The franchise deadline has passed and free agency starts a week from today. No offensive players were franchised, but plenty of the best defensive names are off the table along with Kareem Hunt who has already come to an agreement with the Browns. This year’s free agent class isn’t as deep as years prior, but there is a trio of extremely useful players at the top of the board. Today, I’ll tell you a little about the markets for the biggest names along with where I’m predicting they will sign. Let’s dive right into it.
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Le’Veon Bell (RB)
The current word is that the Jets are the heavy favorite to sign Bell, but tomorrow the narrative may turn back to “New York has no interest in Bell” as we have heard multiple times in the off-season. While they are still among the teams most likely to sign him along with Oakland, I see Houston finally moving on from Lamar Miller and taking a shot on Bell taking them to the next level while they are still in their window to win. After all, Houston has over 70 million to spend which is even more than Oakland. You’ll notice that Indianapolis isn’t mentioned here. While they do have the most money, I don’t see a need at running back with both Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines performing just fine last year.
Prediction: Houston Texans
Nick Foles (QB)
This one is as much of a lock as you’ll ever see in free agency. You could make a case for New York, Washington or Miami, but Foles apparently wants to win now and Jacksonville offers him the best opportunity to do that. Granted, the fits seems awful to me, as Foles is more of a gunslinger than the ball protector they need like Tyrod Taylor, but the writing has been on the wall for weeks. The story will quickly become whether Foles (a fringe top 25 QB) will carry a vastly overrated Jags team to the Super Bowl. I’ll spare you the suspense: the answer is no.
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars
Golden Tate (WR)
In a free agent class lacking talent, Tate is the clear-cut top receiver available this year. He may not have provided much to the Eagles offense in the second half, but learning a new playbook on the fly is near impossible for a receiver in the middle of the season. Rather, we should look at how he performed with Detroit to start the year and it quickly becomes clear that he has plenty to offer. There are loads of teams who could use a target hog who can make plays after the catch, and while Green Bay or Indianapolis would be the best fantasy fits, I see him taking the money and signing with Oakland after they whiff on both Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham trade talks.
Prediction: Oakland Raiders
Mark Ingram (RB)
There will be some who suggest Ingram has what it takes to be a featured back in the NFL, but I’ll contest that Bell is the only starter in this free agent class. Ingram excelled in a Saints offense that allowed Tim Hightower to run wild on the league. That doesn’t mean he can rack up fantasy points or even win the starting job in a different scheme. I see him playing second fiddle after he lands with a team that drafts a rookie running back like Baltimore, Buffalo or the Jets.
Prediction: Buffalo Bills
Jared Cook (TE)
Apparently the Raiders are eager to retain Cook’s services. After all, he was the only bright spot on their team, albeit for just a game here and a game there. They have the money to tempt him, but plenty of other teams do as well, along with the need for a tight end upgrade. I expect him to flee the trainwreck in Oakland for an exciting new offense led by Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury in Oakland.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals
John Brown (WR)
This may surprise you, but behind Tate, I’ve got Brown in a tier of his own above the rest of the free agent receivers. It isn’t his fault that Baltimore chose to run the ball 40 times a game once Lamar Jackson took over. Prior to that change, Brown was a useful receiver despite Joe Flacco‘s incompetence and a dreadful strength of schedule for the Ravens. In the right landing spot, he could do some serious damage and I’m forecasting that is exactly what we get when he lands with Andrew Luck, who was hurting for wide receiver talent last season.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts
Other Skill Position Players
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB) – Titans
- Teddy Bridgewater (QB) – Saints
- Tyrod Taylor (QB) – Panthers
- Jay Ajayi (RB) – Bills
- Tevin Coleman (RB) – Jets
- Marshawn Lynch (RB) – Retire
- Adrian Peterson (RB) – Bucs
- C.J. Anderson (RB) – Raiders
- Tyrell Williams (WR) – Dolphins
- Adam Humphries (WR) – Bucs
- Jamison Crowder (WR) – Ravens
- Devin Funchess (WR) – Raiders
- Michael Crabtree (WR) – Panthers
- Pierre Garcon (WR) – Bills
- Dontrelle Inman (WR) – Patriots
- Tyler Eifert (TE) – Raiders
Non Skill Position Stars
- Landon Collins (S) – 49ers
- C.J. Mosley (ILB) – Chargers
- Trey Flowers (DE) – Patriots
- Earl Thomas (S) – Cowboys
- Justin Houston (OLB) – Titans
- Eric Weddle (S) – Packers
- Sheldon Richardson (DT) – Colts
- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S) – Bucs
- Trent Brown (OT) – Vikings
- Ndamukong Suh (DT) – Texans
- Tyrann Mathieu (S) – Rams
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