Let's Talk About... 2021 Free Agency (PREVIEW) - 3/12/21

To lead off, yes... I know this is a long article. This is meant to be a guide or preview that you can look back to over the next week or so to see some of the best available players (or just my favorite) at each position. 

I also went ahead and listed all of the cap casualties and restructures in the past 4 days because I won't be talking about them in the Monday Minute next week. Also listed is the current cap space via OverTheCap.

Last thing, I want to mention ahead of time is that I used a couple of resources to gather all of this information into this article. First, I used Mike Clay's Free Agency Cheat Sheet that has all of the available UFAs. I used PFF to be able to reference their base grades if I was less familiar with a player. Finally, I used Spotrac to help guide some of my valuations of what contracts may come in at.

I hope you find this a good resource!

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Cap Casualties and Restructures

Titans release CB Malcom Butler saves $10M

Titans release S Kenny Vaccaro saves $3.9M

Raiders release S Lamarcus Joyner saves $8.7M

Seahawks release EDGE Carlos Dunlap saves $14M

Bears release RT Bobbie Massie saves $5M 

Falcons release OG James Carpenter saves $4M

Vikings release K Dan Bailey saves $1.7M

Vikings release LT Riley Reiff saves $11M

Browns release EDGE Adrian Clayborn saves $3M

Bills release WR John Brown saves $8M

Bills release DT Qunton Jefferson saves $6M

Bills restructure DL Vernon Butler saves $6M

Bills restructure C Mitch Morse saves $3M

Saints release LB Kwon Alexander saves $14M

Saints release WR Emmanuel Sanders saves $4M

Saints restructure OG Andrus Peat saves $6M

Saints restructure S Malcolm Jenkins saves $3.4M

Saints release CB Janoris Jenkins

Texans restructured WR Brandin Cooks saves $6.5M

Eagles restructured DT Javon Hargrave saves $9.4M

Eagles restructured OT Isaac Seumalo saves $2.4M

Panthers restructure RB Christian Mccaffrey and LB Shaq Thompson saves $5.6M

Giants release LG Kevin Zeitler saves $12M

Cowboys restructure OG Zack Martin, OT Tyron Smith, OT La'el Collins saves $17M

Cardinals release CB Robert Alford saves $6M

Chiefs release RT Mitchell Schwartz and LT Eric Fisher saves $18M

Lions release CB Justin Coleman saves $4.9M

Lions release TE Jesse James saves $2.1M

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Cap Space (as of Friday at 3am)

On Wednesday, we got official word on the 2021 Salary Cap. $182.5M. That number was $2M higher than all of the numbers I was working off of recently so keep that in mind. Below is the cap space available for all teams.

Keep in mind, teams don't need to be cap compliant until Wednesday, March 17 at 4pm. So we should continue to see trades and cap casualties up until that deadline.

Jaguars - $73.6M

Jets - $69.2M (nice)

Patriots - $68.5M

Colts - $46.8M

Bengals - $42.9M

Washington - $38.8M

Dolphins - $33.5M

Broncos - $32.3M

Chargers - $25.3M

Browns - $24.8M

49ers - $24.8M

Panthers - $24.0M

Texans - $22.8M

Cardinals - $21.4M

Cowboys - $19.6M

Bills - $19.5M

Raiders - $17.9M

Seahawks - $17.2M

Ravens - $16.9M

Titans - $16.7M

Vikings - $8.7M

Steelers - $6.1M

Giants - $3.2M

Lions - (-$1.6M)

Chiefs - (-$4.4M)

Buccaneers - (-$6.1M)

Packers - (-$9.6M)

Eagles - (-$17.4M)

Bears - (-$17.5M)

Falcons - (-$22.1M)

Saints - (-$25.5M)

Rams - (-$33.1M)

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Quarterbacks

To me, there are 2 groups of quarterbacks in this year's free-agent class. There are no franchise QBs here. We have the bridge starting quarterback and we have backups. 

There are very few decent bridge quarterbacks, but each of them has shown they are able to play at a high level for some period of time. I'll start with everyone's favorite, Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Assuming the rumors about his retirement are put to bed, Fitz has shown he has plenty of decent quarterback play left in him, but he won't be for everyone. He shouldn't be the only playable quarterback for a team because while his highs are high, his lows aren't ever too far away. Possible fits: Denver, New England, Washington, Houston (post-Deshaun).

