredibly affordable $6.75MM cap hit. Gronk’s presence doesn’t necessarily deemphasize Bennett’s role in the offense, as the two showed that they can co-exist. Still, the team might not be willing to invest big money in Bennett if they’re planning on keeping Gronkowski long-term.

In the case that Bennett does leave, the team will surely bring in another veteran tight end who could catch the ball (Rob Housler and another scrapheap tight end will presumably fill the role of blocking tight end). Vernon Davis, Jermaine Gresham, and Jared Cook would fit the mold of the veteran, pass-catching tight end.

The team is set when it comes to their pass-catching running back, as the team can rely on the two-headed monster of Dion Lewis and James White. However, starting running back LeGarrette Blount is set to be a free agent, and there’s no guarantee that the veteran will be back – no matter what kind of pay cut he’s willing to take.

The 30-year-old had his best NFL season in 2016, compiling 1,161 yards and a league-high 18 rushing touchdowns. While those numbers are certainly eye-popping, a further look implies that the stats may be more a product of opportunity than talent. Blount finished second in the NFL with 299 carries, and his 3.9-yards-per-carry (30^th in the NFL) implies the former sentiment. These numbers went down in the playoffs, as Blount averaged 3.1-yards-per-carry during the Patriots’ three postseason games.

There’s something to be said for Blount’s familiarity with the Patriots system, and the veteran presumably won’t command a huge contract (especially if he’s open to returning to New England). On the flip side, there’s also something to be said for looking for minor improvements, and a more reliable running back could help preserve the aging Brady. Plus, this year’s crop of free agent running backs could allow the Patriots to secure an upgrade without breaking the bank.

Rival fans probably have nightmares of an Adrian Peterson, a Jamaal Charles, or even an Eddie Lacy joining the Patriots. I have a feeling that these players will likely command a contract the exceeds what New England is willing to offer, but it’d be surprising if the Patriots don’t at least explore these veteran options. The fact that the team stuck with Blount throughout the entire campaign indicates that they weren’t overly worried about his mediocre yards-per-carry stats, but the Patriots also won’t be willing to just hand him the starting role in 2017.

Wide receiver seemingly has the least amount of question marks, as Michael Floyd is the only bona fide member of the unit to hit free agency. I’m skeptical that veteran Danny Amendola will be willing to take another pay cut (especially following a successful postseason), so there’s probably a 50-50 chance that he could be gone. Julian Edelman will obviously be back as Brady’s binkie, while Chris Hogan is perfectly suited to be the team’s number-three wideout.

This means the team could be seeking another playmaker to play opposite Edelman. The Patriots could already have that option in-house with Malcolm Mitchell. You rarely see Brady trust a rookie as much as he did the fourth-round pick this past season, as Mitchell finished the campaign with 32 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns. The electric, speedy wideout should continue to improve, and that would eliminate the necessity to add another top receiver. On the flip side, Mitchell could follow the path of Aaron Dobson and Brandon Tate to become the next highly-touted Patriots receiver to peak too early.

3) A Trade Partner for Jimmy Garoppolo: Considering all of the team’s apparent needs, the biggest question surrounding the Patriots as they head into the offseason is the status of back-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The conclusion of the former second-rounder’s rookie contract is quickly approaching, so it’s apparent the Patriots need to make a decision sooner than later.

After serving as Belichick’s personal human victory cigar for the first two years of his career, Garoppolo looked like he was more than able to manage a team through his two starts in 2016. During that one-plus game sample, the quarterback completed 71-percent of his passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Garoppolo ultimately sat out the next two games as he recovered from an AC joint sprain, and Brady was back from suspension by the time the young quarterback was ready to play.

Of course, we know how that story ended. Brady put up MVP numbers through his 12 regular season games, and he helped lead the Patriots to another Super Bowl championship. If there were any doubts regarding Brady’s future with the organization, they were certainly hushed following his postseason performance.

So why wouldn’t the Patriots want to keep their apparent heir apparent to Brady? The easy answer is money. Garoppolo will be hitting free agency following the 2017 season, and there’s no world where the organization will want to commit plus-$30MM to a pair of quarterbacks. After having seen teams commit themselves to the likes of Matt Flynn and Brock Osweiler, it shouldn’t be too shocking that rival organizations are rather infatuated with Garoppolo, and the quarterback will presumably earn a pretty penny when he reaches the open market. Therefore, instead of risking losing the quarterback for nothing, it’s in the Patriots’ best interest to trade Garoppolo while his value is at his highest.

The Patriots could theoretically head into next season with both Brady and Garoppolo (as well as second-year quarterback Jacoby Brissett), and then be forced to make a decision next offseason. The team could always franchise Garoppolo before he hits free agency, and then they could deal him once he’s locked into that one-year contract. This certainly isn’t an awful route. If Brady shows a sudden Peyton Manning-like decline, the team already has their replacement ready to go. If Brady continues cruising, they can simply trade Garoppolo. On the flip side, if the team trades Garoppolo and Brady shows signed of decline, the team could be forced to hand the reigns to Brissett. While the rookie looked competent during his two starts in 2016, he’s yet to prove that he can even reach Garoppolo’s level.

However, the old sports adage says that players lose trade value every day that they remain on their current team. With a weak crop of quarterbacks in this year’s draft and an abundance of aging veteran signal-callers littering the free agency pool, team’s hoping to get a jump start on their rebuild will want their franchise quarterback as soon as possible. Therefore, it’s likely that the Patriots will receive the best Garoppolo trade offers this offseason as opposed to next.

Former Brady backups like Matt Cassel and Brian Hoyer proved to be capable quarterbacks, but they certainly weren’t franchise players. Still, that fear won’t stop other teams from offering a haul for Garoppolo. The Browns, 49ers, and Bears are three of the more popular teams when it comes to rumors surrounding the quarterback, and as our own Connor Byrne noted, the Browns second first-rounder (12^th overall) may convince the organization to pull the trigger on a Garoppolo trade.

As of right now, a trade seems unlikely, as reports from earlier this week indicated that the Patriots are not expected to trade their young signal-caller. Of course, this could just be a leverage attempt from the organization. For what it’s worth, more than 72-percent of our readers believe New England should indeed trade their young quarterback.

During the Patriots victory parade, Belichick started an awkward “No Days Off!” chant. We can only assume that the front office will be working tirelessly as they presumably look to trade Garoppolo before the upcoming draft.

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PFR’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents For 2017 1.0

By Zachary Links | at March 2, 2017 3:13 pm

[UPDATE: CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST EDITION OF PFR’S TOP 50 FREE AGENTS]

There will be oodles of free agents available in March, but only a certain percentage of them can be real difference makers for your team. To help separate the wheat from the chaff, we’ve assembled our early list of the Top 50 Free Agents for 2017.

Our early version of the NFL’s top 50 free agents may include players who will be re-signed between now and March 9. When we update this list next week, a few of the big names will be spoken for while new high-profile names will join the fray as veterans become cap casualties.

Last month, we broke down the top free agents by position on both offense and defense, but our rankings below may not have each player listed in the same order. Those position lists took the short-term value of a player into account more heavily, meaning many players in their 30s received prominent placement. Our overall top 50 list favors longer-term value, and is more about forecasting which players will be in highest demand when it comes to years and dollars.

