Tag: 2009 NFL Free Agents (Page 1 of 2)

Pete Prisco’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents

February 26, 2009 /

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com ranks his top 50 NFL free agents and to no one’s surprise, he has Titans’ defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth ranked No. 1. No other free agent should be ranked ahead of Haynesworth given his age and talent. But anyone that thinks he isn’t a major risk is fooling themselves.

Haynesworth wants $72 million, as in, seventy-two million dollars. He would be the highest paid defender in the league and while his talent is unquestioned, he’s coming off a career season in a contract year. Would anyone be surprised if he caught Tommie Harris’s disease and his production drops off after he gets paid? I wouldn’t, and I firmly believe that if he winds up signing with the Redskins, there’s a great chance he’ll be a major disappointment considering Washington is the black hole for defensive linemen.

I think Prisco hit the nail on the head by ranking Ravens’ center Jason Brown No. 2. Even though guys like Matt Birk (Vikings) and Jeff Saturday (Colts) will be available, Brown is the best center on the market and can help anchor the interior of somebody’s line for years to come.

Where Prisco loses me is his ranking of the cornerbacks.

5. Bryant McFadden, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers: He’s a solid starter and teams are always looking for corners. Plus, his best football will come in the next three years.

8. DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins: He’s not nearly as good as he thinks, but he played well for the Redskins after the Raiders let him go last season. But how does he play after he gets paid? He had to play well in Washington to get another big contract.

12. Philip Buchanon, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He started last year for the Bucs, and at 28 he still has some good football left. He’s another player who is a perfect second corner.

31. Chris McAlister, CB, Baltimore Ravens: He’s getting up in years and has injury issues last season, but he can still help a team for a year or two. When he’s healthy, he can still cover well.

33. Ronald Bartell, CB, St. Louis Rams: He’s a young player who emerged last year in his first as a starter. He’s the kind of rising player teams need to sign.

McFadden is a good young player, but I don’t know if he should be listed in the top 5 of available free agents. Hall proved last year in Oakland that he’s an overrated and overpaid, while Buchanon is a classic underachiever and McAlister (as Prisco noted) is getting up there in years.

But how is Bartell the fifth best cornerback on the market? There’s no way. He’ll be overpaid (he’s likely to command $40 million over five years), but he offers more upside than every free agent Prisco rated higher outside of maybe McFadden.

NFL

The Top 5 Bargains and Risks of the 2009 NFL Free Agent Class

February 23, 2009 /

With free agency ready to kickoff this Friday, February 27, hope once again springs eternal for fans across the NFL.

But it seems like more than any other year, the free agent market this offseason has been picked bone dry before teams have even had the chance to grab their shopping carts.

Nnamdi Asomugha?

Sorry, off the market after re-signing with the Raiders.

Julius Peppers?

Franchised, but teams can probably have him for two first round picks, a gazillion dollars and a six yachts.

Terrell Suggs?

Likely staying put in Baltimore after being franchised.

Karlos Dansby? Brandon Jacobs? Matt Cassel? O.J. Atogwe? Darren Sproles? Antonio Bryant? Dunta Robinson?

All franchised.

Are there any players left on the market to get excited about? Absolutely, there are plenty of quality free agents available and bargains to be had. But as in previous years, there are a ton of risks, as well.

Below are five free agents that might command a decent amount of money this offseason, but will also be worth the heavy price tag in the end. I’ve also complied a group of five free agents that could turn out to be thieves this offseason by commanding big bucks, yet those investments may not pay off once teams start strapping on helmets and shoulder pads again.

Bargains at any Price:

T.J. Houshmandzadeh1. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Bengals
Forget his age (31) and the fact that he’s had the opportunity to play in a passing offense opposite Chad Johnson for most of his career – Housh is that good. He’s a solid route-runner, very dependable and unlike most receivers, he isn’t afraid to go across the middle to haul in a pass. He’s physical at the line of scrimmage and can adjust extremely well when the ball is in the air. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he’s fast enough to stretch a defense and he’s a fierce competitor. He’s going to command top dollar as the best receiver on the market, but any team that’s willing to spend to boost their wideout corps should pony up because chances are they won’t be disappointed.