Jameis Winston is likely in line for a starting role with his chosen team this offseason. His days of being a franchise QB only lasted for about 3 seasons and we know what he is at this point. But if he goes to a team that doesn't make him throw 50 times a game, we may see the best version of Jameis. Possible fits: New England, Seattle (post-Wilson), New Orleans.

Cam Newton started off 2020 on a tear, but he got sidelined due to COVID and never was the same. Cam is going into the 2021 offseason looking for a starting job but there aren't too many available. He will need a team that is willing to change the offense to fit his playstyle and not make him morph into their offense. Possible fits: New England, Seattle (post-Wilson), New Orleans.

The last of the bridge starters is Mitchell Trubisky. Look, I was never a fan of his but I can easily see the Ryan Tannehill plan working similarly. If a team is willing to bring him on as a player that could earn the starting role, rather than being gifted it, things may work out well for both parties. Possible fits: Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants.

There are some notable backup QBs that I think should be prioritized in free agency this year. Just last year we saw Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor, CJ Beathard, and Andy Dalton collect Ws for their respective teams. Outside of them, there are some names you may recognize among free agents but they aren't to the level that I need to mention them in this article.

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Running Backs

There is only one feature RB in this crop of ball carriers, but there are quite a few RBs that will add meaningful touches to a team as either a 1A, 1B or a 3rd down option.

Starting at the top, Aaron Jones may not make it to the market at all with Green Bay trying to extend him. It is probably in the best interest of Aaron and Green Bay that he stay. Top RBs that tend to go elsewhere normally don't find their new home as hospitable because of the expectations to immediately produce at a top-level. If he does choose to go elsewhere, I think he signs for between $12-14M per but he will prioritize a winning team. Possible fits: Green Bay, Miami, Pittsburgh, Arizona.

Kenyan Drake has been used as the bellcow in Arizona but after he came back down to earth in 2020, he showed that he is best used with a running mate. I think Drake will look to bank as much money as someone will give him while also trying to cement down a starting role. However, I don't think he makes as much as the transition tag paid him last year ($8.4M). Possible fits: New York Jets, New England, Atlanta, Arizona.

Chris Carson and James Conner are very similar backs. Both have bruising styles of football and both have suffered from a fair share of injuries. They have led both of their teams running back stables when healthy, but are clearly not going to be resigning with their respective teams because of the injury concern. Short-term $5M or less per makes sense for these players. Possible fits: Miami, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New York Jets.

The last running back that may sign as a 1A option is Leonard Fournette. I believe he will be a player left out of the picture in Tampa after his amazing run in the playoffs. Leonard has a lot of wear and tear on him from his time at LSU and Jacksonville, so I don't think he will sign for a big deal but something in the $5-7M range seems right to me. Possible fits: Miami, Atlanta, Pittsburgh.

There are a lot of interesting RBs that are available besides the aforementioned guys. Jamaal Williams is one of the best RBs as a pass protector and is a good pass catcher as well. James White is probably the best 3rd down RB in the NFL. Marlon Mack and Mike Davis have shown spurts of play that may warrant them getting about half of the snaps for an offense in 2021. And you know Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore will find jobs out there somewhere. I also want to mention Kyle Juszczyk as he is the best FB in the NFL.

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Wide Receivers

WR is probably the deepest position this offseason between the draft and free agents. I am curious to see if that affects the dollars coming in for some of the tier 2 WRs that have normally been getting around $10M per. I think there are 3 tiers at the top and then some players from there that might be signing for super cheap.

The first tier is one player all by himself. Kenny Golladay was granted his freedom from the Detroit Lions as they decided not to place the franchise tag on him. For clarity's sake, Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin would have joined him in this tier if they were not tagged. Golladay is a prototype sized WR and has shown an immaculate ability for big plays, when healthy. However, he doesn't create much separation at all. I expect he will be paid around $18M or so per, which limits his destinations to teams with a lot of cap space. Possible fits: New York Giants, Miami, Indianapolis, Washington.

Tier 2 offers players that all have different skillsets. Let's start with Juju Smith-Schuster. Juju exploded onto the scene as a rookie with Antonio Brown as the #1 WR on the team. Once Antonio had a meltdown and left the team, Juju failed to take over as the #1 himself with injuries and the offense changing to a quick passing team. A team may shell out the bag for him to be a WR1, but he has not proved he is worthy of it. I think he is best used as a slot WR, but that still should easily net him $15M+ and see himself on the field for 95% of the snaps. Possible fits: New York Jets, Arizona, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Baltimore.

