The most interesting expected free agent this offseason isn’t on the list below. Nick Foles has a mutual option in his contract that makes it exceedingly likely he will be set free by the Eagles, especially after they declared Monday that Carson Wentz is their quarterback and will remain their quarterback.

Foles would top a group of available quarterbacks, including Teddy Bridgewater, that is likely to grow as teams begin to prune their salary cap before the March spending spree. That’s something to keep in mind when looking at my way-too-early list of the top 25 free agents in 2019. A lot of names will be added to the market because of cuts, and plenty of high-profile players (like Jadeveon Clowney) are unlikely to ever make it to free agency, because their current teams will use the franchise tag to keep them or strike a long-term deal.

That makes this initial list fun to consider, albeit a work in progress. It’s a free-agent crop that is heavy on pass rushers and safeties while light on offensive linemen, wide receivers and cornerbacks. Chris Wesseling and I will publish our complete Top 101 Free Agents list in February. In the meantime, feel free to irrationally believe your team is going to sign all the players below and solve all of their problems.

Le’Veon Bell

This ranking isn’t a prediction of how much guaranteed money Bell will earn. It’s a reflection of his status as one of the
transcendent players
this century at his position — and the fact that he’s still just 26 years old.

Jadeveon Clowney

Using the franchise tag to retain Clowney makes too much sense for Houston, even if Clowney won’t be thrilled about it.

Grady Jarrett

A 25-year-old game-wrecker from the interior who has improved every year. There’s little chance the
Falcons will let Jarrett get away.

Trey Flowers

While Flowers isn’t a prototypical pure pass rusher from the outside, he can do everything well from a variety of positions, the perfect Swiss Army Knife for a modern defense. And he’s already been the most disruptive presence on a
Super Bowl championship team.

Earl Thomas

Thomas would be even higher on this list if not for two of his previous three seasons being marred by injury. He has maintained his high level of play as a potential future Hall of Famer and isn’t yet 30 years old.

At a position where speed kills, Ford’s first step is among the best in football. The
Chiefs might use the franchise tag on him to make sure his monster breakout season can be repeated.

Frank Clark

In many years, Clark would be the best pass rusher available. He isn’t as complete a player as the guys above, but 32 sacks and 66 QB hits over the last three years speaks for itself.

Landon Collins

Collins received some Defensive Player of the Year consideration in 2016, but his hard-hitting style has made less of an impact lately. And his 2018 campaign ended after Week 13, when he hit IR and underwent shoulder surgery.

C.J. Mosley

Inside linebackers don’t get paid in free agency, although Mosley could be an exception. A four-time Pro Bowler, Mosley is known for his smarts and his leadership.

Anthony Barr

The skill set and splash plays didn’t always add up to excellent overall production, although his contract year went well. It’s a bit of a concern that a great defensive coach like Mike Zimmer didn’t consistently get more out of him.

Sheldon Richardson

Richardson started out his season like a man on fire before settling into another campaign that made his employers probably want just a little bit more. He’s been stuck on the "prove-it contract" cycle for years.

Ronald Darby

A torn ACL will hurt Darby’s value, but he’s still the class of a soft cornerback crop of free agents.

Tyrann Mathieu

It’s unclear why safeties like Honey Badger didn’t get paid well last offseason. There’s an even better crop of free agents at the position this time around.

Lamarcus Joyner

The
Rams valued Joyner enough to use the franchise tag on him last year. There just aren’t enough tough, versatile safeties who can cover slot receivers around.

Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy’s
underwhelming Week 17 start was more about a rag-tag backup
Saints offensive line that didn’t protect Bridgewater than it was about anything else. He showed enough in the 2018 preseason to compete for a starting job somewhere.

Preston Smith

If everyone thinks Smith is underrated, is he still underrated? Pro Football Focus’ No. 8-ranked 3-4 outside linebacker in 2018 should get the contract of someone rated quite highly.

Ndamukong Suh

If he plays another game or two like the one he did
in the Wild Card Round, Suh’s price tag could skyrocket.

K.J. Wright

Instinctive as a run-stopper and excellent in coverage, Wright looked good late in the season after missing 11 games with a lingering knee injury.

Za’Darius Smith

PFF credited Smith with 10 sacks, 17 QB hits and 33 hurries in the regular season, which is monster production for someone with 690 snaps. He plays with laudable fury.

Ezekiel Ansah

One of the toughest players to evaluate in free agency. The
Lions spent hefty franchise-tag money on a guy with just 662 snaps combined over the last two years.

Daryl Williams

Good tackles are so hard to find in free agency that Williams, a second-team All Pro in 2017, should still inspire plenty of interest despite missing nearly all of this season with a knee injury.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

The
Packers‘ opinion of Clinton-Dix and his so-so time in Washington after being traded there by Green Bay this season might have him pegged as
just an above-average starting safety, but that should be worth something on the open market.

Brandon Graham

This ranking may look disrespectful for a player of Graham’s caliber, but the track record of betting on soon-to-be 31-year-old pass rushers in free agency is rough.

Matt Paradis

He’s consistently been one of the highest-graded centers in football since the
Broncos selected him in the sixth round of the 2014
NFL Draft. He missed the last seven games of 2018 with a broken right fibula.

Notable omissions (in alphabetical order):

Kwon Alexander, LB, Buccaneers
Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons
Stephen Gostkowski, K, Patriots
Jordan Hicks, LB, Eagles
Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
Kareem Jackson, CB, Texans
Ja’Wuan James, OT, Dolphins
Eric Reid, S, Panthers
Bradley Roby, CB, Broncos
Rodger Saffold, OG, Rams
Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens
Golden Tate, WR, Eagles

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link