It’s almost that time of year again! Free Agency period is less than a month away and here are my free agency predictions for this year’s class. I will be predicting the top five-to-seven players per position, their future team, contract and listing their Pro Football Focus positional grade to give you you an index of the players value.
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins, 28 years old, Washington Redskins
PFF Grade: 8th
FA Destination: Washington Redskins
Contract: 4 years, $97 million
Explanation: Captain Kirk is going to re-sign with the team that brought him NFL fame, he is not going to San Francisco or Cleveland. Cousins will return with a more developed first round WR in Josh Doctson and likely new offensive weapons.
Tyrod Taylor, 27 years old, Buffalo Bills
PFF Grade: 11th
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Contract: 4 years, $80 million
Explanation: I still believe Tyrod is being treated unfairly in Buffalo but whatever. The Browns have over $100 million in cap space which is absurd. I expect Taylor to be the future in Cleveland to solidify the QB position with Hue Jackson leading the way . . . after the Bills cut him of course.
Mike Glennon, 27 years old, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: New York Jets
Contract: 3 years, 20 million
Explanation: With not a lot on Glennon’s resume since Jameis Winston became the future in Tampa Bay, the Jets will still offer him a decent contract. Glennon might be the perfect signing for the Jets to make right now seeing as they have multiple young QB’s, but none are truly ready to play. Glennon also deserves a chance to start again.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, 34 years old, New York Jets
PFF Grade: 31st
FA Destination: Los Angeles Chargers
Contract: 1 year, $4 million
Explanation: Fitzmagic is likely to scrape and claw his way to find a job this up-coming season. He’s still solid and the Chargers will need a backup with the loss of Kellen Clemens in free agency.
Josh McCown, 37 years old, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: New York Giants
Contract: 1 year, $2 million
Explanation: McCown is likely to retire soon, but the Giants need a backup to Manning. Eli hasn’t missed a game since being named the starter. There is always a first time everything right? McCown could be a perfect option as a bridge QB if the Giants draft a young arm late in the draft.
Running backs
Le’Veon Bell, 24 years old, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 1st
FA Destination: Pittsburgh Steelers
Contract: 5 years, $55 million
Explanation: Yeah, um no way the Steelers let arguably the best RB in the league walk in free agency at the age of 24. No way!
Latavius Murray, 25 years old, Oakland Raiders
PFF Grade: 21st
FA Destination: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: 4 years, $28 million
Explanation: With Doug Martin rehabbing (literally) and Charles Sims refusing to tap into his potential, the Buccaneers will need to get a real back to make Jameis Winston’s life easier. Murray clearly fits that.
Benny Cunningham, 26 years old, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 4 years, $16 million
Explanation: Benny is a fan favorite in L.A. and honestly looked better than Todd Gurley all of 2016, but he is likely to get a starting gig this off-season. The Colts will need a replacement for Frank Gore who is 33 years old. Chris Ballard is a genius and will go and get a back no one is talking about this off-season, because he knows Cunningham can do everything . . . including keeping Andrew Luck upright in pass protection.
LeGarrette Blount, 30 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 39th
FA Destination: New England Patriots
Contract: 2 years, $6 million
Explanation: Blount is coming off his best season and he learned his lesson before. You don’t leave the Patriots for the money. Blount was rewarded for coming back by receiving the bulk of carries. He is staying and will likely retire a Patriot.
Eddie Lacy, 26 years old, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: Green Bay Packers
Contract: 1 year, $2 million
Explanation: Green Bay will do all the negotiating in this contract, “Eddie you have limited interest around the league it’s us or you are out of the league.” The annual prove-it-deal will be given to Eddie Lacy.
Wide receivers
Alshon Jeffery, 27 years old, Chicago Bears
PFF Grade: 33rd
FA Destination: Tennessee Titans
Contract: 5 years, $70 million
Explanation: The Titans strike gold bringing in a giant target and making it even easier for the statistically best red zone QB in the league to score in the red zone. Marcus Mariota will be getting a game changer in Jeffery and oh folks? It’s happening, they might even pair Corey Davis from Western Michigan with him too. Imagine that for a young QB.
Terrelle Pryor, 27 years old, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: 31st
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Contract: 5 years, $47 million
Explanation: Pryor loves the Browns and he has every reason to. Without the Browns, Pryor never becomes a budding star WR. Pryor is going to get paid and that’s obvious. The Browns will lock him up before free agency comes.
DeSean Jackson, 30 years old, Washington Redskins
PFF Grade: 36th
FA Destination: Carolina Panthers
Contract: 2 years, $18.5 million
Explanation: The Panthers have the cap for Jackson, there isn’t a ton of needs outside of re-signing Kawann Short. Jackson would be a huge upgrade over Ted Ginn Jr. who has the role Jackson would flourish in.