Another Slot WR option in this tier is Curtis Samuel who offers the ability to line up in the backfield or out wide as a speed option. Samuel's versatility could be coveted by offenses that like to use a lot of motion and deception presnap. Many may be surprised by the salary he receives since he was the #4 option in terms of targets for the Panthers (Moore, Anderson, Davis) but he has a fun skillset. I expect upwards of $12M. Possible fits: Carolina, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Chicago.

Will Fuller has been one of the most infuriating players for the fantasy community but it is only because when he is healthy he is so dynamic. His injures are a major concern and the fact that he was/is suspended because of an illegal substance (he says he thought the prescription he took was covered, but who knows) doesn't help either. A lot of teams will avoid him altogether but I could see a short-term incentive-laden deal up to $12M per working out for both parties. Possible fits: Green Bay, Indianapolis, Miami, Detroit, Tennessee.

The last player in this tier is one I already mentioned. Antonio Brown was the last person you wanted to be connected to your organization just 1 year ago. But now, he has gone through his suspension, he was won a Super Bowl, and hopefully, his time with Tom Brady has done his ego some good. Antonio Brown showed last year in a limited sample size that he still has the goods. The only question is about his character. If a team feels comfortable, I could see a $10M+ short-term contract in his future. Possible fits: Miami, Kansas City, Green Bay, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Arizona.

There are quite a few tier 3 guys. Corey Davis had a breakout year in Tennessee finally, but there is a much larger body of work that screams against paying him big money. I see him as a WR2. Sammy Watkins has moved around so much and gotten injured more than I count. I'd avoid him entirely. Emmanuel Sanders, TY Hilton, and Marvin Jones may have a little left in the tank, but I can't say the same for AJ Green who seems one injury away from hanging them up. All 4 are high-risk, low-reward signings in my opinion because they will all command around $6-10M. I am interested in Nelson Agholor (1-year wonder at WR2) and John Brown (deep-threat) for the right price, but there is obvious buyer beware with them. 

And then some guys that aren't in that tier but I kinda think could make an underrated signing are Damiere Byrd and Josh Reynolds.

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Tight Ends

Hunter Henry is the best TE to hit free agency in years. He is better than Austin Hooper from last year and probably the best since the Jimmy Graham signing in Seattle in 2014. I think his market will be vast and he will approach $12M ($2M behind Kelce, $3M behind Kittle) because there just aren't that many great dual-TEs. Henry isn't Kelce/Kittle/Waller level talented as a pass catcher, but he boasts the highest passer rating when targeted since 2016 among all TEs. He also is one of the best run-blocking TEs in the NFL with an 81.4 PFF grade in 2020. Possible fits: New England, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee, Indianapolis.

Tier 2 is also just a single-player but one that could be very enticing. Jonnu Smith is going to be a nice consolation prize for the teams that miss out on Henry but he is a different type of TE. Jonnu is more versatile in how you can line up. He has taken snaps as a fullback, in-line blocker (normal TE) or off the line as a WR. I think he will find the bag as well slotting in around $10M (Hooper's contract from last year). Possible fits: Atlanta, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Baltimore, New York Jets.

A few other guys I want to mention. Gronk is a FA but I expect he will be back in Tampa or retire if he doesn't get to play with Tom. Gerald Everett is a really interesting name. The Rams offense under McVay hasn't really used TEs (besides the end of 2019 with Higbee), but I could easily see a team give Everett more opportunity and he runs with it. I think he might get overpaid (top 10 average annual salary) based on a forecast that he will be better in the future. For teams looking for more of a blocking tight end, Johnny Mundt, Virgil Green, Marcedes Lewis, Demetrius Harris, Trey Burton and Tyler Kroft all boast 70+ PFF blocking ratings (combined run and pass blocking).

Another player to keep in mind that isn't necessarily a free agent but may be moved during this period is Zach Ertz. It sounds like he has played his last down in Philly and he hasn't gotten his contract reworked, which the Eagles have done for other players that are staying.

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Offensive Tackles

The belle of the ball in free agency this year is LT Trent Williams. Every team that doesn't have the position nailed down should at least entertain him. He will be one of maybe 3 players to command $20M+ in this terrible economy. He will be 33 entering this season but age hasn't been an obstacle for all left tackles (Andrew Whitworth + Jason Peters). Regardless, this might be his last opportunity for a big bag. Possible fits: San Francisco, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Minnesota, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Everyone.

