Friday, July 9, 2021

Top Remaining Free Agents

The recent COIVD-induced salary cap drop and a general reliance on younger players on rookie deals has resulted in an impressive list of veterans still on the street. This list includes 40 players. About half of these players would’ve been Day 1 free agency targets as recently as a couple years ago. Now, they are unsigned only a few weeks from the start of training camps. Only four free agents remain unsigned from the original rankings at the start of the offseason. 

1.(9)    Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
2.(21)  K.J. Wright, LB, Seattle Seahawks 
3.(34)  Melvin Ingram, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers
4.(37)  Richard Sherman, CB, San Francisco 49ers 
5.   Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals 
6.   Kwon Alexander, LB, New Orleans Saints 
7.   Justin Houston, Edge, Indianapolis Colts 
8.   David DeCastro, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
9.   Steven Nelson, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Austin Reiter, C, Kansas City Chiefs 
11. Malik Hooker, S, Indianapolis Colts 
12. Russell Okung, OT, Carolina Panthers
13. Olivier Vernon, Edge, Cleveland Browns 
14. Duke Johnson, RB, Houston Texans
15. Everson Griffen, Edge, Detroit Lions
16. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers
17. Jurrell Casey, DT, Denver Broncos
18. Brian Poole, CB, New York Jets
19. Rick Wagner, OT, Green Bay Packers
20. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
21. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
22. Tre Boston, S, Carolina Panthers
23. Trent Murphy, Edge, Buffalo Bills
24. Nickell Robert-Coleman, CB, Philadelphia Eagles 
25. Golden Tate, WR, New York Giants 
26. Trey Burton, TE, Indianapolis Colts 
27. Nick Easton, G, New Orleans Saints
28. Tyler Eifert, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars 
29. Gareon Conley, CB, Houston Texans
30. Kenny Stills, WR, Buffalo Bills
31. Todd Gurley, RB, Atlanta Falcons
32. P.J. Hall, DT, Houston Texans
33. Brett Jones, C, Minnesota Vikings
34. Dede Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars 
35. Alston Jeffery, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
36. Avery Williamson, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
37. Jabaal Sheard, Edge, New York Giants
38. Daryl Worley, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
39. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Tennessee Titans
40. Adrian Clayborn, Edge, Cleveland Browns

***

Throughout this offseason I’ve been intrigued with the available defensive tackles. Since a surgery mishap robbed Sharrif Floyd of his NFL career, the Minnesota Vikings have been searching for a consistent producer from the three technique spot. That’s why I was so intrigued by the likes of Geno Atkins, Kawann Short, and Jurrell Casey. Sheldon Richardson was a late addition to the group when he was surprisingly released by the Browns when Cleveland became the most recent home of Jadeveon Clowney. The Vikings had Richardson in 2018. That was the team’s lone three-technique bright spot in years. When he became available the Vikings added him to their growing collection of defensive tackles. 

If their respective injuries allow it, Mitchell Schwartz and David DeCastro could do wonders for a team’s offensive line. 

Need a pass rusher:
Justin Houston
Melvin Ingram
Olivier Vernon

A pass defender:
Richard Sherman
Steven Nelson

A pass catcher:
Golden Tate
Kenny Stills 
Dede Westbrook

and Larry Fitzgerald if he decides to continue his incredible career. 

















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