2. Michael Boley, LB, Falcons
Two years ago Boley was considered a future Pro Bowler and a vital part of the Falcons’ defensive core. But he eventually lost his starting outside linebacker spot to Coy Wire late in the 2008 season because he didn’t fit Mike Smith’s defensive scheme. Boley’s strengths are in coverage and when he’s allowed to use his outstanding athletic ability in pursuit. But in Smith’s defense, the strong-side linebacker is required to stay home and make their biggest impact against the run, which isn’t one of Boley’s strengths. If the Falcons don’t re-sign Keith Brooking, there’s a chance they could re-up with Boley and move him to the weak-side position where he’d have more opportunities to run around and play in open space. But chances are Atlanta won’t break the bank to re-sign him and he’ll hit the open market, where he’ll surely make some team very happy. Boley isn’t overly aggressive, but given the chance to make plays, he’ll come up big and he’s one of the best coverage linebackers on the market.

3. Igor Olshansky, DE, Chargers
After Carolina franchised Julius Peppers, Olshansky and the Cowboys’ Chris Canty became the top defensive ends on the market. And with more teams switching to the 3-4 defense (the Packers and Broncos are the latest), linemen who can play in that front are at a premium. Olshansky won’t come cheap, but he’ll be worth it to a team like the Packers, who are in desperate need of 3-4 defensive ends. Olshansky has a great motor, is a blue-collar type of player and has been a starter for his entire five-year career. He’s not the quickest end in the league, but then again he doesn’t have to be playing in the 3-4. At 6’6”, 309-pounds, he has outstanding size and is steady in run support. He’s also only 26 years old and hasn’t shown signs that he’s peaked.

Ron Bartell4. Ron Bartell, CB, Rams
Bartell will cost some team roughly $30 million over the next six years, but he might be worth the lofty price tag. His solid play was overshadowed by how bad the Rams defense was last year and on a better team, the 27-year old might excel. Along with Bryant McFadden and Domonique Foxworth, Bartell is the best cornerback on the market and the Rams might have priced themselves out of re-signing him after franchising safety O.J. Atogwe. At 6’1”, 205 pounds, Bartell has excellent size, can play safety in a pinch and is a solid tackler. Teams would be wise not to judge how bad St. Louis’s defense was last year in grading Bartell. He might not be the flashiest name on the market, but he’s a solid player nonetheless.

5. Jason Brown, C, Ravens
Matt Birk (Vikings) and Jeff Saturday (Colts) are bigger names, but Jason Brown is the best center on the free agent market this year. He’s likely to command $40 million over the next five years, which is steep for a guy who has never made the Pro Bowl. But he has Pro Bowl talent and at only 25 years of age, he could help anchor a team’s line for years to come. Brown has loads of experience, has outstanding size at 6’3”, 320 pounds, and displays excellent burst off the ball. Again, he won’t come cheap, but there are several teams in need of a center this offseason and he’ll be the top catch.

The Risks:

Albert Haynesworth1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Titans
With Nnamdi Asomugha, Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs and Karlos Dasnby all off the open market, Haynesworth is easily the best free agent available. He’s also going to cost whichever team that signs him a king’s ransom and while his talent is unquestioned, one can’t help but worry about how he’ll play once he receives a big contract. His character has also been questioned in the past after he used Cowboys’ offensive lineman Andre Gurode’s face as a cleat-cleaner a couple years back. Haynesworth wants to become the NFL’s highest paid defender, which has to scare the bejesus out of teams that have multiple holes to fill. Can he be the league’s best defender? Maybe. But if you’re an NFL team, are you willing to spend $72 million over six years to find out?

2. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens
Lewis is one of the most vocal leaders in the NFL and his mere presence makes players around him better. That said, the reality of the situation is that he’s turning 34 soon and is likely to command $9 million annually for the next three years. That’s too much money for a linebacker that wore down last season and will continue to do so as the years roll on. If he were willing to ease up on the contract demands, he’d probably be a bargain given his outstanding leadership and football instincts. But he’s already stated that he won’t take a discount to stay in Baltimore and therefore probably isn’t willing to take a discount anywhere else either.