If you are looking for more starting left tackles, you may be looking towards the draft. There are 2 starting players but they have limited ceilings. Alejandro Villanueva will probably get a pretty nice deal because of all the teams that will be looking for starting left tackle help this season, but I wouldn't put him among the top 10 tackles in the NFL (where he will get paid). He is also going to be 33 entering the season and has only given up 5 sacks in the last 2 seasons. The former Army vet deserves to cash out after he was undrafted in 2014. Possible fits: Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina.

The final starting LT available is Russell Okung who, you guessed it, is going to be 33 this season. The former top 10 selection graded out similarly to Villanueva this year but has had a hard time staying healthy the last several seasons. One good thing about Okung is he is not represented by an agent so he may take a smaller deal in comparison to Villanueva because he won't lose a portion to his agent. But he does want to be paid out in bitcoin. Possible fits: Cincinnati, San Francisco, Minnesota, Washington, Indianapolis.

The RT availability in free agency is even more barren as teams will no doubt look to the draft. The best available player is Daryl Williams. He is one of those players that you don't hear his name too often and that is a good thing because it means he is doing his job. At least when it comes to sacks. He had 9 penalties in 2020, but only 3 sacks in over 1000 snaps. RTs don't get paid the same way LTs do so it will be interesting to see where he lands. I don't have a good feel for it especially with so many teams being in the hunt for RTs. Possible fits: Buffalo, Chicago, Baltimore, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Detroit, Cincinnati.

There a few other starting RT options in free agency like Mike Remmers, Kelvin Beachum, Demar Dotson, and Rick Wagner but I don't get too excited about these players because they are all just adequate. By that I mean they aren't so good that I know that position is locked down pat. They are serviceable and can get you through a season without you throwing your arms up at them every game. Beachum is probably my favorite from the bunch. One that I like as an underrated option is Matt Feiler. He is so under the radar as a tackle that he is listed as a guard on this wonderful free agency player guide I'm using (he played mostly guard in 2020 after playing tackle in 2019). He will be cheaper than all the guys above and is younger. 

Last thing to mention when talking about these tackles. There is an above-average RT that is still on the trade block. Orlando Brown Jr wants to play LT for his new team and sounds like he is on his way out of Baltimore once a team steps up the compensation. I assume he will be traded sometime in the next 2 weeks.

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Offensive Guards

For the lack of top-end talent on the outside of the line, I love some of these guys on the interior. It would've been better with Scherff in it, but alas Washington used the tag again. 

The good news is the Patriots let go of their prized poodle in Joe Thuney. Joe will become the 2nd highest-paid guard this offseason slotting in only behind Scherff's $18M. Somewhere between $14-16M feels right for him and he deserves it. He has played at a Pro Bowl level for the last 4 years. Very few teams will actually be able to afford him because of his high contract demands for the left guard position, but it won't stop teams from calling. Possible fits: Cincinnati, New York Jets, Carolina, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville.

I know RGs Gabe Jackson and Kevin Zeitler were just released from their respective teams but I thought both were plus starters these past few years. The cap was working against both the Raiders and Giants and they are on the wrong side of 30, but guards are more than capable after that age. We may hear (LG) Andrew Norwell added to this list of guards and I would group him with both of these players. I think a good comp for a contract is what Ereck Flowers got last year (3y $30M). Possible fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Minnesota, Seattle, Cincinnati, San Francisco, New York Jets, Arizona.

A name that just popped up and isn't on this free agency guide at all is Kyle Long. Kyle retired after a series of injuries (ankle, shoulder, foot, hip) that caused him to miss 32 games over 4 seasons. When healthy, Kyle Long was a top 5 guard in the NFL but it has been some time since he has had that level of play. He is an unrestricted free agent even though he retired so is free to sign with anyone. He is a player that is worth a flier on, but one you would want to have a backup plan if things go awry. Possible fits: New England, Seattle, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco, Kansas City, Buffalo.

There are 2 bad boys that I'd like to group together. RG Jon Feliciano and LG Richie Incognito are both big meanie heads that will play through the whistle. They bring a level of toughness that run first teams would love to have. Jon is only 29 and missed half of the 2020 season but has enjoyed modest PFF grades the last few years. Richie is still playing amazing football but is going to be 38 this season and is coming off a lost 2020 season in which he only played 2 games. Possible fits: Minnesota, Seattle, Carolina, Tennessee, Las Vegas.

