Wednesday 4 March 2015 15:28, UK
NFL teams will be able to sign free agents from March 10 when cash will be splashed and big-money deals will be signed. We take a look at the top 10 players who might be available.
Teams are able to try and negotiate deals with their players who are becoming free agents until March 7, when a legal three-day 'tampering period' starts, as a precursor to the market opening proper.
A number of high-profile players, including Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, have been protected by the market after their teams used a franchise tag designation to keep them for another season.
But there are still plenty of highly-prized players up for grabs - here is our guide to the top 10.
1. Ndamukong Suh (DT, Detroit Lions)
It is very rare for a positional leader to come up in free agency, but Suh is just that - as dominant a tackle as the NFL has seen in years. There was no real surprise the Lions turned down the chance to give him nearly $27m for one season, but he is probably worth that kind of money. Bar the odd suspension/fine, there is him and JJ Watt, and then a huge gap to the rest of the world when it comes to defensive line play.
Candidates: This will come down to loyalty versus money. Detroit will surely offer Suh a big deal by March 10 - something in the region of six years for $110m, with upwards of $50m in guarantees, has been floated. That would be record money for a defensive player. If they can't come up with that, well watch out for fireworks. Jacksonville and Oakland have the most cap space but plenty of other teams could get creative and re-work a few deals to make a Suh signing happen. Watch out for Dallas as a possible player as tax could be an issue here - there is no state income tax in Texas, as well as Florida, which could make the Jaguars favourite. That applies to the rest of these guys as well.
2. DeMarco Murray (RB, Dallas Cowboys)
Running backs seem to have become less important in the NFL over the last couple of seasons - the Patriots won the Super Bowl with a patched up bunch of retreads - but Murray still figures to get paid. He rushed for more than 1,800 yards for the Cowboys last season, and although some of that was down to an impressive offensive line, Murray has the talent to help out anyone of a number of teams.
Candidates: Dallas are rated unlikely to make Murray a big offer and he may have to settle for a little less money than he might have once thought. There are a few teams in need of backfield help and chief among them would seem to be the Indianapolis Colts. Dan Herron doesn't appear likely to be a star rusher, albeit after a fairly positive second half of the season, and Murray would provide the Colts offense with an all-round presence, turning them into probably the best in the league. Jacksonville could get involved, but they seem to still like Denard Robinson for the future, and Arizona might not have the cap space to offer Murray what he feels he is worth.
3. Randall Cobb (WR, Green Bay Packers)
Cobb did himself no harm ahead of free agency with a wonderful 2014 season, catching 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is only 24 and has plenty of good years ahead of him, offering a combination of skills that many top receivers do not have. He can still return a kick (risky), go from the backfield, and operate out wide or in the slot. Jack of all trades and master of some?
Candidates: The Packers would love to have Cobb back, but they turned down the chance to tag him and now he is probably going to cost $50m+ in the long-term and head elsewhere. Now he has an interesting dilemma - take top money and play for a lesser quarterback or take a few dollars fewer and join another contender. Oakland look to be the main players, and Derek Carr might well be a serviceable NFL signal-caller, and similar could be said of Jacksonville and Blake Bortles. But neither of them is going to be Aaron Rodgers.
4. Julius Thomas (TE, Denver Broncos)
The Broncos had a tough call to make, but you would think they made the right one choosing one Thomas (wide receiver Demaryius) over another when using the franchise tag. Julius Thomas now becomes the star tight end on the market, although his value might well be a little inflated by Peyton Manning continually targeting him in the red zone. Thomas had time on the shelf injured last season but still managed 12 touchdowns (although fewer than 500 receiving yards).
Candidates: Thomas was reportedly looking for Rob Gronkowski money from the Broncos, which probably made their decision a little easier. He might not quite get that kind of payout, but there are candidates out there to hand him a decent wage. The Raiders and Jaguars could look to him depending on the decisions of other high-profile free agents they have their eyes on, but the Atlanta Falcons could be Thomas' next team. They are crying out for an internal presence and missed Tony Gonzalez badly last season after his retirement. They have enough cap space to make the move as well.
5. Devin McCourty (S, New England Patriots)
McCourty wanted to stay with the Patriots and even talked positively about being placed under their franchise tag (mainly because he would have enjoyed a HUGE pay rise), but that instead went to kicker Stephen Gostkowski. McCourty is a reliable, and very intelligent, free safety and one of the best players in his position. He would be a big loss to the Patriots, especially when there appear to be few safeties coming up in the 2015 draft class.