With those caveats out of the way, let’s dive in! Here are Pro Football Rumors’ top 50 NFL free agents for 2017:

A.J. Bouye, CB (Texans): Out of nowhere, Bouye went from unknown to elite. The Texans would like to retain him, but they opted against using the franchise tag to get it done. That means that we’re about to see one of the most intriguing free agent cases in recent memory play out. Bouye doesn’t turn 26 until August and he finished out the year as one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Conversely, he didn’t do much of note in his previous three NFL seasons. Recently, one executive told Albert Breer of The MMQB that he’s expecting Bouye to be the highest-paid free agent in this year’s class, “assuming the guys we believe will be franchised actually are.” Another posited that he could match Janoris Jenkins‘ five year, $62.5MM contract from last spring, a deal that included $28.8MM fully guaranteed. The Jets could be among the clubs to pursue Bouye.
Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): There are question marks a-plenty, but no one can deny Jeffery’s natural ability. Not long ago, it seemed like Jeffery would fetch a free agent deal to totally reset the wide receiver market. Even after an iffy season, the projected salary cap increase and lack of available star receivers should allow Jeffery to become a very rich man.
Kenny Stills, WR (Dolphins): Stills is going to get paid this offseason and the average annual value on his next deal could be far, far more than anticipated. The latest reports indicate that he could make up to $12MM/year on his next deal. The Eagles are said to be high on him and other WR-hungry teams like the Titans could also show interest.
Dont’a Hightower, LB (Patriots): The market is capped for non-rush linebackers, but Hightower is pretty much the best at what he does and is also lauded for his intangibles. The Patriots have always embraced the “next man up” philosophy, so it is possible they will allow him to go elsewhere.
Kevin Zeitler, G (Bengals): Zeitler has age on his side and he’s one of the safest free agents in the top ten after three consecutive years of dominance. Interior offensive linemen don’t get as much love as their counterparts on the outside, but they are still incredibly vital and Zeitler’s next contract will reflect that.
Calais Campbell, DL (Cardinals): Campbell was supposed to be a goner in Arizona. However, instead of staying in Chandler Jones‘ shadow, Campbell turned in one of his best seasons to date. Now, the Cardinals would very much like to keep him, but they can only go so far as they back up the Brinks truck for Jones. If Jones does not agree to a cap-smoothing long-term deal between now and March 9th, the odds of the former University of Miami star leaving increase.
T.J. Lang, G (Packers): In 2016, Lang earned a strong 87.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (8th amongst guards), including a 92.9 score for pass blocking (2nd). Lang, who turns 30 in September, also spent some time at tackle early in his career and could be moved around the line in a pinch.
Tony Jefferson, S (Cardinals): The metrics at PFF actually placed Jefferson slightly ahead of Eric Berry in 2016. He’s also a full three years younger than the KC star. The Cardinals want to keep Jefferson, but he will test the open market no matter what.
Terrelle Pryor, WR (Browns): Pryor and the Browns haven’t exactly played it coy about their intentions. Both sides badly want to get a long-term deal done and we’d be surprised if that didn’t come to fruition. The franchise tag was too expensive here, so Pryor will garner considerable attention as a young WR2 type if a multi-year pact is not struck in the coming days.
Logan Ryan, CB (Patriots): There are bigger names available at the cornerback position, but Ryan slots ahead of many of them after a career year. It also doesn’t hurt that this fresh-faced Super Bowl champ only just turned 26 in February. If the Patriots don’t tie him down, Ryan’s earning power could conceivably vault him past Trumaine Johnson in terms of guaranteed cash.
Ricky Wagner, OT (Ravens): Wagner could reportedly fetch around $10MM/year. The free agent market is short on young, quality tackles and this year’s draft is no great shakes.
Duron Harmon, S (Patriots): Surprised to see Harmon so close to fellow safety Tony Jefferson on this list? Don’t be. Free safety is where the money is at and Harmon figures to get make more than any of us anticipated six months ago. Like Ryan, Harmon is also just 26.
Martellus Bennett, TE (Patriots): Rob Gronkowski‘s injury woes were unfortunate, but the Patriots barely missed a beat thanks to Bennett. Recently, Bennett gloated about Super Bowl winners getting overpaid and he’s not wrong – the shine of a championship ring tends to illuminate free agents. Still, Bennett shouldn’t sell himself short: he’s a big, bruising tight end who can be a major factor in the red zone, as evidenced by his seven touchdowns last season.
Stephon Gilmore, CB (Bills): In terms of pure talent, Gilmore might be the best cornerback available. Trouble is, no one knows what to make of him after a down 2016. Some have openly theorized that Gilmore was playing it safe to avoid injury in his pivotal contract year. It’s also possible that Buffalo’s injuries in the front seven put undue stress on the secondary. GMs will use these justifications and more to convince ownership to pony up big dollars.
Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens): The Ravens are prioritizing a new deal for Williams this offseason, but if they don’t re-sign him, the Dolphins could be among the teams in pursuit. Williams doesn’t fill up a stat sheet, but he is an effective run-stuffer with age on his side. At 28, teams won’t be hesitant about making a multi-year commitment.
Dontari Poe, DT (Chiefs): Poe is a bit inconsistent, but when he’s on it’s a clear reminder of why the Chiefs made him the No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Memphis product boasts two Pro Bowl selections and his athleticism may allow him to occasionally play a bit on the outside.
Nick Perry, DE (Packers): After this year’s premier edge defenders were franchised, Perry stands as the best defensive end available. In just 14 games (12 starts), the former first-round pick amassed 11 sacks. Teams employing a 3-4 scheme will be especially interested in his services.
Kenny Britt, WR (Rams): Britt managed to turn in his first career 1,000+ yard season despite playing in the NFL’s worst offense. He could match or even best Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson when it comes to average annual value and his age could lead to a longer deal. The Giants could bring the Rutgers product back to New Jersey to fill Victor Cruz‘s spot and take attention away from Odell Beckham Jr., but we’re expecting them to put their resources in other areas.
Mike Glennon, QB (Buccaneers): I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that players are ranked here based on projected earnings, not ability. As of this writing, Glennon is the second-best QB in this year’s free agent class (and, remember, Kirk Cousins could be inked to a long-term deal or given the exclusive tag). When we revisit this list next month, Glennon’s placement among QBs may be challenged by Tyrod Taylor and others.
Johnathan Hankins, DT (Giants): Hankins has youth on his side as he won’t turn 25 until late March. He also played a hand in the Giants’ strong run defense last year – as a team, they allowed just 88.6 yards on the ground per game.