3. Channing Crowder, LB, Dolphins
There’s no question that Crowder has loads of talent. He’s excellent in pursuit, is solid in coverage and is a tough linebacker. But his best season came in a contract year and he has a history of knee trouble. The Dolphins have already stated that they won’t re-sign him, which should be a warning sign to other teams considering he was Miami’s second leading tackler last year and is only 25 years old. Some team is going to shell out big for his talent, but they could be burned in the long run.

L.J. Smith4. L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles
At the right price, Smith wouldn’t be a bad investment for a team in search of a pass-catching tight end. But given his injury concerns the past couple seasons, he’s too much of a risk for a team to hand him a decent multi-year contract. And after the Titans franchised Bo Scaife, Smith’s free agent value went up because the tight end market is weak on a whole this year. Considering the tight end draft class is strong this year, Smith probably isn’t worth what tight end-desperate teams will pay in the hopes that he returns to his 2005/2006-form.

5. Byron Leftwich, QB, Steelers
Leftwich is a popular sleeper free agent pick after he finished the 2008 season with a 104.3 QB rating in limited action. But people seem to forget how brutal he was the year before when he had the chance to resurrect his career in Atlanta. Due to his elongated release, he’s susceptible to turnovers and can be erratic. The big-armed quarterback has never been short on physical tools, but he would be much better off staying on a good team like Pittsburgh and being Big Ben’s backup than hitting the open market as a starter. In other words, he’s fine in small doses but shouldn’t be counted on to carry a team. Chances are teams will stay away, but there’s always one or two willing to pony up in hopes of striking gold.

NFL, Rumors & Gossip

Offseason Blueprint: Cleveland Browns

February 13, 2009 /

Notable Free Agents: Sean Jones, S; Andra Davis, LB; Willie McGinest, LB.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $17,000,000

Draft Order: 5

Top Needs: Two years after signing LeCharles Bentley to a huge contract only to watch him suffer a career-ending knee injury on the first day of training camp, the Browns are once again in need of a center to bolster the interior of their offensive line. The team is also expected to beef up the linebacker corps and possibly add another defensive end for depth. Wide receiver and running back will also likely be addressed.

Offseason Outlook: Word has it that the Browns are already shopping quarterback Derek Anderson (the Jets have emerged as a possible suitor), which means Brady Quinn will likely become the unquestioned starter next season under center. But perhaps the majority of changes for the Browns this offseason will once again be made on the defensive side of the ball – especially in the front seven.

Adding defensive tackle Shaun Rogers via a trade with Detroit last offseason proved to be an outstanding move. Rogers was worth the risk (he was labeled as being lazy in Motown) and had a major impact along Cleveland’s defensive line last year. Corey Williams, another player the Browns added via offseason trade last offseason, was hamstrung with various injuries last season but showed his grit by playing hurt and is a steady player when healthy.

With the Browns set at those two positions on the D-line, they’ll turn their attention to the defensive end spot opposite Williams. Robaire Smith emerged as a quality playmaker in 2007, but a ruptured Achilles tendon cut his season short after only two games last year and the team was stuck with Shaun Smith, who proved to hit players more off the field (ask Brady Quinn), then he did on it. Don’t count on Cleveland upgrading this position in the first round of the draft because there simply isn’t a 3-4 end worth taking at No. 5, but the spot will be addressed at some point. Plus before his season-ending injury last year, Robaire Smith had only missed one game in the previous six seasons so if he can come back healthy, the starting job should remain his.

At linebacker, D’Qwell Jackson and Kamerion Wimbley are mainstays, but expect the Browns to bring in competition for Beau Bell and Alex Hall. Bell was a situational player mostly used on special teams, but he had two knee surgeries last year as a rookie and won’t be counted on to be a starter. Hall struggled against the run last year, but he proved to be an effective blitzer and could develop into a nice playmaker.