Kenny Britt, 28 years old, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 39th
FA Destination: Washington Redskins
Contract: 3 years, $27 million
Explanation: I want Kenny Britt back in L.A. but it looks like most of Los Angeles doesn’t. That’s fine he will go to Washington and only look better next season with Kirk Cousins throwing him the ball and being next to two stud young WR’s in Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder.
Pierre Garcon, 30 years old, Washington Redskins
PFF Grade: 8th
FA Destination: Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 2 years, $17 million
Explanation: The Rams are considered the favorite for Pierre Garcon. I think the Rams will try and strike out on Alshon Jeffery and Terrelle Pryor, so Garcon and Robert Woods with Tavon Austin in the slot sounds like a plan. It may seem like a lot at first glance, but it will be a short term deal just to get the ball rolling for McVay’s young WR group.
Robert Woods, 24 years old, Buffalo Bills
PFF Grade: 59th
FA Destination: Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 4 years, $32 million
Explanation: Robert Woods went to USC; Los Angeles Rams play at USC? Hmmm. More than that though it’s a no-brainer really. Sean McVay another version of Pierre Garcon to pair with Garcon. Woods is six years younger and wasn’t in a pass happy system in Buffalo, yet he still showed flashes of brilliance. In McVay’s offense Woods will erupt.
Tight ends
Jack Doyle, 26 years old, Indianapolis Colts
PFF Grade: 16th
FA Destination: Green Bay Packers
Contract: 4 years, $32 million
Explanation: Doyle is my No.1 overall TE in this class, but the Colts will likely not go as high as Doyle is willing to go. Green Bay will step in and give him the lofty deal to complete the collection of weapons for Aaron Rodgers. Jared Cook wasn’t impressive besides that one catch in the playoffs so I expect him to find his fourth team.
Martellus Bennett, 30 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 10th
FA Destination: San Francisco 49ers
Contract: 3 years, $21 million
Explanation: The 49ers may not have a glaring need at TE and they just paid Vance McDonald some big cash. However, Bennett is going to the highest bidder, I don’t believe he is going to be loyal to anyone and the 49ers will grab him to give new HC Kyle Shanahan some offensive weapon to work with.
Dion Sims, 25 years old, Miami Dolphins
PFF Grade: 38th
FA Destination: Miami Dolphins
Contract: 3 years, $15 million
Explanation: Dion Sims flashed some potential as a pass-catcher at the end of this past season. He didn’t do enough to really get noticed and with Jordan Cameron unable to live up to the contract, Sims will stay in Miami.
Ryan Griffin, 27 years old, Houston Texans
PFF Grade: 56th
FA Destination: New England Patriots
Contract: 2 years, $9 million
Explanation: Very low key signing has Patriots written all over it. Griffin had 442 yards receiving in an offense that was nowhere near featuring him. This has all the makings of a Brady to Griffin season. This move will be sure to make Bennett look as expendable as he really is.
Jared Cook, 29 years old, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 11th
FA Destination: Arizona Cardinals
Contract: 1 year, $3.7 million
Explanation: Jared Cook is going to need a long look in the mirror. If he couldn’t get it done with Rodgers, he probably is never going to reach that dangerous potential he had. Oh well, he’s not a bad option in this Cardinals offense.
Offensive tackles
Matt Kalil, 27 years old, Minnesota Vikings
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: Cincinnati Bengals
Contract: 4 years, $32 milion
Explanation: Matt Kalil is going to set the price as he is the No.1 LT in the free agency class. The Bengals will likely let Andrew Whitworth join a playoff team and replace him with Kalil who is eight years younger.
Andrew Whitworth, 35 years old, Cincinnati Bengals
PFF Grade: 2nd
FA Destination: Detroit Lions
Contract: 1 year, $7 million
Explanation: He’s great, but he is getting up there in age. The Bengals will likely not see him for another year and for Whitworth going to a playoff team like Detroit makes sense. The Lions can move Taylor Decker to RT and Whitworth can hold the LT spot all to replace RT Riley Reiff who speak of which.
Ricky Wagner, 27 years old, Baltimore Ravens
PFF Grade: 18th
FA Destination: Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 4 years, $29 million
Explanation: Right now Joe Haeg would be starting at RT . . . Good luck Andrew Luck! Ricky Wagner is an underrated right tackle that could step in and be a quality or above quality player. The Colts are going to start caring about building an offensive line now with Chris Ballard. Wagner would prove that.