Larry Warford, G (Lions): The knock on Warford when he was coming out of Kentucky was that he might not be able to make it at the next level due to his lack of agility and athleticism. Today, he’s not the quickest guard in the NFL, but he’s unquestionably starting caliber. Warford has never missed more than three games in one NFL season and he’s just entering his age-26 season.
Kevin Minter, LB (Cardinals): The Cardinals have lots of free agents to address this offseason and that could lead to the 26-year-old Minter going elsewhere. Last year, he racked up 81 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games.
Andrew Whitworth, OT (Bengals): Whitworth is a stud, but his earning power is capped by his age (he’ll celebrate his 36th birthday in December). Last year, PFF rated him as the second-best tackle in the entire NFL and he’s been a Top 5/Top 10 guy for the last five years in a row. It should also be noted that he has been remarkably durable throughout his career, missing only two games since 2009.
Pierre Garcon, WR (Redskins): Garcon is a solid possession receiver, a label that he personally rejects. We understand where he’s coming from. This year, the Redskins had the veteran running deeper routes than he has in the past and he showed that he could stretch the field a bit, even though he wasn’t the fastest guy on the WR depth chart. He didn’t approach his gaudy 2013 numbers, but he still turned in a respectable stat line of 79 catches for 1,041 yards. His 69.1% catch rate was a career-high.
Zach Brown, LB (Bills): Finally, Brown lived up to his second-round draft status in 2016. After settling for a cheap one-year deal last year, Brown should do a lot better this time around.
Chris Baker, DT (Redskins): Baker is well-rounded and can be used on both the interior and outside of the defensive line. The Redskins have been leaning on him more each year and he has thrived with the increased responsibilities.
Prince Amukamara, CB (Jaguars): After being slowed by injuries in New York, Amukamara managed to stay on the field for most of the season in Jacksonville. He probably won’t blossom into a shutdown corner this late in the game, but the former first-round pick would make a fine CB2 somewhere.
DeSean Jackson, WR (Redskins): Jackson is on the wrong side of 30 and, typically, blazing speed does not age well. Still, he’s one of the game’s best deep threats and we can’t help but think that the Eagles will overspend to bring this fan favorite home.
Jabaal Sheard, DL (Patriots): Sheard saw his playing time reduced in the middle of the season and was even a healthy scratch for one game in November. Despite that bump in the road, the 27-year-old (28 in May) still managed to finish out the year with five sacks and 33 total tackles. Teams may have some questions about Sheard’s effort and/or conditioning after he wound up in Belichick’s doghouse. His stock could be affected if the Patriots don’t make a genuine effort to re-sign him.
Jonathan Cyprien, S (Jaguars): Jacksonville fans are often frustrated with Cyprien, but he’s coming off of a career year and he appears to have put many of his bad habits behind him. He finished out 2016 with 126 total tackles, one sack, and four pass deflections. PFF’s 87.8 overall grade was the best of his career and placed him No. 7 among safeties, just ahead of Eric Berry.
Ronald Leary, G (Cowboys): Leary has no interest in a reserve role and he’ll get the full-time starting job he craves this spring.
Adrian Peterson, RB (Vikings): As expected, the Vikings will decline Peterson’s hefty option for the 2017 season. A return to Minnesota is still possible and contenders like the Giants and Raiders will also be making a strong push to add AD to their backfield. Still, given his injury history, it’s hard to see Peterson getting a lucrative multi-year deal on the cusp of his 32nd birthday, hence his ranking this far down on the list. We have him as our top running back in the Top 50 because he should still score a fat one-year contract.
Barry Church, S (Cowboys): Church isn’t a megastar, but he is a well-rounded strong safety who should draw plenty of interest. Berry re-signing with the Chiefs should cause a domino effect that enhances his market.
J.C. Tretter, C (Packers): In an admittedly small sample last year, PFF rated Tretter as the ninth-best center in the NFL last season. Despite playing in only six games before his season-ending injury, Tretter should outearn every other center thanks in large part to his youth. The former fourth-round pick just recently turned 26.
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Bengals): We’re still waiting for Kirkpatrick to live up to his first-round billing.
Eddie Lacy, RB (Packers): Lacy’s weight issues are well documented but when he’s on, he’s on. Before his unfortunate injury this past fall, Lacy was averaging 5.07 yards per carry.
Riley Reiff, OT (Lions): Personally, I prefer Russell Okung and Kelvin Beachum to Reiff, but I anticipate Reiff getting more money than both. He’s younger than Okung and coming off of a much better year than Beachum.
John Simon, LB/DE (Texans): J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus get the attention in Houston, but Simon is a quality edge rusher in his own right. This spring, the 26-year-old could go from supersub to starter with a significant pay bump.
T.J. McDonald, S (Rams): I’m not as high on him as others, but he’s young and can knock receivers into next week.
Morris Claiborne, CB (Cowboys): After multiple disappointing seasons, Claiborne broke out in his contract year. Then, his campaign ended after seven games. Will teams take the glass-half-full view of the former No. 6 overall pick? We believe they will, but there’s also a good crop of defensive backs in this year’s draft.
Micah Hyde, S (Packers): Hyde, who just turned 26 in December, offers versatility and can be slotted anywhere in the secondary. In that respect, you might be thinking that he’s Darius Butler-lite. Many will prefer Butler as a player for the here and now, but Hyde could get more years and dollars thanks to the age gap.
Latavius Murray, RB (Raiders): He’s not the most explosive runner out there, but he’s a quality option for teams in need. Here’s an interesting scenario based on what we’ve been hearing: Murray could land with the Vikings while Peterson joins up with Oakland.
Russell Okung, OT (Broncos): Last year, Okung went into free agency without an agent. That decision bit him in the behind after he turned in a so-so year and the Broncos turned down his pricey multi-year option. This time around, I hope he doesn’t cheap out and hires proper representation. Regardless, his market will be a lot softer than it was in 2016.
Jamaal Charles, RB (Chiefs): After releasing Charles, the Chiefs issued a press release thanking the “future Hall of Famer.” Charles could very well be Canton-bound someday, but the jury is still out on what he can do in 2017. In the last two years, Charles has appeared in just eight games.
Kayvon Webster, CB (Broncos): Webster has been vocal about his desire for more playing time and he’s not going to get it in Denver where he is blocked behind proven corners. Webster will go elsewhere and I see him getting a solid payday based on his age (just turned 26), athleticism, and special teams ability.
Perry Riley, LB (Raiders): After he was a cap casualty of the Redskins last year, Riley quietly had a bounce-back year in Oakland.
Bennie Logan, DT (Eagles): The rival Redskins are apparently among the teams with interest in Logan.
Darius Butler, DB (Colts): His ability to play multiple positions will work in his favor.
Ryan Clady, OT (Jets): Lots of injury concerns, but also lots of potential.
Terrance Williams, WR (Cowboys): Markus Wheaton, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Michael Floyd may offer more upside, but Williams could edge them in earnings. We’ll find out soon.