There are a few other guards I'd like to mention as lower-risk players that will sign shorter-term contracts that could prove beneficial. Chris Reed and Kelechi Osemele both were competent players (when Kelechi was healthy) and have shown enough to be potential starters in 2021. Germain Ifedi has some traits that will certainly land him on a team, but he will never live up to his 1st round draft status. John Miller, Oday Aboushi, JR Sweezy, and Quinton Spain all played as starters in 2021 but I would not sign them for such a role. But they will sign as meaningful backups.

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Centers

I hope your team needs a center this year because there are a lot of good ones. This is the 1st position group that I have multiple players in tier 1. You will see many of the same teams as fits because a lot of them lost their center.

I'll start with the #1 guy last year in Corey Linsley. He allowed only 4 pressures all year in pass blocking and ranked in the 85th percentile in run blocking, according to PFF. Linsley is a player that GB really wish didn't have such a great season because they can't afford to retain him. I believe he will slot into the top 5 centers paid above $10M per, but Spotrac disagrees. We will see. Possible fits: Green Bay, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Miami, San Francisco.

I might be alone in this but I think Austin Reiter is an awesome center and is deserving of being alongside Linsley in tier 1. He did suffer an ACL injury this year and missed the Super Bowl but he is 29 years old and has enough time to be ready for the start of this next season. He is better as a pass blocker than run blocker, which will be consistent among these top centers, and is part of the reason why I like him so much in a pass-heavy league. Possible fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati, New England.

David Andrews isn't too far behind Reiter but has taken a slight step back since his scare with blood clots in 2019. Andrews isn't as perfect as Linsley and gave up 2 sacks in 2020. The thing with Andrews is you would be paying him and hoping he could come back to that 2017-18 form where he was easily a top 5 center in the NFL. We will see how much teams are going to be willing to pay up. Possible fits: Miami, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay, Steelers, Atlanta, Cincinnati.

His age will make any contract he signs questionable, but his play won't. Alex Mack is going to be 35 this season yet his play hasn't significantly dropped off. Sure he isn't the top 3 center he once was. But Mack remains one of the best zone-blocking centers in the NFL. A short-term deal to a contender makes a lot of sense. Possible fits: San Francisco, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay, Kansas City.

There are quite a few consolation centers that I don't think any team should turn their nose up at. Ted Karras and Ethan Pocic are the two heaviest of the remaining starting center group. They would fit best with run-heavy teams but Karras isn't a slouch in pass protection either. Nick Martin is one of the best pass-blocking centers in the NFL but is average at best in the running game. Matt Skura and Austin Blythe have had one up and one down season the last 2 years. Blythe has the higher ceiling but it may be at guard. Ben Garland may not leave SF but he has been serviceable as a starter when called upon.

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Defensive Tackles

I am going to split the defensive tackle class into 2 separate distinctions. 3-techs (line up between the guard and tackle) and nose tackles. Defensive tackles shift all over the line so 'pigeon-holing' these guys isn't really fair but it makes it easier for me to classify what teams may be interested in them.

Starting with the nose tackles, Dalvin Tomlinson is one of the best run-stopping defensive linemen in the NFL, but up until this year, his pass-rushing prowess had been lackluster. He got into another gear with another competent DT (Leonard Williams) at his side and I can see a team overpaying him off of this uptick in production. Possible fits: Minnesota, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Tennessee.

There are a few other notable nose tackles outside of Tomlinson. Tyson Alualu started off his career slow but has grown into an elite rotational nose tackle the last 2 seasons with 80+ PFF grades. He is 34 years old so any deal will need to bear that in mind, but his game is great against the run and solid rushing the passer. Daquon Jones can probably handle more snaps than most nose tackles but that is because he isn't the traditional nose. He can line up in multiple spots along the defensive front. Lawrence Guy is a bit of a one-trick pony but he does that trick very well. As a run defender, he ranks near the top in the run-stop metric (tackles against the run that are less than 2 yards downfield).

Shelby Harris is one of the most criminally underrated defensive players in the NFL. Shelby took on a larger role in 2020 due to injuries along the Broncos defensive front including at defesive end, 3-tech, and at the nose. His size isn't that of the typical nose run stuffer but he is best known for being one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles. No, he doesn't compare to Aaron Donald, just get that out of your head. Among the whole group of DTs, this is my favorite player but he won't be on the field for every snap (about 44 per game in 2020, avg game about 60+). Possible fits: Denver, Tennessee, Minnesota, Cleveland.