Riley Reiff, 28 years old, Detroit Lions
PFF Grade: 48th
FA Destination: New York Giants
Contract: 4 years, $22 million
Explanation: The Giants absolutely cannot afford to start Ereck Flowers at LT again. Reiff is a lower cost than most and would be a solid left tackle for the G-Men. In finding that, they could turn their attention to polishing their already talented roster.
Ryan Clady, 30 years old, New York Jets
PFF Grade: 62nd
FA Destination: Chicago Bears
Contract: 1 year, $5 million
Explanation: John Fox connection people! Why is no one talking about that? Clady will get a prove-it-deal to take over for Charles Leno at LT, which can’t be hard.
Offensive guards
Kevin Zeitler, 26 years old, Cincinnati Bengals
PFF Grade: 7th
FA Destination: Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 5 years, $60 million
Explanation: Why would the Colts spend 12 million dollars on a guard? Because with Wagner, the Colts would be missing just one piece to their dominant offensive line that’s why. Andrew Luck has been hit enough times in his career and it’s time someone put an end to it.
Ronald Leary, 27 years old, Dallas Cowboys
PFF Grade: 24th
FA Destination: Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: 4 years, $36 million
Explanation: Ronald Leary is going to have to send a thank you bonus to the Cowboys for the pay day he will receive just from being on that line. Leary will join former teammate Jermey Parnell in Jacksonville, but the obvious reason is to follow the money.
T.J. Lang, 29 years old, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 8th
FA Destination: Miami Dolphins
Contract: 4 years, $33 million
Explanation: Lang hasn’t heard anything from the Packers and it looks like he is going to leave. The Dolphins just cut Branden Albert to move their first round pick Laremy Tunsil in at LT. They will be in the market for a guard with Tunsil leaving the a hole at LG and Jermon Bushrod leaving one at RG. T.J. Lang is a pro bowl type of talent so the Dolphins get a good one in Lang.
Larry Warford, 25 years old, Detroit Lions
PFF Grade: 20th
FA Destination: Detroit Lions
Contract: 5 years, $36 million
Explanation: The Lions will give Warford the most money to keep the line intact. Warford is a good player and he’s really young to go with that. The Lions wouldn’t sign Whitworth if they didn’t make sure they have Warford locked up first.
Austin Pasztor, 26 years old, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: 30th
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Explanation: Contract: 4 years, $20 million
Pasztor is not the problem on that Cleveland offensive line. They will be happy to bring him back for a decent price.
Centers
J.C. Tretter, 26 years old, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 9th
FA Destination: San Francisco 49ers
Contract: 6 years, $55 million
Explanation: The market for a center is going to give Tretter a nice pay day. I would expect the Rams and Bills to be bidders, but the 49ers don’t need to stop bidding with all the cap they have. Daniel Kilgore was really bad to put it as lightly as I can. Tretter will give the 49ers a Pro Bowl level center for a long time.
Matt Paradis, 27 years old, Denver Broncos
PFF Grade: 1st
FA Destination: Denver Broncos
Contract: 5 years, $45 million
Explanation: Yeah, it would be resoundingly stupid for the Broncos to let their elite center leave. Paradis has got it together finally and was ranked No.1 overall for centers per Pro Football Focus. The Broncos can’t afford to let Paradis go in a weak market for centers.
A.Q. Shipley, 30 years old, Arizona Cardinals
PFF Grade: 14th
FA Destination: Arizona Cardinals
Contract: 2 years, $12 million
Explanation: Shipley finally got it together in 2016 and he will be rewarded by his team this off-season. Shipley is pretty much a good plug-in-play center at this point. Arizona can look to the future, but Shipley is still in his prime.
Joe Hawley, 28 years old, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 28th
FA Destination: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: 3 years, $12 million
Explanation: Hawley wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t great. He showed some flashes like Paradis, but ultimately was nothing to go nuts over. Hawley will likely stay put and receive a decent deal with the Buccaneers.
EDGE rushers
Melvin Ingram, 27 years old, San Diego Chargers
PFF Grade: 6th
FA Destination: Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 5 years, $90 million
Explanation: There is basically no way for the Chargers to bring Ingram back without the franchise tag which it appears they won’t use. The Colts again, have a lot of money to spend with a new GM ready to turn this team into a perennial Super Bowl contender. Ingram is an elite edge rusher and will be able to play in some big time games when he goes to Indy.
Jason Pierre-Paul, 28 years old, New York Giants
PFF Grade: 13th
FA Destination: New York Giants
Contract: 5 years, $75 million
Explanation: The Giants will have to pay JPP and he knows that. The ball is in his court, but his number of 5 years and $90 million is downright asinine. The market value is how much it would take to franchise tag a LB. However, JPP will get more than that, but the Giants can’t afford to pay him 15 million more than he deserves.