Honorable mention (in no particular order): LeGarrette Blount, Nick Mangold, Colin Kaepernick, Nick Fairley, D.J. Swearinger, Bradley McDougald, DeMarcus Ware, Stefen Wisniewski, Lawrence Timmons, Captain Munnerlyn, Jairus Byrd, Darrelle Revis, Jared Odrick, Alterraun Verner, Kelvin Beachum, Lorenzo Alexander, Brandon Carr, Charles Johnson

14 comments Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants New York Jets Newsstand PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders A.J. Bouye Adrian Peterson Alshon Jeffery Alterraun Verner Andrew Whitworth Barry Church Bennie Logan Bradley McDougald Brandon Carr Calais Campbell Captain Munnerlyn Chris Baker Colin Kaepernick Cordarrelle Patterson D.J. Swearinger Darius Butler Darrelle Revis DeMarcus Ware DeSean Jackson Dontari Poe Dre Kirkpatrick Duron Harmon Eddie Lacy J.C. Tretter Jabaal Sheard Jadeveon Clowney Jairus Byrd Jamaal Charles Janoris Jenkins Jared Odrick John Simon Johnathan Cyprien Johnathan Hankins Kayvon Webster Kelvin Beachum Kenny Britt Kenny Stills Kevin Minter Kevin Zeitler Larry Warford Latavius Murray Lawrence Timmons LeGarrette Blount Logan Ryan Lorenzo Alexander Markus Wheaton Martellus Bennett Micah Hyde Michael Floyd Mike Glennon Morris Claiborne Nick Fairley Nick Mangold Perry Riley Pierre Garcon Prince Amukamara Ricky Wagner Riley Reiff Ronald Leary Russell Okung Ryan Clady Stefen Wisniewski Stephon Gilmore T.J. Lang T.J. McDonald Terrance Williams Terrelle Pryor Tony Jefferson Victor Cruz Whitney Mercilus Zach Brown

The Beat: Justin Rogers On The Lions

By Zachary Links | at March 2, 2017 8:12 am

Now that the offseason is in full swing, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Recently, we caught up with Justin Rogers of The Detroit News to discuss the Lions. You can follow Justin on Twitter @Justin_Rogers and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: The Lions have not selected a linebacker in the first round of the draft since Ernie Sims in 2006. After disappointing production from the LB group last year, will Detroit snap that streak and take one in the first round? If not, how do you see them potentially addressing the issue in free agency?

Justin Rogers: There are too many factors in play to speculate exactly who the Lions will draft at No. 21, but it would be foolish to suggest linebacker isn’t in play. The team wants to believe DeAndre Levy will return to form, but they can no longer bank on his durability or performance and must plan accordingly. In the middle, Tahir Whitehead racked up big tackle numbers, but struggled in coverage and didn’t make many impact plays. The team is also developing an intriguing young talent in Antwione Williams on the strong side, and bringing back free agent Josh Bynes would be smart. Still, a talent injection is needed.

In the early rounds, the athletic Haason Reddick, and playmakers Zach Cunningham and Jarrad Davis would all be fits, depending how the board shakes out in front of the Lions.

Zach Links: The Lions could also use some help on the defensive line. Recently, you ran down some of this year’s available options in free agency and you mentioned Nick Fairley‘s name. Do you think the Lions would be open to a reunion after his strong 2016?
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Justin Rogers: I won’t rule it out. Fairley is a player who has significantly matured since his last run here, which I think can be partially attributed to Jim Caldwell benching the athletic interior lineman for weight issues his last season with Detroit. This is a new front office, and one that values athleticism. I’ve always believed Fairley has the makings of a top-10 player at his position when healthy and motivated. At the right price, why not make that call? Fairley was well liked by teammates, even when his work ethic wasn’t up to par.

Zach Links: Outside of the front seven, what do you see as this team’s biggest needs this offseason?

Justin Rogers: Well, they’ve got to figure out what to do about the right side of the offensive line. Riley Reiff and Larry Warford are both hitting free agency and their price tags are looking like they might be more than the Lions are willing to pay. The team has in-house options at both positions, but it would be wise to upgrade at least one of the spots. If it was me, I’d look to add a veteran to the group. It’s a young unit and could use that veteran presence. General manager Bob Quinn acknowledged as much at the combine.

Zach Links: Many of our readers scoffed at the idea of George Godsey going from offensive coordinator in Houston to a defensive assistant in Detroit. Such a move is not totally unprecedented, but Godsey has never coached on the defensive side of the ball. Why do the Lions feel that he is a good addition to the defensive staff?

Justin Rogers: As a defensive assistant, his responsibilities are going to be largely limited to scouting for opponent tendencies, while handling other research-related special projects for the defensive staff. Godsey isn’t likely to be directly working with Lions players on fundamentals and technique.

As a former quarterback and offensive coordinator, Godsey should have an excellent understanding of defensive schemes and player utilization, despite Houston’s struggles when he was at the helm.

Zach Links: Once again, Teryl Austin interviewed for multiple jobs but did not come away with a head coaching gig. Do you sense that he is getting frustrated with the process?

Justin Rogers: Austin is a level-headed guy, who in many ways mirrors mentor Jim Caldwell‘s personality. The Lions defensive coordinator isn’t going to get too high or too low through this process. I sensed more frustration from him the past two years, when he appeared more likely to get a job. At this point, he’s accepted the fact that it might not happen for him.

For what it’s worth, I think he has the ideal demeanor to be a head coach in either the NFL or in college football.

Zach Links: Could you see the Lions getting in on any of this year’s big name free agents? If so, which guys could realistically be in play for Detroit?

Justin Rogers: Quinn said they’ll take some swings at the top names, but ultimately, the market is going to decide whether the Lions land any of them. You can be sure the organization won’t wildly overpay for anyone.

A couple former Patriots make sense for the Lions in linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Logan Ryan. They fill needs, Quinn is intimately familiar with their strengths and weaknesses from his time in New England, and both have championship experience.

Some of the offensive linemen also make sense, assuming the Lions don’t re-sign Reiff or Warford. Ricky Wagner, Kevin Zeitler or T.J. Lang can be viewed as upgrades.

Finally, I’d love to see the team make a run at cornerback A.J. Bouye. It would be a lethal pairing with Darius Slay and shore up the team’s biggest weakness in the secondary.

0 comments Detroit Lions PFR Originals The Beat Interviews

2017 NFL Franchise Tag Players

By Zachary Links | at March 1, 2017 3:23 pm

The deadline to designate franchise or transition players for 2017 has passed. Here’s the rundown of the players that were tagged, plus the candidates that did not receive the designation:

Franchise players (exclusive):

Le’Veon Bell, RB (Steelers): $12.12MM (story)
Kirk Cousins, QB (Redskins): $23.94MM (story)*

Franchise players (non-exclusive):

Melvin Ingram, LB (Chargers): $14.55MM (story)
Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): ~$16MM (story)*
Chandler Jones, LB (Cardinals): $14.55MM (story)
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (Giants): $16.934MM (story)
Kawann Short, DT (Panthers): $13.387MM (story)

*second tag; players receive raise over designated salary for position tender

1 comment Carolina Panthers Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams New York Giants Newsstand PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers Washington Commanders Chandler Jones (DE)Jason Pierre-Paul Kawann Short Kirk Cousins Le'Veon Bell Melvin Ingram Trumaine Johnson

Top 3 Offseason Needs: New York Jets

By Dallas Robinson | at March 1, 2017 11:04 am

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the New York Jets, who finished 2016 with a 5-11 record, last in the AFC East.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Antonio Allen, S
Brandon Bostick, TE (RFA)
Mike Catapano, DL
Ryan Clady, T
Kellen Davis, TE
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
Erin Henderson, LB
Ben Ijalana, T
Wesley Johnson, C (RFA)
Corey Lemonier, LB
Josh Martin, LB
Tanner Purdum, LS
Geno Smith, QB
Marcus Williams, CB (RFA)