The reason Shelby Harris was more active in 2020 was that Jurrell Casey lost his season after a week 3 injury. Jurrell was an absolute stud in Tennessee and he was cut as a cap casualty after just 1 season in Denver. Casey was one of the better pass-rushing defensive tackles but was equally as impressive as a run defender. Teams might not be shelling out big bucks for DTs this offseason so he might take a short-term deal with a contender. Possible fits; Tampa Bay, Green Bay, New Orleans, Buffalo, Cleveland.

Another few players that may take short-term deals with contenders include Ndamukong Suh and Kawann Short. Suh has been travelling between Super Bowl teams for a few years now, but I don't think Tampa can bring him back financially. Short has not played much at all the last 2 years due to injury but was a top 5 paid DT prior to that. A guy I really like but is admittedly quite inconsistent is Larry Ogunjobi. He was asked to play a good amount of snaps while in Cleveland and I wonder if he would benefit from a more rotational role where he can save his energy for run stuffing.

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EDGEs

There is a lot to like in this free agency edge class and teams with a need may address them here as the NFL draft isn't as strong as years past. 

There is a $20M man in this group but we will see if he takes a hometown discount. Shaquil Barrett came back down to Earth in 2020, but Earth for him is better than 90% of the pass rushers in the league. Not only is he capable of putting up 19.5 sacks but he is very strong at setting the edge in the run game. Every team wants a Shaq Barrett on their team. Possible fits: Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, New York Jets, Cincinnati, New England, Tennessee, Indianapolis.

Yannick Ngakoue was traded from Jacksonville to Minnesota to Baltimore last year. It's not because he wasn't performing. In fact, it was because he was performing to the point where teams wanted him but knew they couldn't keep him. Yannick has done his best work as a pass rusher out of the 6, 7 or 9 alignments in a 3-4. (I mentioned 3-tech for DTs is between the tackle and guard. Add a number for each space. 5 is outside of the tackle, 6 is over top of the TE, 9 is playing way off to the side.) He is nowhere near as complete as Shaq Barrett is. In fact, Yannick is below average against the run. A team that signs him will be paying for sacks. Possible fits: Baltimore, Detroit, New York Giants, Tennessee.

There are some players that analytic sites like PFF swoon over and they just really aren't top tier players like they say they are. Carl Lawson is somewhere in between there but he is definitely underrated in the larger football community. Lawson's highest sack total is only 8.5 but he is really good at collecting pressures, which is something teams care more about than fans. He is more of your typical 4-3 DE. I think he will get paid around $10M. Possible fits: Minnesota, Cincinnati, New York Jets, Las Vegas, Seattle, Indianapolis, Cleveland.

The biggest riser of the 2020 season is baby-faced Trey Hendrickson. Trey broke out with 13.5 sacks in 2020 once he finally started getting meaningful snaps. Trey isn't your typical EDGE player that can put up those numbers consistently so it is important to note that this is an outlier year. But he does collect a decent amount of pressures and QB hits. He should fit best in a 4-3. I have no idea what his market will be in terms of if he is signed to be a starter or situational pass rusher as he was in New Orleans. Possible fits: Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Seattle.

Haason Reddick is another player that exploded out of nowhere in a contract year. Reddick was a 1st round pick a few years back and was touted as a versatile LB. Well, when he got to the NFL level the Cardinals stuck him at an unfamiliar LB position and he struggled for 3 years. In the final year on his contract, he was moved to EDGE in their 3-4 and he thrived. His sack production was a little weird as 8.5 of his 12.5 sacks came in 3 games (5 sacks in one game), but I am inclined to think that if he is put in that role fulltime he can equal those totals again. Teams may be more hesitant with short-term offers though. Possible fits: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Tennesee, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Chargers.

There are like 15 other EDGE guys I could have highlighted in-depth but this article is going to be long enough. There are a few "buyer beware" options that I personally don't want anything to do with. Jadaveon Clowney (versatile) cannot stay healthy and gets paid a lot of money. When healthy he is one of the best run defenders and an OK pass rusher. Melvin Ingram (3-4) was a 1st round bust until he got a running mate in Joey Bosa. He is 32 and needs to be seen as a 2nd EDGE on the team he signs for. Bud Dupree (3-4) is the king of cleanup sacks and he benefited from the Steelers blitzing more than almost any other team. Leonard Floyd (3-4) is not the sack artist he was for a year with the Rams. He is really good in coverage and is decent against the run, but don't sign him for sacks. If Dupree is the king of cleanup, Matt Judon (3-4) is the king of unblocked sacks. The Ravens also blitzed a ton which led to those openings. AKA I think the scheme helped him more than he did anything earth-shattering.