With Wimbley and Hall, Cleveland has a couple of ‘backers that can get after the quarterback. But with free agent Andra Davis not expected back, now the Browns need another run-stuffer to help Jackson in the middle and it would be nice if they could pluck Bart Scott off divisional rival Baltimore to fill that void.

In the secondary, re-signing safety Sean Jones is a must and that seems like a sure bet with him being quoted as saying he wants to finish his career as a Brown. Outside of that, this team actually has a nice mix of young talent in the defensive backfield – especially with second-year corners Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald emerging as solid playmakers last year.

That said, don’t dismiss the idea of Cleveland taking Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins with their first overall pick because he might be the best player available when the Browns select at No. 5. Although if the Browns can trade back in the first round, that may be their best move because there might not be a marquee prospect that would fill a position of need for them at No. 5. If Texas Tech wideout Michael Crabtree fell past the first four picks, maybe another team would swap with Cleveland and the Browns could add extra draft picks without reaching at No. 5. (Lord knows they could use some extra picks after former GM Phil Savage handed them out like candy on Halloween last year.)

Offensively, the Browns would love to add a center like Matt Birk to bolster their line, but he won’t come cheap and he’ll be highly sought after by many teams this offseason. Jason Brown (Ravens), Brad Meester (Jaguars) and Eric Ghiaciuc (Bengals) are the other top free agent centers on the market. The Browns could add another running back to compete with Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison, as well as another playmaker in the receiving corps, as well.

Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.’s name could come up in trade talks this offseason, but more than likely the new coaching staff would like to hang onto the dynamic (albeit often cranky) playmaker. Another name the Browns might throw out in trade talks is Braylon Edwards, who is set to become a free agent after this season and outside of his breakout 2007 campaign, has largely been a bust. It’ll be interesting to see how the team handles Winslow and Edwards’ situation this offseason.

NFL

Offseason Blueprint: Seattle Seahawks

February 12, 2009 /

Notable Free Agents: Leroy Hill, LB; Leonard Weaver, FB; Maurice Morris, RB; Rocky Bernard, DT; Bobby Engram, WR.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $900,000

Draft Order: 4

Top Needs: The Hawks need to add depth to an offensive line that has injury and age concerns. The defensive line could stand to add depth as well and this team really needs a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. Safety and even quarterback could be addressed as well.

Offseason Outlook: Jim Mora is set to take over the reins in Seattle as Mike Holmgren puts his coaching career on hold. Perhaps the biggest thing that needs to be addressed this offseason is something the Seahawks have no control over – health. The injury bug hit this team like a runaway train last year and it never recovered.

Many early mocks have the Hawks selecting Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree with the fourth overall pick. Not a bad choice considering this team needs a major playmaker on the offensive side of the ball and Crabtree is easily the best wideout of the ’09 draft class. It’s hard to argue against taking a 6’3”, 214-pound receiver who has outstanding leaping ability and soft hands. If he winds up in Seattle, he would dramatically upgrade the wideout position.

The Seahawks’ top unrestricted free agent is 26-year old linebacker LeRoy Hill, who the team would love to retain, but his marijuana arrest in January complicates things. If nothing else, his arrest could knock his price tag down a bit, which means Seattle could have an easier time retaining Hill, who is one of the better young linebackers on the market. It’ll be interesting to see how this situation develops.

At some point, the Seahawks will address their offensive line, whether it’s in free agency or the draft. It’s doubtful at this point that Seattle spends its first round pick on an O-linemen, since the current starting five is good enough to start again next year. But the group – led by left tackle Walter Jones – is susceptible to injuries and is aging. While technically sound and smart, the starting five lacks a physical mauler, so the Hawks might add depth at all positions in order to create competition in camp.

Defensively, again, staying healthy is key because the front seven is pretty good as is, although Hill and DT Rocky Bernard are both free agents so if they depart the team will need to address those areas. The Hawks also have a size issue in the secondary, but Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant are still quality corners and the team could do a lot worse at safety with Deon Grant and Brian Russell. Still, look for Seattle to add depth to the unit this offseason, perhaps in the middle rounds come April.