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Muhammad Wilkerson, DL: $18,000,000
Eric Decker, WR: $8,750,000
Buster Skrine, CB: $8,500,000
Sheldon Richardson, DL: $8,069,000
Brian Winters, G: $8,000,000
Brandon Marshall, WR: $7,500,000
Marcus Gilchrist, S: $7,375,000
James Carpenter, G: $6,805,000
David Harris, LB: $6,500,000
Leonard Williams, DL: $5,081,146

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $27,278,320
Sixth pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for S Calvin Pryor

Three Needs:

1. Find a franchise quarterback — or at least a stopgap: Consider where the Jets stood at quarterback position at the end of the 2016 preseason. Ryan Fitzpatrick had led New York to a 10-6 record and a near-playoff berth the year prior, and while the tape clearly indicated Fitzpatrick hadn’t transformed into an elite signal-caller, he had tossed 31 touchdowns and posted the best season of his career in 2016. Former fourth-round pick Bryce Petty was coming off an exhibition campaign that had seen him throw for nearly 500 yards, three touchdowns, and complete this gem to Robby Anderson, and while rookie second-rounder Christian Hackenberg admittedly struggled during the preseason, a rose-colored lens might have offered some hope on the 51st overall selection.

Fast forward to 2017, and any optimism regarding Gang Green’s quarterbacks has vanished. Despite finishing 27th in passes attempted, Fitzpatrick threw the league’s third-most interceptions, and while his contract has since expired, he’ll still count for $5MM in dead money on New York’s 2017 salary cap. Petty started four games but posted an even higher interception rate than Fiztpatrick, while Hackenberg never managed to get on the field, even in the midst of a lost season. Jets management now regards Petty and Hackenberg as nothing more than potential backups, and the club is essentially back to square one under center.

As usual, the free agent quarterback market is extremely lackluster, and contains only one player — the Buccaneers’ Mike Glennon — who could reasonably be considered a long-term option. Glennon, 27, has only thrown 11 passes over the past two seasons, but as the only available signal-caller who has both youth and a history of success on his side, he could be in for a nice payday. The Jets are reportedly interested in Glennon, but it’s doubtful they’ll pay the $13-15MM annual salary Glennon is apparently targeting.

Other passers will hit the open market next week, but none offer any sort of upside and are better viewed as potential bridge options. Brian Hoyer, Nick Foles, Josh McCown, Geno Smith (just kidding!), Case Keenum, Matt Schaub, and the like aren’t going to take the Jets to the postseason in 2017, but they could hold down the fort while the club develops a rookie. Jay Cutler is also a possibility for New York after he’s released by the Bears, while general manager Mike Maccagnan & Co. could hypothetically explore trades. The Patriots aren’t going to ship Jimmy Garoppolo to a division rival, though (and may not trade him to anyone), while the Bengals might also hold onto A.J. McCarron.

If Gang Green doesn’t find what it’s looking for in free agency or via trade, it will likely turn its attention to the draft. Owners of the sixth overall pick, the Jets will have the opportunity to select a quarterback if they so choose. They’ve already been linked to UNC’s Mitch Trubisky, who is being considered by multiple quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft and may not even be on the board at No. 6. If Trubisky is still available, however, opposing clubs believe New York will run to turn in its card.

“They got their eyes set on the North Carolina quarterback,” one rival scout said in December. “The Jets are all over this kid. All over him. They’ll probably deny it if you ask, but they love that kid. That’s their guy. They’re not going to get him though, because I think that kid is going to get over-drafted.”

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is also reportedly on the Jets’ radar, while other players such as Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer or Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes could be in the cards at the top of the second round (or later in the first if New York trades back). Even if New York signs Glennon (and especially if they only bring in a stopgap option), the Jets should look into spending a mid-round pick on a quarterback. Yes, the club has already witnessed two early-to-mid-round choices waste away on the bench, but a rebuilding club can never take enough bites at the QB apple. Brad Kaaya (Miami), Nathan Peterman (Pitt), Davis Webb (Cal), and Chad Kelly (Ole Miss) could come off the board on Day 2 or later.

2. Beef up the offensive line: The Jets have already parted ways with three of their top offensive linemen over the past few weeks, releasing center Nick Mangold and right tackle Breno Giacomini while opting not to exercise left tackle Ryan Clady‘s 2017 option. New York is probably set at the other two line positions, as guards Brian Winters and James Carpenter are in the midst of long-term contracts. But Gang Green needs to bolster the rest of its front five, or else its presumed acquisition at quarterback won’t have a chance to stay upright.

At left tackle, the Jets may turn to an internal replacement, as the club is already working to re-sign Ben Ijalana. While New York could face competition for Ijalana’s services, the recent infusion of talent to the free agent left tackle market should drive down Ijalana’s price and force him back to the Big Apple. Ijalana isn’t a spectacular blindside protector by any means, as he graded as just the No. 60 left tackle in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus. But he offers experience after posting 13 starts in 2016, and would give the Jets some sense of stability on the left side.

New York could also look to bring back Clady at a lower rate, or search the open market for options at both left and right tackle. Given that they’re beginning a rebuild, the Jets shouldn’t be targeting too many veteran free agents, and may want to set a cutoff age — say, 29 — to use in its evaluations. As such, free agents like Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith, Gosder Cherilus, or even Clady (age-30) should be eschewed in favor of younger players. Ricky Wagner, Riley Reiff, Kelvin Beachum, Matt Kalil , and Russell Okung (in whom they’ve already expressed interest) could all garner consideration from the Jets, although the club could easily get priced out of their respective markets.

Sitting at pick No. 6 in the first round, the Jets probably aren’t in position to select an offensive lineman in what is considered a weak crop of front five players. In need of bulk draft picks, however, New York should entertain a trade down into the mid-teens or twenties, collecting more assets in the process and putting itself in a better place to draft a lineman. In the middle of Day 1, tackles such as Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin), Garett Bolles (Utah), and Cam Robinson (Alabama) could make sense for the Jets. If New York goes after a quarterback in Round 1 and waits until later in the draft to find a tackle, Antonio Garcia (Troy), Adam Bisnowaty (Pitt), and Taylor Moton (Western Michigan) will get consideration.

On the interior, the Jets seem likely to promote center Wesley Johnson into the starting lineup. Johnson, though, is a restricted free agent, and given his newly important status on New York’s front five, the Jets may now have to tender him at the second-round level at a cost of $2.7-$2.8MM. Like Ijalana at left tackle, Johnson was relatively inexperienced heading into last season, but managed eight starts during the 2016 campaign. Playing 657 offensive snaps, the 26-year-old Johnson graded as the NFL’s No. 33 center, per PFF.

