NFL SHOPPING SPREE PROJECTIONS
With the NFL free agency period just a week away its time to toss out some guesses as to where some of the premier players in the league will end up.
The key word is guess. There are tons of rumors and innuendo floating around out there right now. And today was a big day as it was the last day teams could apply the franchise tag to potential free agents. Some studs like Frank Clark, Jedaveon Clowney, and Dee Ford were tagged.
We used the NFL.com Top 101 Free agents list. From there we’ll predict, nay, drunkenly guess, on where each will end up. Taken into account of course are the teams with an abundance of cap space, such as the Jets, Bills, Colts, Texans, Browns, Raiders, and 49ers. But keep in mind that cap space is fluid. As it stands right now the Chiefs have just a smidge of cap space, but a release of Justin Houston, and trade of Dee Ford opens up plenty of room to maneuver.
- Le’Veon Bell – Running Back – New York Jets
The #1 player on the list played zero downs of football in 2018. Le’Veon wants to get PAID, and based upon his talk and actions, the fit doesn’t particularly matter. I expect him to go to the highest bidder, and New York teams love making themselves some headlines
2. Earl Thomas – Safety – Dallas Cowgirls
The quarterback, and most talented member of the vaunted Legion of Boom moves on from Seattle. There have been whispers, screams really, about him trying to get back to the Texas for the last few years. This is a nice mix of need by the team and desire by the player to make this happen.
3. Trey Flowers – Defensive End – New England Patriots
The Patriots have a history of letting their best players hit the market, letting them find out their market value, and then attempting to match. Its worked with Julian Edelman, Dont’a Hightower, and Devin McCourty. It backfired with Nate Solder and Asante Samuel. I think at the end of the day the Patriots will match whatever Flowers finds on the market. He’s still young (26), he’s multi dimensional, and the cap continues to increase.
4. Nick Foles – Quarterback – Jacksonville Jaguars
I’ve seen this before, the back up quarterback who steals the show in the Superbowl and then gets over hyped (Jeff Hostetler). Hell, I’ve seen Nick Foles get overhyped before. Lets not forget he WAS the Eagles Quarterback under Chip Kelly before the Chiefs and Rams tried him as their signal caller. Regardless, Big Dick Nick is about to get PAID, and it looks like the Jaguars will be the team to do it if the 8 million reports about it out there are to be believed.
5. Landon Collins – Safety – Indianapolis Colts
The Giants declined to apply the franchise tag, which isn’t always the kiss of death in negotiations. But the fact that Collins then went to social media to say good bye is NOT a good sign if you’re thinking of a reunion in the Meadowlands. In an ideal world the Patriots would move on from Patrick Chung, and replace him with the younger Landon Collins. But even with the market flush with very good safeties, Collins should set the market. The Colts have the money to burn, an emerging team, and a spot for Collins.
6. Anthony Barr – Linebacker – Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs currently have 2 big ticket pass rushers on their roster. With the change to Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defense though it is expected that both Dee Ford and Justin Houston will be gone before summer is upon us. Barr has experience in the 4-3 and would fill a void. The Chiefs can’t afford to lose defensive talent without some sort of replacement.
7. CJ Mosley – Linebacker – Green Bay Packers
The former Alabama backer is about to hit free agency after being a serious cog in the Ravens defensive attack. All reports are that the Ravens hope to re-sign Mosley, much in the same way the Patriots hope to keep Trey Flowers. With a new regime in Green Bay, I think they make their biggest splash since Reggie White moved his ministry to Wisconsin.
8. KJ Wright – Linebacker – Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks eventually have to keep SOMEBODY don’t they? They’ve moved to turnover the defensive backfield, and did franchise tag Frank Clark to help the defensive line. Re-signing KJ Wright ensures some continuity. He’ll be 30 when the season starts, so I wouldn’t expect him to break the bank, allowing the Seahawks to keep him in town.
9. Sheldon Richardson – Defensive Tackle – Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have a ton of picks, a ton of cap room, minimal talent on the roster, and a desire to make a splash after Jon Gruden spent 2018 dismantling the team. He did his best work when Warren Sapp was with him. Sheldon Richardson is no Warren Sapp, but you’ve got to start somewhere.
10. Tyrann Matheiu – Safety – Houston Texans
The Texans lucked out when the Cardinals let Matheiu free before, I don’t expect them to let him go. Bringing back Honey Badger and Clowney would go a long way towards letting the Texans to continue to build instead of having to re-start again. The Texans have the desire, cap space, and open lines of communication in place to not let Matheiu leave the Gulf Coast.