Chandler Jones, 26 years old, Arizona Cardinals
PFF Grade: 7th
FA Destination: Arizona Cardinals
Contract: Franchise Tag – 1 year, $14.6 million projected
Explanation: The Cardinals would be straight up foolish to let Chandler Jones get away. They are going to franchise tag him and try to work out a deal before the season.
Jabaal Sheard, 27 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 36th
FA Destination: New England Patriots
Contract: 5 years, $45 million
Explanation: As long as Sheard keeps his market value in mind this should be a painless negotiation. The Patriots have traded away elite talents in Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones. The money will be there as long as Sheard doesn’t get full of himself.
Nick Perry, 26 years old, Green Bay Packers
PFF Grade: 19th
FA Destination: Green Bay Packers
Contract: 5 years, $43 million
Explanation: Nick Perry had been kind of a bust up until 2016. The Packers will bring him back and he will cash in on his opportunity to improve. Perry will command a hefty market, but in the end he is staying with the Packers.
Mario Addison, 29 years old, Carolina Panthers
PFF Grade: 16th
FA Destination: New Orleans Saints
Contract: 3 years, $21 million
Explanation: Paul Kruger is a free agent and with Nick Fairley going to test free agent waters again, it might be time for the Saints to delve right back into the free agent market for a defensive lineman. Mario Addison had a great year in Carolina and makes sense to replace Kruger in New Orleans.
Defensive interior linemen
Kawann Short, 28 years old, Carolina Panthers
PFF Grade: 3rd
FA Destination: Carolina Panthers
Contract: Franchise Tag – 1 year, $13.5 million projected
Explanation: There is only one way to get this deal done for this year and that is by using the franchise tag in my opinion. Short isn’t going anywhere, but he isn’t guaranteed a long term deal at the same time either.
Dontari Poe, 26 years old, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 59th
FA Destination: Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: 5 years, $63 million
Explanation: The narrative for Poe is “Will he follow Chris Ballard to Indy?” I don’t think he will. Poe will sign a long term deal to remain with Kansas City.
Brandon Williams, 27 years old, Baltimore Ravens
PFF Grade: 39th
FA Destination: Washington Redskins
Contract: 5 years, $63 million
Explanation: Brandon Williams seems like a great fit in Washington. Washington will have plenty of money and the Ravens will be forced to replace a gem.
Calais Campbell, 30 years old, Arizona Cardinals
PFF Grade: 2nd
FA Destination: Oakland Raiders
Contract: 4 years, $34 million
Explanation: You think the Raiders are mad about the way their magical 2016 campaign came to an end? Absolutely. This move is like sending a giant middle finger to the rest of the league. Nothing like looking over the line at Khalil Mack and Calais Campbell. . .
Nick Fairley, 29 years old, New Orleans Saints
PFF Grade: 34th
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Contract: 3 years, $17 million
Explanation: Fairley has proved himself now, if we could stop giving him “Prove-It” contracts that would be great. Well, this off-season I would expect Fairley gets a decent mid range contract. Gregg Williams who formally coached him in St. Louis, will want him next to Danny Shelton in the new 4-3 scheme the Browns are running.
Linebackers
Dont’a Hightower, 26 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 12th
FA Destination: New England Patriots
Contract: 5 years, $52 million
Explanation: Hightower is the main priority for the Patriots this off-season. No chance he comes close to sign anywhere else.
Zach Brown, 27 years old, Buffalo Bills
PFF Grade: 17th
FA Destination: Miami Dolphins
Contract: 4 years, $24 million
Explanation: The Dolphins are lacking a linebacker with grit. They unfortunately saw Brown twice last year in a monster season for him. Fortunately, that means they know what he is about. The Dolphins will need a man like Brown playing inside with Alonso.
Lawrence Timmons, 30 years old, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 70th
FA Destination: Tennessee Titans
Contract: 3 years, $18 million
Explanation: Easy fit for Timmons. He goes to Tennessee to go back to playing with Dick LeBeau.
Malcolm Smith, 27 years old, Oakland Raiders
PFF Grade: 67th
FA Destination: New York Giants
Contract: 4 years, $20 million
Explanation: Really like the fit here. Smith is a former Super Bowl MVP that will always be overrated because of that. However, his 2016 campaign was pretty good and the Giants linebackers are lacking, so Smith fits in well here.