While there aren’t a ton of center options in free agency, the Jets would do well to make a run at the Packers’ J.C. Tretter, whom Green Bay is not expected to prioritize next week. Tretter, only 26, boasts experience all along the offensive line (even including left tackle), and thus could act as a starter on the inside or at right tackle, while serving as depth at other positions. If New York wants to go after a pivot in the draft, LSU’s Ethan Pocic, Ohio State’s Pat Elflein, and West Virginia’s Tyler Orlosky will be available on Day 2, according to Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of CBSSports.com‘s rankings.

3. Fix the pass defense: The Jets, along with perhaps the 49ers and Browns, are projected to field one of the most barren rosters in the NFL, so we’ll cheat a bit here and combine two need areas into one. New York ranked 31st in DVOA in pass defense, so the club clearly needs to ameliorate not only its secondary, but its pass rush as well.

Gang Green is reportedly mulling a pursuit of a high-profile cornerback on the free agent market, and with Darrelle Revis already gone, and Buster Skrine also a possibility to get cut, the Jets may need to add several defensive backs simply to be competitive in 2017. None of the Jets’ corners graded among the top 60 CBs in the NFL last season, per PFF, so the club certainly could add a marquee defender such as A.J. Bouye, Stephon Gilmore, or Morris Claiborne, or Dre Kirkpatrick. New York also needs depth in the secondary, though, so it may target a second-tier corner like Kayvon Webster, Sterling Moore, or even failed former first-rounder D.J. Hayden.

The Jets might consider selecting a corner at the top of Round 1, but the only CB with that high a pedigree is Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore, whom Todd McShay of ESPN.com recently mocked to New York. Lattimore, whom Lance Zierlein of NFL.com favorably compares to Vontae Davis, would give the Jets a long-term option at cornerback who would presumably start on Day 1. New York could also look at safeties at pick No. 6, but probably only if it releases or trades Marcus Gilchrist or Calvin Pryor. Jamal Adams (LSU) or Malik Hooker (Ohio State) might be on the board if Gilchrist or Pryor goes, and the Jets probably won’t dive back into the free agent safety market if it cut ties with one or both of those veterans.

Even more pressing is New York’s pass rush, which posted only 26 sacks and ranked dead last in adjusted sack rate. 2015 third-round selection Lorenzo Mauldin hasn’t shown much during his two years in the league, while Sheldon Richardson — miscast as an outside linebacker — is still on the trade block. Rookie Jordan Jenkins put up a surprisingly solid showing in 2016, but the Jets’ edge rushing corps, which also includes Julian Stanford and Freddie Bishop, needs a lot of work.

As noted above, the Jets should only be targeting youthful free agents as they begin their rebuild, so someone like Nick Perry (26) would be a good fit. But now that Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, and Jason Pierre-Paul have all been assigned the franchise tag, Perry is the top edge defender on the market and will be looking to cash in. Much of the free agent pass rushing market is comprised by veterans such as Julius Peppers and Lorenzo Alexander that shouldn’t interest New York, but the club could take a look at John Simon, who’s been overshadowed by J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney in Houston. Ryan Davis, who made the transition to outside ‘backer last season, is another low-cost option.

The Jets won’t get a shot at Myles Garrett in the draft, but they could identify Taco Charlton or Derek Barnett as worthwhile picks at No. 6. Possible choices on Day 2 (or later in Round 1 if New York trades down) include Tim Williams (Alabama), Takkarist McKinley (UCLA), T.J. Watt (Wisconsin), or Ryan Anderson (Alabama). One other name to watch is Villanova’s Tanoh Kpassagnon, whom Mike Mayock of NFL.com calls a “freak athlete” and says could go as high as the second round or as low as the fourth.

0 comments New York Jets PFR Originals Top 3 Offseason Needs

Top 3 Offseason Needs: Dallas Cowboys

By Dallas Robinson | at February 27, 2017 10:00 pm

In advance of March 9, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Dallas Cowboys, who rode two rookie offensive stars to a 13-3 record and the NFC East title.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Brice Butler, WR
Brandon Carr, CB
Barry Church, S
Morris Claiborne, CB
Jonathan Cooper, G
Jack Crawford, DE
Ryan Davis, DE/LB
Lance Dunbar, RB
Justin Durant, LB
Gavin Escobar, TE
Andrew Gachkar, LB
David Irving, DE (ERFA)
Ronald Leary, G
Rolando McClain, LB
Terrell McClain, DT
Darren McFadden, RB
Kellen Moore, QB
Mark Sanchez, QB
Josh Thomas, CB
J.J. Wilcox, S
Terrance Williams, WR

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Tony Romo, QB: $24,700,000
Dez Bryant, WR: $17,000,000
Sean Lee, LB: $12,450,000
Jason Witten, TE: $12,262,000
Tyrone Crawford, DL: $10,350,000
Tyron Smith, T: $8,820,000
Doug Free, T: $7,500,000
Ezekiel Elliott, RB: $5,671,895
Orlando Scandrick, CB: $5,281,021
Travis Frederick, C: $4,531,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $4,236,937
28th pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2018 fifth-year option for G Zack Martin

Three Needs:

1. Part ways with Tony Romo: The Cowboys cleared a good deal of cap space last week by restructuring the contracts of offensive linemen Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, but they still have the worst cap situation in the league. That doesn’t account for one move that Dallas will almost assuredly make this offseason, however, as the club can create a bit more financial wiggle room by cutting ties with veteran quarterback Tony Romo, either through trade or release.

Romo’s future figures to be the dominant Cowboys storyline this offseason, and while the team could attempt to trade him in the coming weeks, a deal seems unlikely, particularly for financial reasons. Thanks to multiple contract restructures, nearly $20MM in prorated Romo bonus money is on the Dallas books over the next three seasons. If the Cowboys were to ship Romo to another club, the entirety of that total — $19.6MM, to be exact — would accelerate onto Dallas’ cap, an untenable outcome given the state of team’s salary cap.

Additionally, it’s unclear how much interest Romo would generate on the trade market, and/or what type of draft pick compensation the Cowboys could expect to reap. At least one rival club, the Broncos, seem to have no wish to entertain a trade for Romo, and would only be willing to sign him as a free agent. The theoretical price tag on Romo has varied wildly, as some executives have speculated the Cowboys could acquire a second-round pick for Romo, while other evaluators think a mid- to late-round conditional draft choice is more likely.

One factor working in Dallas’ favor is that a number of teams have already been linked to Romo, which could hypothetically raise the draft cost enough that a trade would make sense from the Cowboys’ perspective. The Chiefs, Bills, Broncos, Redskins, and Texans have all been mentioned as possible suitors for Romo, and if enough members of that list has serious interest, Dallas could start a bidding war and secure a relatively high draft choice. Romo is reportedly open to “massaging” his contract — likely by accepting some sort of paycut or restructure — which could make him even more attractive to interested parties.

From a fiscal standpoint, though, a release of Romo represents a far more palatable situation than a trade. Specifically, the Cowboys would need to designate Romo as a post-June 1 cut, which would allow Romo to hit the market now and only keep the accelerated $19.6MM dead money charge on Dallas’ salary cap until early June, at which point the dead money would be reduced to just $10.7MM. Gaining nearly $9MM in cap space in the summer isn’t going to help the Cowboys ink any marquee free agents, but it would help the club sign its draft class, bring in street free agents, and plan for unexpected financial charges that occur throughout a season.