I know I mentioned a lot of 3-4 EDGE/OLBs. Here are a few more 4-3 EDGE/DEs that are worth mention. Aldon Smith is back in the NFL and he played a lot better than most expected after 4-years away. He is still only 31. Romeo Okwara and Deatrich Wise both are versatile DEs that come from the Patriots coaching tree. Justin Houston is 32 but has produced at a high level for a long time, though 2020 was a bit of a down year by his standards.

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Linebackers

The two top linebackers have already been resigned which tells me that this class has a steep drop-off in talent. There are some role-specific players though.

If you are looking for a plus coverage LB, Jayon Brown is your man. He is an underrated player that didn't even pop up on my radar until I began doing the team needs column. Most teams in the NFL could use a player that is able to match up with TEs or RBs out of the backfield and that is what you hire Jayon for. He is not the best as a run-stuffer, though. Given he is the best coverage LB available, his services will require $11-13M. Possible fits: Tennessee, Green Bay, Detroit, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New England.

KJ Wright has been a top 10 WILL linebacker for longer than I can remember. Even now at age 31, I see him flying around making instinctual plays like they are cake. I don't know how many years he has left in him, but mentally he is as sharp as ever. He is the type of leader that you would want to bring in for a young defensive unit. Possible fits: New York Jets, Detroit, Seattle, Washington.

A cap casualty that got the media and offseason hype going was Kyle Van Noy. A lot of fans might be hoping their team signs KVN and I am all for it. He is a leader in the locker room and when he is on the field he is always filling his assignment. He has an expansive knowledge of the game because of his New England background that features multiple roles for players like Kyle. He can play as a stand up EDGE or a 4-3 OLB, but ultimately a team that is versatile will bring out his best play. Possible fits: New England, Tennessee, Los Angeles Chargers.

I need to feature at least one run-stuffing MLB. Denzel Perryman is probably the best available player in that regard. He had the best year of his career in 2020, albeit with only 300 snaps. He is going to be a 2-down player for any defense and thus may not ever live up to his contract. However, for a 2-down player he sure proved he wasn't a liability in coverage this year. I expect he will sign a short-term $5-7M per deal. Possible fits: Miami, Green Bay, New Orleans, Kansas City, Denver, Cleveland.

I'm really not a big fan of too many other players outside of those I mentioned. I will mention Rueben Foster as he was very highly touted coming out of college until some off-field stuff got in his way. I don't know if he has the NFL goods though. Kevin Pierre-Louis is the next best guy via PFF because of his high coverage grades. Neville Hewitt is an interesting name to keep an eye on as a 2 year starter from the Jets.

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Cornerbacks

This class is not too great if you are looking for a superstar level talent. But there are a few different flavors available.

William Jackson III is not going to be your shut down #1 CB that a team will pay him to be. But he is honestly underrated. He has never had a bad year and he did have one top 10 season as a sophomore. Though, his 3 years since have been letdowns in comparison to the hope that he gave in 2018. For a man coverage team, you won't get better in this class. Possible fits: Denver, Dallas, Arizona, Indianapolis.

The name everyone will recognize in this class is Richard Sherman. His age is quickly getting away from him (33) but his mental makeup and prowess for playing in a zone defense allow him to still be able to play at a high level. Very few teams employ a zone defense anymore so his options will be limited and that may drive his pay down. Possible fits: New York Jets, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas.

I mentioned Shaq Griffin as a possible tag candidate for the Seahawks but honestly, his play wouldn't have lived up to that paycheck. It was just more a means of keeping him around. Shaq fits the prototype build you want to see for a man coverage corner but the play has never approached greatness. He will be a solid #2 corner for someone but will be paid over $10M. Possible fits: Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Arizona, New York Jets, San Francisco.

The best slot corner in this class is Desmond King. As a rookie, King started out dominant but his play slowly tapered off as the years passed and was eventually traded for peanuts this past season. There are curiosities about the compensation for that trade, but I believe he will still get paid around $6-9M per. There are a lot of teams that realize that the real base defense now is in the nickel so King will be playing starter-level snaps. He is also an able-bodied returner. Possible fits: Green Bay, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, New York Jets.

