NFL Free Agency Primer
02/29/2008
Stalter Home / Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home
One of the best seasons of the year is upon us, sports fans.
What am I talking about, you ask? Isn’t this the dead time in sports, you mutter? Oh, how mistaken you are.
Friday kicks off the NFL free agency period and like the draft, it has become a season all to its own. This is the first step for your 4-12 team to turn around its fortunes and become a 12-4 squad next year. It’s the time of year when rumors seize control of your life and hope runs rampant. (If your team could just add that marquee linebacker or cornerback, they’re going to be an instant contender!)
Below is your official NFL free agency primer. Every position is broken down with one stud, dud and sleeper (or value pick, if you will). With the number of players being franchised by their respective teams this offseason, pickings are kind of slim. But you’ll see that there’s plenty of value at running back, offensive line and cornerback, while the quarterback and safety classes are brutal.
Welcome to the NFL’s second season, folks.
Quarterback
Stud: Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have already tendered Anderson at the highest level, which means if some team wants him they’ll have to part with a first and third round pick. Cleveland offered Anderson a three-year deal, but he rebuffed. If some team offers the compensation for Anderson, the Browns won’t match and the Brady Quinn era will kick off in Cleveland.
Dud: Daunte Culpepper, Oakland Raiders
Some team will pay Culpepper more than he’s worth hoping he has a shred of Minnesota still left in him. But he’s nothing more than a backup at this point and shouldn’t command more than a one-year deal.
Sleeper: Billy Volek, San Diego Chargers
He’s no spring chicken at 32, but he looked good filling in for Philip Rivers against the Colts in last year’s Divisional Playoffs and he does have experience as a starter. For a team looking to groom a younger player for the future, Volek would be a decent starter for one or two years.
Running Back
Stud: Marion Barber III, Dallas Cowboys
There’s no point detailing what Barber can do on the field because it’s pretty obvious at this point. He’s a complete back, but he’s also a restricted free agent which means the Cowboys have first right to refuse another team’s advances, and it’s highly unlikely Dallas gives him up anyway. Unless you believe the rumors that Jerry Jones is going to use Barber as trade bait in attempts to draft former Razorback Darren McFadden, Barber probably isn’t going anywhere.
Dud: Michael Turner, San Diego Chargers
Let me explain. I think Turner is going to be a good back for some team and he definitely deserves a shot to be a starter. But he benefited from LT wearing down opposing defenses and he’s never had to carry the full load on his own. If he goes to a team that has a No. 2, I think Turner will be very productive. If he’s the main guy, it’s likely some team is going to vastly overpay for his services and he might break down like Chester Taylor did his first year in Minnesota.
Sleeper: T.J. Duckett, Detroit Lions
Remember him? Sure, he only rushed for 335 yards and three touchdowns last year, but he also was hampered by injuries early in the year and he played in Mike Martz’ pass-happy offense. He’s only 27 and has limited mileage on his tires after two uneventful years in Washington and Detroit. Plus, he looked impressive in the final games last year and would be a nice addition to a team that has a burner who can complement him.
Wide Receiver
Stud: Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Moss is obviously the headliner, but there’s a great chance New England is going to lock him up soon. And he should stay a Patriot because they’ll compete for Super Bowls every year. Those two years he spent in Oakland were a joke – and to be clear, I’m referring to his effort.
Dud: Donte’ Stallworth, New England Patriots
Stallworth probably won’t command more than a one-year deal, nor should he. He’s got enough talent to be a No. 1, but he’s way too injury prone and inconsistent.
Sleeper: Bryant Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
This guy needs to get out of Larry Fitzgerald’s and Anquan Boldin’s shadows so he can spread his wings. He has enough talent, but as a third receiver in Arizona he wasn’t asked to do much but provide mismatches in the slot. His price tag shouldn’t be that high and he has the potential to become a solid No. 2.
Tight End
Stud: Alge Crumper, Atlanta Falcons
Crumpler actually spills into the dud category too, because he’s going to command a decent salary even though his skills have been declining over the past three years. But he’s also the best free agent tight end available after the Colts re-signed Dallas Clark. While he can’t run like he used to because of a pair of shoddy knees, Crump has outstanding hands, is good in the locker room and is a fierce competitor.
Dud: Eric Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Talented? Yes. Consistent? No. Johnson can’t find a way to stay on the field because of injuries and wasn’t that effective in Sean Payton’s creative offense. Buyer beware.