Candidates: The Patriots will try to get a deal done with McCourty, but they also have the same kind of quandary with Darrelle Revis, who is owed an awful lot of money ($20m) if they take their team option on him (highly unlikely). McCourty seems most likely of the two to be back but he will get lots of offers from other teams. The Washington Redskins are among those likely to make a play as are the Chicago Bears, who have desperate need for defensive back help.
6. Mike Iupati (OG, San Francisco 49ers)
A guard? Sixth? Seriously? Well yes, on this occasion. Iupati is elite in his position, and although it is not a sexy one, it is vitally important. Making room for running backs, protecting quarterbacks - they may sound easy, but they are not, and Iupati stands to make plenty of money from doing both.
Candidates: There has been plenty of talk that the Redskins have made Iupati their offseason priority, and they need him. With Robert Griffin III tabbed as their starting quarterback next season, they need someone to look after him and make some space to allow him to make plays... avoid sacks... stop getting injured (delete as applicable). This is a weak class for offensive linemen, and they may have to overpay, but if they opt against going for McCourty, Iupati will end up in the nation's capital. Buffalo and Chicago could also make a play but the latter's interest will again depend on their pursuit of other free agents.
7. Jerry Hughes (DE, Buffalo Bills)
Hughes has flourished in the last two seasons in Buffalo, but $14.9m in franchise tag salary was too much for them to consider, even though he managed 10 sacks in 2013 and 2014. Those numbers are likely to mean a hefty pay rise for the veteran, although the market for his services could be diluted by the number of available linemen this spring.
Candidates: The Bills are keen to get a deal done by the time their exclusive negotiating rights period comes to an end on March 7. Suitors should be plentiful if he hits the free agent market three days later, but chief among them will be the Cleveland Browns. Behind the Raiders and Jaguars, Cleveland has the most cap space available and Hughes started his career rebirth under Browns coach Mike Pettine, who was previously defensive coordinator in Buffalo. Just about a match made in heaven and an immediate upgrade to the Browns pass rush.
8. Byron Maxwell (CB, Seattle Seahawks)
Maxwell has been part of a strong Seahawks defence over the past couple of seasons, although it has been said his numbers were inflated by others around him, including Richard Sherman. But that seems a little harsh, as quarterbacks testing him have struggled to make big plays. Although he does not have flashy interception numbers (six in two seasons) he is a consistent corner in a market lacking quality.
Candidates: Another fairly obvious one here - the New York Jets. The Jets are in dire need of help in the secondary, and Maxwell fits the bill to perfection, along with McCourty. If they could get both, ideal, but it will probably have to be one of the two as there are plenty of holes to fill elsewhere, including running back where they might look at CJ Spiller. As with McCourty, the Bears could be in the market for Maxwell but the Jets have a lot more cap space to work with.
9. Jeremy Maclin (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)
Maclin appears to have been the victim of a strong wide receiver market, both in terms of impending free agents and rookies. The Eagles would have needed to spend north of $13m to place a franchise tag on the speedster, who is one of the best deep threats in the league. He went to his first Pro Bowl last season after pulling in 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 scores and figures to get a good deal somewhere.
Candidates: A good deal somewhere seems likely not to mean a change of address. Among this top 10, Maclin is most likely to stay exactly where he is, probably before he even gets to the market, unless the tampering period (starting on Saturday) sees someone come up with a big offer. The market for Maclin will probably mirror that of Cobb, with the losers there likely to make him the biggest offer, if they even get the chance to.
10. Brian Orakpo (OLB, Washington Redskins)
Orakpo has a history of injuries but when he has been able to get on the field he has proved one of the better pass rushers in the game from his outside linebacker/hybrid end spot. He would figure to be higher on this list but for a troublesome pectoral area. He has seen the same injury end three of his six seasons in the league prematurely, but has still managed 40 sacks and should find himself a decent contract.
Candidates: Talks over a new deal with the Redskins are reportedly not going well so he figures to be up for grabs come March 10. Guaranteed money might prove hard to come by because of his injury history but someone will take a risk on the 28-year-old. The teams with plenty of cap room could all need help, but Tennessee, who have the fourth highest amount of room, would seem to be the best fit if the Jaguars do not make a move.