Romo, for what’s it worth, expects to be cut rather than traded, and it’s possible that his close relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will allow the 13-year pro to secure his release and then choose his next club himself. Speculatively, such an outcome could come with a handshake agreement between Jones and Romo that the latter won’t sign with a rival like Washington.

If and when the Cowboys cut ties with Romo, they’ll need a new backup quarterback to play behind Dak Prescott. Dallas reportedly has mutual interest with former Browns signal-caller Josh McCown, while the Cowboys could also conceivably re-sign either Mark Sanchez or Kellen Moore, both of whom are unrestricted free agents. Other available quarterbacks who may intrigue the Cowboys include Case Keenum, Nick Foles, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Christian Ponder.

2. Improve the pass rush: Under coordinator Rod Marinelli, the Cowboys’ defense has performed much better than was to be expected given the club’s level of talent. Dallas’ front office has consistently invested more resources on the offensive side of the ball, but the Cowboys defense has finished in the middle of the pack in DVOA during Marinelli’s three-year run as coordinator.

The one area of the Dallas defense that hasn’t over-performed in recent years has been the defensive line, but that’s not for lack of trying on the part of the Cowboys. Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford was signed to a five-year, $45MM extension after only a single season of production, a deal that looks like an overpay in hindsight. Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence was selected at the top of the second round, but has dealt with injuries and a suspension and is now entering the final year of his rookie contract. And just last offseason, the Cowboys signed away defensive lineman Cedric Thornton from the division rival Eagles and inked former Raider Benson Mayowa to a restricted free agent offer sheet that wasn’t matched.

Randy Gregory, like Lawrence, is a former second-round pick, but isn’t part of the Cowboys’ plans after being hit with a yearlong suspension last month. Thornton is a candidate for release after only one season in Dallas, while fellow defensive lineman Terrell McClain, Jack Crawford, and Ryan Davis are all unrestricted free agents. As such, the Cowboys need to add both an impact player and depth along the front four, something Jerry Jones admitted earlier this month by saying he wants to bring in “one of these war daddies that takes two to block.”

The first place the Cowboys can look for pass rushing talent is the free agent market, but given their salary cap troubles, the club doesn’t figure to go after one of the top options such as Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, or Jason Pierre-Paul. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wrote yesterday, when a 30-year-old rotational defensive end like Mario Addison lands $7.5MM annually, the game-changing edge defenders are in for a massive payday in a league where the cap is nearing $170MM. Dallas will have to look for bargains on the open market, but luckily there are cost-effective players readily available.

DeMarcus Ware has already been linked to the Cowboys, as the 34-year-old is reportedly “leaving the door open” for a return to Dallas, where he racked up 117 racks from 2005-13. Ware has missed 11 games over the past two seasons, and both fractured his arm and required back surgery in 2016, but he could still offer the Cowboys his pass rushing talent, especially if his snaps are limited. Other veteran defensive lineman that could interest the Cowboys include Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Nick Fairley (if his price tag drops), and the recently-released Jared Odrick.

If Dallas does sign an experienced edge rusher, they’ll likely try to pair him with a rookie, and could certainly expend a first-round pick on the position. At pick No. 28, the Cowboys should have a bevy of players to choose from: both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com and Josh Norris of Rotoworld recently mocked Missouri’s Charles Harris to Dallas, while Todd McShay of ESPN.com sent Tim Williams (Alabama) to Big D. Other pass rushers who could make sense for Dallas on Day 1 or 2 include Michigan’s Taco Charlton, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett, Auburn’s Carl Lawson (whom Rob Rang of CBSSports.com favorably compares to Freeney), Temple’s Haason Reddick, and Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt.

One final area the Cowboys should trawl is the trade market, in which they reportedly made an offer for the Jets’ Sheldon Richardson last year. Richardson, of course, has dealt with motivation, effort, and tardiness issues, but Dallas has been willing to acquire players with off-field concerns in the past. On the field, Richardson wasn’t all that successful, either, but the 26-year-old may see better results by moving into a 4-3 scheme. New York is now aiming for a third-round pick in exchange for Richardson, and if the Cowboys can negotiate that ask down to a fourth- or fifth-rounder, they could take the leap on a troubled but talented player.

3. Sort out the secondary: After addressing the defensive line, the Cowboys need to work on the defensive backfield in order to further limit opposing quarterbacks. That effort will start internally, as four of Dallas’ key secondary players are heading for unrestricted free agency. Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr and safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox are all scheduled to hit the open market on March 9, meaning the Cowboys will need to line up their priorities.

Church is probably the most obvious candidate to return, as the 29-year-old posted the best season of his career in 2016, grading as the league’s No. 11 safety per Pro Football Focus. Given his age and his limited track record, Church shouldn’t cost too much to retain, and may even be open to some sort of hometown discount. Wilcox, on the other hand, is younger than Church, but as Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated recently tweeted, Wilcox struggles with “coverage discipline” and likely won’t be a primary concern for the Cowboys this offseason.

At corner, Dallas shouldn’t be inclined to re-sign Claiborne, even though he finally lived up to his first-round billing by playing especially well last year. Claiborne had never reached that ceiling before, however, and the Cowboys needn’t simply extend a new contract to the 27-year-old based on one year of production. Given that Claiborne will likely find a larger deal in free agency, the Cowboys should instead focus on retaining Carr, who’s been a steadier presence in the secondary. Dallas also boasts slot corner Orlando Scandrick and surprisingly effective 2016 sixth-rounder Anthony Brown, so the club has depth in the event a free agent or two defects.

If the Cowboys decide to add another cornerback, it will likely be through the draft. Dallas selected defensive back Byron Jones in 2015, but placed him in the back end where he’s since become one of the NFL’s best safeties (and an excellent special teamer). Drafting a more traditional corner could be in the cards this time around, and Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com mocked Teez Tabor (Florida) to Dallas in his most recent mock draft. Other options that could be available near the end of the first round include Sidney Jones (Washington), Tre’Davious White (LSU), Quincy Wilson (Florirda), or Gareon Conley (Ohio State). The Cowboys might also target safety depth on Day 2 of the draft, and they’ve already been linked to Texas A&M’s Josh Evans.

Dallas may look the free agent market as it hunts for another corner, but it won’t spend at the top of the market in order to sign someone like A.J. Bouye or Stephon Gilmore. Instead, a pair of veterans stand out as potential Cowboys targets: Terence Newman and Leon Hall. Newman, of course, was drafted by the Cowboys way back in 2003 and spent the first nine years of his career in Dallas. Entering his age-39 season, Newman is still getting it done in the secondary, and though he’ll surely fall off at some point, there’s no indication that decline will come in 2017. Hall, meanwhile, visited the Cowboys last year before signing with the Giants, and could offer Dallas experience at both corner and safety.