Sleeper: Ben Utecht, Indianapolis Colts
He might be a bit overrated given the offense he’s played in, but Utecht deserves a shot to be a starter after being overshadowed by Dallas Clark in Indy. He has great hands and is a good route-runner, making him a nice addition to a pass-happy offense.
Offensive Line
Stud: Alan Faneca, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
Even though I didn’t like his approach in demanding a long-term deal from the Steelers last year, Faneca is still the best interior offensive lineman on the market. He’ll come with a hefty price tag and is already 31, but whichever team signs him can plug him right into the starting lineup and not have to worry about their guard needs for at least three years.
Dud: Jeremy Newberry, T, Oakland Raiders
Newberry has name recognition, but that’s about it at this point in his career. He’s 32 years old and has knee problems – doesn’t make much sense to give him a multi-year deal for mucho dinero.
Sleeper: Max Starks, T, Pittsburgh Steelers
Teams are going to be scared off by the knee injury he suffered in December, but Starks was solid before that. Plus, he’s only 26 and if he can bounce back from the injury, he has a very bright future ahead of him.
Defensive Line
Stud: Justin Smith, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
With Jared Allen and Albert Haynesworth being franchised by their respective teams, Smith is arguably the best lineman left on the market. He’s been very inconsistent but he didn’t have much help on the Bengals’ line either, and he’s still only 28. He might not be worth what he’ll command, but he’s a productive player and might benefit from a change of scenery. Tampa’s Greg White definitely deserves mention here, too.
Dud: Bobby McCray, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
McCray is going to cash in despite not being that good on an extremely talented Jacksonville defensive line last year. Were his 10 sacks in 2006 a fluke? It looks like it after he only posted three last season.
Sleeper: Rod Coleman, DT, Atlanta Falcons
Coleman’s 32 and coming off an injury-riddled season, but when healthy, he can also be one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game. He’s a quick, highly effective pass rusher that would really complement a contender. He might also be available for a discount given his age and durability concerns.
Linebackers
Stud: Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears
Briggs is highly productive and in his prime, but how much did he benefit from playing alongside Brian Urlacher? Is he just a Tampa 2 outside linebacker? Those are two big questions for a player who’s going to command top dollar, but with Terrell Suggs and Karlos Dansby off the market, Briggs is absolutely the linebacker best available.
Dud: Dan Morgan, Carolina Panthers
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me four thousand times, shame on me. Morgan is one more concussion away from calling it a career, but watch, some team will still hand him decent money based on his potential. (Or what’s left of it.)
Sleeper: Michael Boley, Atlanta Falcons
Boley is the best linebacker you’ve never heard of. He can play sideline to sideline, in coverage, and provide a pass rush from a three-point stance. He’s also not likely to get out of Atlanta seeing as how he’s one of the Falcons’ best defenders and a restricted free agent, but he deserves mention.
Cornerback
Stud: Asante Samuel, New England Patriots
Nnamdi Asomugha is arguably a better all-around corner, but the Raiders franchised him a week ago so Samuel is the top prize. Some scouts feel as though Samuel is nothing more than a system cornerback, but he’s still the best free agent product on the market. Some team will overpay, but that’s just how the market is right now. Productive cornerbacks – which Samuel certainly is despite the criticism – don’t just grown on trees.
Dud: None
Samuel could fit into this category too, since he likely won’t be worth the price tag, but saying he’ll be a dud is a stretch. I don’t foresee any team overpaying any other free agent corner and therefore, there aren’t any true dud qualifiers.
Sleeper: Randall Gay, New England Patriots
The other Patriots’ corner, Gay is a solid No. 2 and a player that teams won’t have to break the bank for. It’s unlikely New England loses two corners in the same offseason, however, so Gay might be re-signed early.
Safety
Stud: Gibril Wilson, New York Giants
Like most of the studs listed, Wilson doesn’t come without his weaknesses. But he’s coming off his most productive season and the safety class this year is incredibly weak. The Giants will probably look to lock him up quickly.
Dud: O.J. Atogwe, St. Louis Rams
If the Rams don’t tender him (he’s a restricted free agent), some team is going to overpay for Atogwe’s career-high eight interceptions and then smell burnt toast once the season starts.
Sleeper: C.C. Brown, Houston Texans
Brown is only 25 and had a career-best 84 tackles last season for a much-improved Texans’ defense. Alas, he’s a restricted free agent and is probably staying in Houston for the foreseeable future.
Questions or comments? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.