Finally, the quarterback issue will likely be addressed in the draft. Matt Hasselbeck says his back is once again healthy, but look for the Hawks to draft a signal caller that could challenge Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye.

NFL

Offseason Blueprint: Kansas City Chiefs

February 11, 2009 /

Notable Free Agents: Jason Babin, DE; Rocky Boiman, LB; Oliver Celestin, FS.

Projected 2009 Cap Space: $33,000,000

Draft Order: 3

Top Needs: The Chiefs have a variety of holes to fill this offseason, from the interior of their offensive line, to linebacker to safety and No. 2 wide receiver.

Offseason Outlook: Despite the lack of overall roster talent, the Chiefs aren’t a bad situation to walk into for new GM Scott Pioli and head coach Todd Haley. The team has plenty of cap space, a high draft pick and not one marquee free agent to re-sign. Pioli is essentially working with a clean slate to begin his era in Kansas City.

That said, there are some underlining issues on the horizon. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson, two players who will be counted on to spark the revival in Kansas City, have both expressed a desire to be traded this offseason. Gonzalez has wavered a bit in his demands, but it’s clear that LJ wants out of KC and maybe Pioli will grant his wish as long as the Chiefs can land proper compensation for the star back.

Another area Pioli might address is at quarterback, where incumbent Tyler Thigpen played well enough in the second half of the season to merit a crack at the starting spot, but probably isn’t the long-term answer. Considering Pioli is coming over from New England, he could look into what it would take to acquire Matt Cassel. Don’t count on it though. KC has the No. 3 overall pick and certainly won’t part with that high of a pick for Cassel, especially when you consider he might have been a product of the Patriots’ outstanding offensive system. Don’t be surprised if Thigpen is the Chiefs’ starter under center again next year.

The Chiefs could stand an upgrade at center and right guard. Rudy Niswanger was the team’s starter last year at center, but given his size, he could easily move to right guard and then KC could look to sign one of the many free agent centers that are available this offseason including Matt Birk (Vikings), Brad Meester (Jaguars), Eric Ghiaciuc (Bengals) and Jason Brown (Ravens).

Defensively, Jason Babin surprised folks last year with his steady play at right defensive end, but he’s a free agent and if Pioli sees an upgrade available either in free agency or the draft, he’ll likely jump on it. It’s doubtful that Pioli goes after a marquee name like Julius Peppers to fill the void, but the position will no doubt be addressed this offseason.

At linebacker, Derrick Johnson is a stud on the strong-side, but the Chiefs are in desperate need to upgrade the other two spots. The team signed Demorrio Williams to fill the weak-side position last year, but he’s more of a situational pass-rusher at best and probably isn’t an every down player. In the middle, Pat Thomas missed time last year due to injuries and isn’t the type of run-stuffer the Chiefs are going to need moving forward.

Given their needs at linebacker, KC could use its first round pick on Wake Forest’s Aaron Curry, who is talented enough to play either outside or in the middle. He would be a nice compliment to Johnson and would add some athleticism on that side of the ball for KC, who has still yet to hire a defensive coordinator. But it’s worth noting that both the Lions and Rams (who pick ahead of the Chiefs) will take a strong look at Curry, too.

If the Lions pass on Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, KC could be a landing spot for him at No. 3. Pundits seem to believe the notion that since Tom Brady was a seventh round pick, that anyone that comes from the New England front office (i.e. Pioli) will pass on the opportunity to draft a quarterback high in the first round. But Falcons’ GM Thomas Dimitroff (who cut his teeth in the Patriots’ front office) bucked that trend by taking Matt Ryan with the third overall pick last year. So if Pioli feels that Stafford is a franchise-type quarterback, don’t be surprised if the Chiefs selected him if Detroit passes.

The Chiefs could also use an upgrade at safety and wide receiver, but given their other needs and lack of quality safeties on the market, it’s doubtful that Pioli will turn heads filling either position this offseason.

NFL

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