Paul Worrilow, 26 years old, Atlanta Falcons
PFF Grade: N/A
FA Destination: Oakland Raiders
Contract: 3 years, $12 million
Explanation: The Raiders lost Ben Heeney to injury and Malcolm Smith to free agency so they get a good young LB in Worrilow. He’s had two really good seasons, but 2016 he struggled. However, his struggle in 2016 makes him a cheap option with upside for a really good Raiders team.
Cornerbacks
Stephon Gilmore, 26 years old, Buffalo Bills
PFF Grade: 61st
FA Destination: Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: 5 years, $76 million
Explanation: This years overpaid player is going to Gilmore who will join his old HC Doug Marrone in Jacksonville. Gilmore has had an injury history and was outplayed by Ronald Darby so the Bills will move on and Gilmore will go to the highest bidder.
Logan Ryan, 26 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 16th
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Contract: 5 years, $73 million
Explanation: The Browns have a ton of money to spend. Logan Ryan is one of the best CB’s on the market and the Browns are likely to steal Ryan away from the Patriots due to the money Ryan is going to want. Ryan will be able to fit into the No.1 CB role and see if he sticks in Gregg Williams defense.
Trumaine Johnson, 27 years old, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 26th
FA Destination: Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 4 years, $56 million
Explanation: The Rams let Janrois Jenkins walk in free agency last season for Trumaine Johnson. I was all for it, but they really need to re-sign him or it will look like a terrible move. New DC Wade Phillips is going to be all over the Rams and General manager Les Snead to lock him up. Phillips is going to try to re-create the Broncos elite defense in Los Angeles. Johnson would likely be his version of Aqib Talib.
Malcolm Butler, 26 years old, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 7th
FA Destination: New England Patriots
Contract: 4 years, $54 million
Explanation: The restricted free agent isn’t going anywhere. The Patriots love Butler, his story and his production. They know it’s him or Logan Ryan, but I expect the Patriots to go with the one that won them a Super Bowl.
A.J. Bouye, 25 years old, Houston Texans
PFF Grade: 3rd
FA Destination: Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 5 years, $59 million
Explanation: Going back to to the explanation on Trumaine Johnson, Wade Phillips is going to look for his Chris Harris Jr. to play with Trumaine who would be his Aqib Talib. The key is both men can play man to man which is what Phillips wants. The Rams will double deep at WR and CB as their free agency strategy.
Prince Amukamara, 27 years old, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 42nd
FA Destination: Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 4 years, $44 million
Explanation: The Colts got a nice year out of Darius Butler but he’s going to leave and they need help anyway. Amukamara went from prove-it deal to now being a hot commodity this off-season.
Safeties
Eric Berry, 28 years old, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 8th
FA Destination: Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: 4 years, $40 million
Explanation: John Dorsey is making it his mission to re-sign Berry without the franchise tag. Berry is 100% staying a Chief
Tony Jefferson, 24 years old, Arizona Cardinals
PFF Grade: 5th
FA Destination: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: 6 years, $42 million
Explanation: This is a no-brainer when you look at the cap space the Bucs have and their depth chart. Arizona is also unlikely to sign him from what is being said around the NFL.
John Cyprien, 26 years old, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 7th
FA Destination: Los Angeles Chargers
Contract: 5 years, $30 million
Explanation: The connection is there between Cyprien and former HC Gus Bradley now DC in L.A. Jahleel Addae was stellar last season, but he’s a free agent and with the new regime coming in Cyprien is likely to be the primary target.
Jahleel Addae, 27 years old, Los Angeles Chargers
PFF Grade: 12th
FA Destination: Cincinnati Bengals
Contract: 5 years, $25 million
Explanation: Jahleel Addae had a great season and will be rewarded. Just not from the team that he played for. The Bengals were missing Reggie Nelson in a big way and Shawn Williams was alright, but they need an upgrade at Strong safety and Addae will fill into that role.
T.J. McDonald, 26 years old, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 58th
FA Destination: Cleveland Browns
Contract: 4 years, $20 million
Explanation: I was a McDonald fan, but he’s going to need to realize he’s had two back to back bad seasons and he was arrested for a DUI. If I’m the Rams I want guys who are committed to football. Gregg Williams raved about him so he is likely to make sure the Browns get their Strong safety this off-season in his former one in L.A.
Barry Church, 29 years old, Dallas Cowboys
PFF Grade: 11th
FA Destination: Dallas Cowboys
Contract: 3 years, $15 million
Explanation: A fan favorite in Dallas and a really good football player at that., Church is likely to be re-signed and he’s earned that from Dallas.
There is still tons of things left to happen before free agency, but look for teams like the Browns, Titans, 49ers, Jaguars, Colts, Buccaneers, Redskins and Patriots to be in on almost everyone.
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