There are a few more guys I want to mention. One that I love love love is Jason Verrett. He has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but when he is healthy he is absolutely dynamite. Last year? Fully Healthy. There are 2 more slot corners that I want to mention in Brian Poole and Mike Hilton. Poole was the best player for the Jets defense, in my opinion, (even over Maye) for the 2020 season. He is more of a lockdown player than a turnover-maker. I am less familiar with Hilton but PFF graded him well as a blitzer, run-stopper, and both in zone and man coverage. He did have a down year in 2020. Finally, Troy Hill was a very important part of the Rams #1 defense in 2020. He was a slot until 2020 when he switched to the outside opposite Ramsey where he thrived.

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Safeties

Safeties don't get paid the same way you see cornerbacks do because they aren't always in coverage, but I'll be damned if this class doesn't have some great coverage safeties. We may see a lot more 1-year deals at this position as they may want to re-enter the market when the cap expands next year.

The 3rd and final position group with 2 tier 1 players is safety and specifically free safety. However, the ranking for me is different than most have it. John Johnson is my favorite safety in this class. If the Rams weren't in such a terrible cap situation they really should've tried to franchise tag him. He was the 3rd best safety in 2020 according to PFF and outside of a single down year in 2019, he has been put together 3 seasons with an 84.9 grade in coverage or better. That is elite. Possible fits: Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Jacksonville, Dallas, Las Vegas, Baltimore.

The other tier 1 player is no slouch but is older than John. Anthony Harris is 29 years old but posted a 91 grade on PFF a year ago which lead to his franchise tag in Minnesota. Harris has been a benefactor of the great Mike Zimmer as his head coach thus far, so I will be interested to see how much that is a factor in his future play. As long as Harris is able to sit back and be a true free safety, I think he will have success making plays on the ball no matter where he lands. Possible fits: Minnesota, Jacksonville, Dallas, Las Vegas, Baltimore.

I am going to separate this into free and strong safeties so I want to mention these other free safeties that I think will make an impact on their 2021 team. Tre Boston has been a free agent the past 5 years it seems like but has played well on each team, except this year. Carolina tried to use him differently than his intended free safety position. Fix that and he is back to quality play. Jaquiski Tartt is a fun little player but has been inconsistent. I vividly remember him making impact plays on defense for the great 2019 season but also don't remember him at all this past year. Malik Hooker was a first-round pick that showed why early in his career. Then the injuries started to happen (hip, ACL, achilles, foot, meniscus). These injuries aren't related but it would be hard to say he isn't injury prone.

The best strong safety in this class is Keanu Neal, which isn't too great. Don't get me wrong. I really like Neal the player, but his injuries basically erased his 2018 and 2019 seasons. He rebounded in 2020 with a healthy year but didn't return to his similar playmaking form in my opinion. He has yet to turn 26 so there is hopefully plenty of game left in his tank if he can stay healthy. Possible fits: Jacksonville, Chicago, Tennessee, Dallas.

The remaining safeties would best be described as versatile guys that are able to line up in the slot, as a linebacker in the box, or as a traditional strong safety. Tashaun Gipson has played as both a free and strong safety and has brought in 25 interceptions over his 9-year career. Bradley McDougald was the safety that went back to the Jets in the Jamal Adams trade last summer. He was one of the worst safeties in the NFL last year but had been relatively solid in Seattle as a box safety. Another versatile guy is Jalen Mills who made the switch to the position after he started as a cornerback early in his career. His play has been better as a safety than a corner.

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Special Teams

There are a few teams that are losing some kickers and punters so I wanted to highlight a few quickly. 

Ryan Succop had a renaissance season with the Buccaneers being absolutely clutch for them all season. Matt Prater has been a legend for making long FGs over the years but did so in Denver and Detroit, if he continues to play (he is 36) it will be interesting to see if he prioritizes domes, warm weather, or high elevations. I know Cody Parkey will always be known for the double doink in Chicago, but he was fantastic early on in Philly and in the season he played in Miami. He can be a top 10 kicker in the league again. 

As for punters, Pat O'Donnell has been a really underrated guy for a few years now. As a Dolphins fan, I don't think Matt Haack is consistent enough but he certainly has a great leg for long punts. Jordan Berry is an Australian and while that isn't important to this conversation I wanted to put it out there anyway. I'm tired, leave me alone.

I will almost always say that kickers and punters need to be cycled out every 3 years as undrafted free agents. There are very few players at these positions that are worth committing to longer than that. It also helps your salary cap by not needing to pay these players.

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Who do you want your team to sign in free agency? Who are some of your favorite players in this class regardless of where they go? Let me know in the comments or at @KyleTheCommish on Twitter.