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Rick Scuteri / Associated Press
The free agency of the NFL is not close to slamming the door on some of its best pieces of drama as the league heads to the normally scheduled start of training camps in late July.
The marketplace still has a slew of heavyweight names to win, including some quality offensive linemen and one of the best defenders in the NFL.
Although the reasons for their availability differ, the list is not difficult to assemble due to factors such as name recognition, capacity and production, no matter how attractive they are to multiple teams.
Below we will zoom in on the best names available and define the likely landing points based on team needs, fit and other factors such as cap space.
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Chris Szagola / Associated Press
Jadeveon Clowney continues to be a huge point of confusion regarding his contractual status in the NFL.
Clowney is one of the best defenders in the NFL. A 87.3 PFF a note from a previous season speaks volumes – it is the borderline elite, if not the elite, in most areas.
But it does not put big pressure figures.
Clowney had only three sacks in 13 games last season with the Seattle Seahawks. He has had more than six in one season barely twice in six years. This is a large part of the reason why its actual position – which determines payment on labels – has been challenged repeatedly in the past.
That’s not to say that Clowney doesn’t have a big market … but paying is probably the reason he is still a free agent.
Yet, with rates of pay challenged or not, it’s hard to ignore the usual suspects. The Cleveland Browns come to mind first. ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Browns offered the most money of any team to Clowney, and as early as mid-June, Cleveland Plain dealershipMary Kay Cabot said the team still has an interest.
At this point, expect Clowney to accept the best offer. He might be able to feast statistically while opposing infractions focus on slowing Myles Garrett, preparing him for his next contract.
Landing place: Cleveland Browns
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Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press
Given the premium the NFL places on smuggling haste, it’s a bit shocking to see a veteran like Everson Griffen on the open market.
When he was 32, Griffen spent 2019 playing in 15 games and releasing another 8 bags. He had played 5.5 games in 11 games the previous year and had 10.5 or more in three of his last six seasons.
How effective was it last year? PFF hit him with a score of 77.6, and his bags were accompanied by 35 presses.
Griffen has never played for another team since joining the league in 2010, so it’s a little difficult to see him leave the Vikings.
Chris Tomasson from St. Paul Pioneer Press reported in April that a return could still occur, and the Vikings did not add a high-level recruit to his post. Add almost $ 12 million in ceiling space during a strange off-season and Griffen may well stay at home.
Landing place: Minnesota Vikings
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Stephen Brashear / Associated Press
It’s not often a privileged border corner – quite the premium NFL player – to be found on the open market around the start of July.
The same is true with the former Cincinnati Bengal corner Dre Kirkpatrick after an outing in late March as the team sought to free up space. Presumably, he didn’t have a ton of traction to find a new landing spot due to external circumstances limiting travel and the ability to complete physical exams for interested teams (something that applies to all current free agents).
Still, it’s important to keep Kirkpatrick on the radar.
He is only 30 years old and a taller player (6’2 “, 190 lbs) who has held up well under decreasing circumstances over the years in Cincinnati. Last season he was targeted 30 times and didn’t allowed 19 assists completed, the year before he faced 72 targets and dropped 36 assists with only two touchdowns allowed.
Kirkpatrick feels like one of those veterans on the verge of entering into a proof agreement somewhere before trying to get an even bigger deal the following year.
Keep an eye out for the Minnesota Vikings, for whom former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is the head coach. They could use some talent additions to a high school that lost two runners (Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander). Interestingly, they both left for the Bengals for free will.
Landing place: Minnesota Vikings
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Michael Perez / Associated Press
It is not too often an offensive lineman of the caliber of Jason Peters who remains available in July.
Offensive online play – especially on tackle – is coveted in today’s NFL, and Peters is still steady in this regard. He may be 38 years old, but his play didn’t weaken with age.
A season ago, Peters played 13 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and threw a Pro Football Focus score of 82.4, allowing just three sacks in the process. This corresponds to the place where he generally graduated, and apart from the 2017 season, during which he only played in seven games, he has mainly remained healthy and reliable since entering the league in 2004.
Peters has yet to find a new home, but ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported in May that many teams were interested. Still, it’s easier to see him resurface with the Eagles in a short period of time, which would give him plenty of playing time while the organization gets a quality mentor for young players on the line.
Landing place: Philadelphia Eagles
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Butch Dill / Associated Press
The security market hasn’t been kinder to veterans in recent years, so guys like Tre Boston have to continually settle for one-year contracts despite the submission of productive seasons.
Eric Reid could be the next case study in this regard.
He was a first round pick in 2013 and is only 28, after two productive years with the Carolina Panthers and totaling 130 tackles, a career high, last season. He was not an exhibition player, which would explain the 46.6 PFF score, but he will continue to be productive in the good role closer to the line of scrimmage against the race.
Fit is going to be most important for Reid, who seems destined to settle for a one-year contract and try again before the age of 30.
Maybe no team makes more sense than the Houston Texans. Eric’s brother, Justin, is one of the most remarkable NFL safeties and could use a player of Eric’s caliber next to him in the back of the defense, which would explain why Justin spoke to Texans head coach Bill O’Brien of the idea. in April.
Landing place: Houston Texans
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Steven Senne / Associated Press
Slot machine corners haven’t had a better time in recent markets either. The veteran corner Logan Ryan is the most recent example.
Ryan, 29, has spent the past three years with the Tennessee Titans and has been productive in each. In 2019, he made 113 tackles with 4.5 bags, a target 103 times and allowing 68 catches for five scores. He only authorized two scores from more than 64 targets the previous year.
A slot machine man who can play at the limit if asked, Ryan is one of those players close to the fray who resist the race better than expected while having good cover skills.
At this point, a reconstructor like the Miami Dolphins with a ton of money to throw away on a one-year contract would make sense.
Miami still has around $ 28 million in free space and could use a reliable veteran in the slot to work with Byron Jones and Xavien Howard. A short pact would leave room for maneuver to find a long-term agreement after the coming season.
Landing place: Miami Dolphins
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Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press
Larry Warford was a late cut, likely directly related to what his former team did in the 2020 NFL draft.
Warford has spent the last three seasons protecting Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints but saw its big prize get too heavy when the team used a first-round pick over Cesar Ruiz.
Only 29 years old, Warford is one of the most attractive linemen left after posting a rank of 73.1 PFF last year, which he finished with only two bags allowed and six penalties out of 970. snaps.
Realistically, almost all the teams in the league would not care about improving the guard at the right price. This means that a feeling of hopelessness in a team will likely play a role where it signs.
Look for the Houston Texans to call.
The front office made some line improvements ahead of Deshaun Watson (including acquiring Laremy Tunsil), but there is nothing like that after the quarterback suffered 44 sacks last season. Houston has about $ 19 million to work with and could easily upgrade a guard post with Warford.
Landing place: Houston Texans
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