11. Ndamukong Suh – Defensive Tackle – Kansas City Chiefs
12. Preston Smith – Linebacker – Indianapolis Colts
13. LaMarcus Joyner – Safety – Cleveland Browns
14. Ziggy Ansah – Defensive End – Dallas Cowgirls
15. Za’Darius Smith – Defensive End – Cincinnati Bengals
16. Tevin Coleman – Running Back – Oakland Raiders
17. Ronald Darby – Cornerback – Philadelphia Eagles
18. Darryl Williams – Offensive Tackle – Carolina Panthers
19. Bradley Roby – Cornerback – Houston Texans
20. Jared Cook – Tight End – Pittsburgh Steelers
21. Rodger Saffold – Offensive Guard – New York Giants
22. Jordan Hicks – Linebacker – Philadelphia Eagles
23. Kwon Alexander – Linebacker – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
24. Teddy Bridgewater – Quarterback – Miami Dolphins
25. Trent Brown – Offensive Tackle – Cleveland Browns
26. Golden Tate – Wide Receiver – Indianapolis Colts
27. Mitch Morse – Center – Los Angeles Rams
28. Bryce Callahan – Cornerback – New York Jets
29. Matt Paradis – Center – New York Giants
30. Dante Fowler – Defensive End – Los Angeles Rams
31. Ja’Wuan James – Offensive Tackle – Buffalo Bills
32. Mark Ingram – Running Back – Baltimore Ravens
33. Kareem Jackson – Cornerback – Houston Texans
34. Adrian Amos – Safety – Chicago Bears
35. Jamison Crowder – Wide Receiver – San Francisco 49ers
36. Tyrell Williams – Wide Receiver – New York Jets
37. Denzel Perryman – Linebacker – Los Angeles Chargers
38. John Brown – Wide Receiver – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
39. Shaqul Barrett – Defensive End – Cincinnati Bengals
40. Terrell Suggs – Linebacker – Baltimore Ravens
41. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Safety – Atlanta Falcons
42. Devin Funchess – Wide Receiver – Carolina Panthers
43. Pierre Desir – Cornerback – Indianapolis Colts
44. Adam Humphries – Wide Receiver – New England Patriots
45. Henry Anderson – Defensive End – New York Jets
46. Darqueze Dennard – Cornerback – New York Jets
47. Morris Claiborne – Cornerback – Denver Broncos
48. Eric Weddle – Safety – Kansas City Chiefs
49. Jason Verrett – Cornerback – Oakland Raiders
50. Adrian Phillips – Safety – Baltimore Ravens
51. Cameron Wake – Defensive End – Jacksonville Jaguars
52. Malcom Brown – Defensive Tackle – Detroit Lions
53. Deone Bucannon – Linebacker – San Francisco 49ers
54. Clay Mathews Jr. – Linebacker – Seattle Seahawks
55. Jay Ajayi – Running Back – Philadelphia Eagles
56. Justin Coleman – Cornerback – Los Angeles Chargers
57. Ramon Foster – Guard – Pittsburgh Steelers
58. Bashaud Breeland – Cornerback – San Francisco 49ers
59. Kenny Vaccaro – Safety – Tennessee Titans
60. Clayton Geathers – Safety – New York Giants
61. Jason McCourty – Cornerback – New England Patriots
62. Cordarrelle Patterson – Wide Receiver – New England Patriots
63. Randall Cobb – Wide Receiver – Cleveland Browns
64. Tyrod Taylor – Quarterback – Carolina Panthers
65. CJ Anderson – Running Back – New Orleans Saints
66. Cory Luiget – Defensive Tackle – Los Angeles Chargers
67. DJ Fluker – Offensive Guard – Seattle Seahawks
68. Darius Philon – Defensive Tackle – Oakland Raiders
69. Michael Crabtree – Wide Receiver – Pittsburgh Steelers
70. Quinton Span – Guard – New York Jets
71. Jonathan Hankins – Defensive Tackle – Minnesota Vikings
72. Markus Golden – Defensive End – Detroit Lions
73. Stephen Gostkowski – Kicker – Chicago Bears
74. Jimmie Ward – Safety – Arizona Cardinals
75. Adrien Peterson – Running Back – San Francisco 49ers
76. Kelvin Benjamin – Wide Receiver – New York Jets
77. Steven Nelson – Cornerback – Buffalo Bills
78. Cole Beasley – Wide Receiver – Arizona Cardinals
79. Tyler Eifert – Tight End – Buffalo Bills
80. TJ Yeldon – Running Back – Green Bay Packers
81. Thomas Davis – Linebacker – Chicago Bears
82. Alex Okafor – Defensive End – New Orleans Saints
83. Donte Moncreif – Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills
84. Muhammed Wilkerson – Defensive End – Cleveland Browns
85. Brian Poole – Cornerbaclk – Arizona Cardinals
86. Mark Barron – Linebacker – Cincinnati Bengals
87. Glover Quin – Safety – Detroit Lions
88. Shane Ray – Defensive End – Los Angeles Rams
89. James Carpenter – Guard – Oakland Raiders
90. Derrick Morgan – Defensive End – Houston Texans
91. Jason Myers – Kicker – Los Angeles Chargers
92. Benson Mayowa – Defensive End – Arizona Cardinals
93. Brent Urban – Defensive Tackle – Seattle Seahawks
94. Chris Conley – Wide Receiver – Kansas City Chiefs
95. Marshawn Lynch – Running Back – Oakland Raiders
96. Brent Grimes – Cornerback – Kansas City Chiefs
97. J.R. Sweezy – Guard – Seattle Seahawks
98. Rashaan Melvin – Cornerback – Indianapolis Colts
99. Brandon Marshall – Linebacker – Oakland Raiders
100. Domata Peko – Defensive Tackle – New England Patriots
101. Sam Bradford – Quarterback – Retirement
- Written by Jason Sullivan
- * Find us on Twitter at @TopDucker or on Facebook at You’re Ducking Right