1 comment Dallas Cowboys PFR Originals Top 3 Offseason Needs

PFR Originals: 2/19/17 – 2/26/17

By Dallas Robinson | at February 26, 2017 1:42 pm

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

Free agency opens in fewer than two weeks (March 9), and PFR examined the top 2017 free agents by position on both offense and defense. We’ll adjust the each list as more the market changes to due franchise tags, extensions, and releases, but for now, players such as Kirk Cousins, Le’Veon Bell, Alshon Jeffery, Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower, and A.J. Bouye lead their respective positional classes.
As the offseason progresses, PFR will assess each team by examining the top three needs on each respective roster. We covered five organizations last week:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
- New Orleans Saints
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Top 2017 Free Agents By Position: Defense

By Dallas Robinson | at February 24, 2017 10:00 pm

NFL free agency will get underway on Thursday, March 9th, and while the list of free agents will change between now and then, we do have some idea of who will be available when free agency kicks off. The frenzy is right around the corner and it’s time for us to break down the outlook for each position. After looking at offense, we’ll tackle defense and special teams today.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as players who received the franchise tag, aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for 2017:

Edge defender:

The Cardinals have already made it abundantly clear that Chandler Jones will see the franchise tag this offseason, and Melvin Ingram and Jason Pierre-Paul are also candidates to be tagged by the Chargers and Giants, respectively. If the latter two are able to hit the open market unfettered, however, they both figure to break the bank. Ingram, Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 edge defender, could be a fit for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, while JPP will be looking for a long-term commitment after signing consecutive one-year deals.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among the players with youth still on their side, Packers edge defenders Nick Perry and Datone Jones figure to interest different clubs, as Perry is a better match for a 3-4 defense while Jones needs to restart his career as a 4-3 defensive end. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing Andre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. James Harrison and Charles Johnson, meanwhile, look like good bets to return to Steelers and Panthers, respectively, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

Unlike the edge defender market, the 2017 cadre of interior defensive lineman shouldn’t be overly affected by the franchise tender. Head coach Ron Rivera recently confessed the Panthers will “probably” have to use the tag on Kawann Short, but the rest of the defensive tackles listed here should be able to hit the open market. Of the remaining defenders, Campbell is the best overall player, but given that he’s entering his age-31 season, he may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe.

The rest of the class offers an interesting mix of nose tackles (Bennie Logan), interior pass rushers (Nick Fairley, Earl Mitchell), and run stoppers (Karl Klug, Alan Branch), so clubs hoping to bolster their defensive line should find no shortage of options. Jared Odrick recently hit free agency after being released by the Jaguars, while Terrell McClain, Lawrence Guy, and Stacy McGee could be underrated finds for the right team. McClain, for what it’s worth, has already been linked to the Falcons.

Linebacker:

As usual, the non-rush linebacker market isn’t exactly overflowing with elite talent, and Dont’a Hightower stands as far-and-away the best player among this group. The Patriots already traded away several of their best defenders, including Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins, an indication that they view Hightower as the best best to stick around long term. Hightower has communicated an openness to the franchise tag, but New England may go in another direction and offer him the transition tender instead.

Cornerback:

The Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on A.J. Bouye, a decision which sets up the young corner to be the single-most intriguing player on the 2017 free agent market. Only 25 years old, Bouye came out of nowhere to grade as PFF’s No. 3 corner in 2016. But the former undrafted free agent played on less than 900 defensive snaps over the first three years of his career, so he’s going to get paid on essentially one season of production. Bouye earned less than $3MM total during his time with Houston — his next contract could contain five times that amount…annually.

The cornerback market stands as one of the best free agent positional groups this offseason, as strong players permeate the list from top-to-bottom. Trumaine Johnson faces an outside shot of being franchise-tagged, but if he hits the open market, he’ll likely be aiming for a contract similar to that of his former Rams teammate Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5MM). Elsewhere among corners, Stephon Gilmore is a more high-profile name than Logan Ryan, but Ryan has simply played better over the last few campaigns, and offers a more dependable output.

Safety:

The Chiefs are working to re-sign Eric Berry, but if the two parties can’t agree to a new deal, Kansas City will likely employ the franchise tag for the second consecutive season. The only problem? Berry is adamant that he won’t play under the tag again, even though it would guarantee him a one-year salary of nearly $13MM. Realistically, Berry won’t have any choice but to sign the tender — given that he’s already 28, he can’t afford to sit out the season and risk hitting the open market at close to 30 years old.

Tony Jefferson, meanwhile, is expected to hit free agency, and could be the second-highest paid safety in this class behind Berry. Jefferson did reach the free agent market in 2016 as a restricted free agent, but he didn’t come with draft compensation attached. Any club could have signed him to an offer sheet, and if the Cardinals declined to match, would have acquired Jefferson scot-free. No team did so, which could be an indication that Jefferson’s 2016 market could be less robust than expected.

Kicker:

Punter:

Jeff Locke, 27, managed to pin opposing clubs inside the 20-yard line 34 times in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Britton Colquitt isn’t quite the punter that his brother, Dustin, is, but he found a new club soon after being cut last season and should do so again in 2017. Now 40 years old, Shane Lechler is a seven-time Pro Bowler, but the Texans lost 12.7 points of field position on punts last season, meaning Houston could go in another direction at punter.

3 comments Newsstand PFR Originals A.J. Bouye A.J. Klein Alan Branch Andre Branch Barry Church Bennie Logan Bradley McDougald Brandon Carr Brandon Williams (DT)Britton Colquitt Calais Campbell Captain Munnerlyn Chris Baker Connor Barth D.J. Swearinger Darius Butler Daryl Smith Datone Jones DeMarcus Ware Dont'a Hightower Dontari Poe Dre Kirkpatrick Duron Harmon Dwight Freeney Earl Mitchell Eric Berry Gerald Hodges Greg Zuerlein J.J. Wilcox Jabaal Sheard Jahleel Addae James Harrison Jared Odrick Jason Pierre-Paul Jeff Locke Jerraud Powers John Simon Johnathan Cyprien Johnathan Hankins Josh Brown Julius Peppers Karl Klug Karlos Dansby Kawann Short Kayvon Webster Kevin Minter Lawrence Guy Lawrence Timmons Logan Ryan Lorenzo Alexander Malcolm Smith Manti Te'o Mario Addison Melvin Ingram Micah Hyde Mike Adams (S)Mike Morgan Mike Nugent Morris Claiborne Nick Bellore Nick Fairley Nick Folk Nick Novak Nick Perry (OLB)Perry Riley Phil Dawson Prince Amukamara Quintin Demps Rashad Johnson Robbie Gould Sam Shields Sean Spence Shane Lechler Sio Moore Stacy McGee Stephon Gilmore Sterling Moore Steven Hauschka T.J. McDonald Terence Newman Terrell McClain Tony Jefferson Tramon Williams Trumaine Johnson Zach Brown

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PFR Originals News & Rumors

Edge defender:

Interior defensive line:

Linebacker:

Cornerback:

Safety:

Kicker:

Punter:

Pending Free Agents:

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Other:

Three needs:

Franchise players (exclusive):

Franchise players (non-exclusive):

Candidates who didn’t receive tags:

Pending Free Agents:

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Other:

Three Needs:

Pending Free Agents:

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2017:

Other:

Three Needs:

Edge defender:

Interior defensive line:

Linebacker:

Cornerback:

Safety:

Kicker:

Punter: