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Similar to final yr, a league-altering set of 2021 NFL free brokers are within the 25-and-under membership.
Final offseason, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones and Dallas Cowboys wideout Amari Cooper headlined the listing. This yr’s greatest younger free brokers will be equally impactful.
These gamers all have a pleasant mixture of confirmed manufacturing and alluring remaining upside. They’re strolling into the primes of their careers, which generally creates bidding wars for them.
Between these components and positional worth, we have ranked the highest 25-and-under members of this yr’s free-agent class, with the age cutoff at first of the brand new league yr (March 17). We’ll additionally embody a greatest match primarily based on crew want, schematic match and cap area.
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After taking part in solely 4 video games throughout the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Atlanta Falcons security Keanu Neal acquired his profession again on monitor final season.
The 2016 first-round choose racked up 73 solo tackles and his first profession sack throughout 15 video games in 2020. He additionally snagged an interception and deflected two passes, incomes a 68.2 Professional Soccer Focus grade.
Whereas Neal did enable 45 catches on 58 targets, in line with PFF, protection abilities aren’t the one factor he brings to the desk. He is an in-the-box thumper who can play at his pure spot or come down within the slot.
Given his damage historical past, groups might not must spend a ton for Neal. However he is a flexible participant who regarded like he might be one of many league’s subsequent massive issues in 2017 whereas posting a 78.1 PFF grade.
Greatest Match: Jacksonville Jaguars
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Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman would possibly lead the cornerback market this offseason, however Shaquill Griffin ought to assist some crew in want.
The Seattle Seahawks initially chosen Griffin with a third-round choose in 2017. In 57 profession video games over 4 season, he has picked off six passes whereas taking part in the lion’s share of the defensive snaps.
Over 12 video games this season, Griffin recorded 50 solo tackles, three interceptions and solely allowed 45 catches on 73 targets, good for a 64.1 Professional Soccer Focus grade. That is down from his 77.0 PFF grade in 2019, however nagging accidents may clarify the dip.
It is uncommon for groups to snag a possible No. 1 nook at an inexpensive worth, however Griffin has the upside to assist a crew pull off such a feat.
Greatest Match: Indianapolis Colts
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A hamstring damage restricted Chidobe Awuzie to solely eight video games final season, which contributed to the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive struggles.
When wholesome, Awuzie allowed 25 receptions on 38 targets and snagged just one interception, incomes him a brutal 51.9 grade from PFF. He was much better in 2019, permitting 56 receptions on 90 targets to complete with a 72.2 grade.
Whereas Awuzie has solely 4 interceptions throughout his 4 NFL seasons, he hasn’t allowed a completion proportion north of 60 in any of the previous three years.
Awuzie is an even bigger nook (6’0″, 202 kilos) who may bounce again in higher environment and a zone-friendly scheme. A crew that should bolster its secondary ought to gamble on the 2017 second-rounder’s upside this offseason.
Greatest Match: Los Angeles Chargers
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In a stacked free-agent extensive receiver class, Curtis Samuel might get misplaced within the shuffle.
The Carolina Panthers struggled to determine how greatest to make the most of the 2017 second-round choose over his first three seasons. He stayed on the sector for all 16 video games solely as soon as in that span, and he by no means topped 800 yards from scrimmage.
Nevertheless, Samuel broke out this season below new offensive coordinator Joe Brady. He had his first three 100-yard receiving video games, and he completed with 851 receiving yards and three touchdowns to go together with 200 yards and two scores on the bottom.
A flexible weapon who’s coming into his personal and will accomplish much more in a greater passing assault, Samuel may spark a stunning bidding battle as soon as the free-agent dominoes begin to fall.
Greatest Match: Cincinnati Bengals
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JuJu Smith-Schuster is surprisingly younger (24) for a participant with 4 NFL seasons below his belt, which ought to solely make him extra enticing to groups in want.
The 2017 second-rounder has spent his profession taking part in in a pass-happy offense largely led by Ben Roethlisberger. Whereas he hauled in 97 catches and scored a career-high 9 occasions this previous season, he averaged solely 8.6 yards per catch on 128 targets.
Though Smith-Schuster could be miscast as a No. 1 choice, he can thrive as a No. 2. Whereas flanking a main Antonio Brown again in 2018, he hauled in a career-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and 7 scores.
Both manner, Smith-Schuster is dependable and may rack up each yards and catches on beneath routes. His potential to wiggle by protection ought to make him one of the crucial sought-after free-agent wideouts.
Greatest Match: Washington Soccer Group
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Jonnu Smith has largely been hidden in a run-first Tennessee Titans offense, however he has monumental upside.
Smith snagged a career-high 41 receptions for 448 yards and eight touchdowns on 65 targets this previous season. He is additionally averaged no less than 7.8 yards after the catch in two of his final three years.
The 6’3″, 248-pounder is a flexible weapon who can create mismatches all around the discipline. In a extra pass-happy assault, he has main breakout potential.
Any crew in want of a do-it-all tight finish ought to put Smith excessive upon its free-agent want listing.
Greatest Match: New England Patriots
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Yannick Ngakoue has rapidly cemented himself as one of many NFL’s greatest younger pass-rushers.
The 2016 third-round choose had a profitable four-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, racking up 37.5 sacks in 63 profession video games. However when the Jaguars started their teardown, they despatched him to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2021 second-round choose and a conditional 2022 fifth-round choose.
Ngakoue’s tenure in Minnesota did not final lengthy. The Vikings despatched him to the Baltimore Ravens after solely six video games for a 2021 third-round choose and a conditional 2022 fifth-rounder. He nonetheless managed to rack up eight sacks, six quarterback knockdowns, 12 hurries and 26 pressures throughout 15 appearances (eight begins) between Baltimore and Minnesota.
Baltimore hasn’t blinked at dropping edge-rushers previously, so Ngakoue might be in search of a brand new house this offseason. Any crew that should bolster its go rush must be eyeing somebody with 45.5 sacks in 78 profession video games.
Greatest Match: New York Jets
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Marcus Williams possible is not a family title exterior of New Orleans, however he is been fairly the success story for the Saints.
The 2017 second-rounder has performed no less than 84 percent of the Saints’ defensive snaps in every of his first 4 seasons and has picked off 13 passes. He put up a robust 79.3 PFF grade this previous season and an 86.5 in 2019.
Williams is robust within the field towards the run and dependable in protection, which is not frequent on the security spot even in 2021. Which may clarify why Spotrac tasks his market worth at a mean wage of $9.4 million per yr, which might rank ninth leaguewide amongst safeties.
Given the premium nature of the security place and the plug-and-play nature of his ability set, Williams is a candidate to set off an sudden bidding battle.
Greatest Match: Washington Soccer Group
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Few issues are extra premium than strain within the NFL nowadays, and Cincinnati Bengals edge-rusher Carl Lawson brings extra of it than most of this yr’s free brokers.
Lawson has had various roles below two totally different teaching staffs in Cincinnati, however he has usually been a fourth-round success story. He is notched no less than 5 sacks in three of his 4 seasons, and he completed with a 76.3 PFF grade in 2020 whereas tallying a career-high 44 pressures.
Lawson additionally created 10.5 sacks for different gamers in 2020, in line with ESPN’s Seth Walder, which ranked sixth leaguewide.
If Lawson makes it to free company, he figures to spark an enormous bidding battle. The 25-year-old is arguably the most effective edge-rusher out there, and he may make an excellent greater influence on a protection with extra expertise round him.
Greatest Match: Indianapolis Colts
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Earlier than Tom Brady guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Tremendous Bowl victory, wideout Chris Godwin already projected to be among the best free brokers out there in 2021.
With Jameis Winston below middle in 2019, Godwin hauled in a career-high 86 catches for 1,333 yards and 9 touchdowns whereas averaging 15.5 yards per catch. Accidents and a crowded depth chart brought about his manufacturing to dip this previous season, however he has 11 profession 100-yard video games and has scored no less than seven occasions in three of his first 4 seasons.
Godwin is flexible and will slide right into a No. 1 wideout position if wanted. He additionally has solely seven drops on 300 targets throughout his previous three seasons mixed.
Wideouts like Godwin hardly ever hit the open market, and he is getting into his age-25 season. He is positioned to develop into one of many league’s highest-paid receivers and will reshape the Tremendous Bowl image in 2021 if he leaves the Buccaneers.
Greatest Match: New York Jets
All statistics by way of Pro Football Reference until in any other case famous.
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