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With two main quarterback transactions this winter, the rise of commerce rumours about different quarterbacks and buzz about subsequent month’s draft, the NFL is at all times a minimum of on the periphery of its followers’ minds — even within the depths of the low season.
On the speedy horizon is the NFL free company interval, which begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Earlier than a number of stars hit the market, we’ve highlighted 5 — with a prediction for the place they’ll signal.
(Observe: So as to add context to the projected worth of those gamers, we’re utilizing Spotrac’s calculation of market value as expressed by common annual wage)
WR Kenny Golladay
Age: 27
2020 stats: 20 catches, 338 yards, 2 TDs
2021 market worth: $17 million
A hip damage derailed Golladay for a lot of the 2020 season, forcing him to overlook 11 video games (together with Week 9 and onward). That prevented the 2019 Professional Bowler from posting a 3rd consecutive 1,000-yard season with the Detroit Lions, and it’d carry his price ticket down barely as he appears to be like for a long-term deal.
The Miami Dolphins have been linked to Golladay, however he additionally makes numerous sense for the Indianapolis Colts, low cost or not. With 31-year-old T.Y. Hilton and his $14.5 million cap hit off the books, the Colts have simply $7.1 million in complete money dedicated to the broad receiver place for 2021 (rostering Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell on rookie offers doesn’t damage).
Carson Wentz, the Colts’ new quarterback, in all probability wouldn’t thoughts having a surefire No. 1 goal heading into coaching camp. If the Colts are severe about competing — they usually appear to be, given the Wentz commerce — then ponying up for Golladay is of their finest curiosity.
Prediction: Colts
RB Aaron Jones
Age: 26
2020 stats: 1,104 rush yards (5.5 per try), 355 receiving yards, 11 TDs
2021 market worth: $14.6 million
The Inexperienced Bay Packers squeezed a ton of worth out of Jones, their 2017 fifth-round choose, spending lower than $4 million for 43 complete touchdowns over 4 seasons. Now it’s Jones’s flip to capitalize.
In 2020, Jones earned his first Professional Bowl choice whereas posting a career-high 78.9 rush yards per recreation. The season earlier than, he led the NFL with 16 dashing touchdowns. And now, he’s an ideal match for the New York Jets.
It’s not just like the Jets have to spend their practically $70 million of cap area (calculated by Over The Cap), however that type of discretionary earnings leaves the door open for many potentialities, reminiscent of securing an every-down again.
One other dominant season for @Showtyme_33.
His finest performs from 2020! pic.twitter.com/b4Vce9e4mc— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2021
Need to guess who the Jets’ rostered operating backs are as we converse? Sit on that for a second.
OK, I’ll simply let you know: La’Mical Perine, Ty Johnson and … Pete Guerriero (whose Twitter deal with, @PeteyTheJet, we very a lot take pleasure in).
Perhaps the Jets will accept a Perine-Johnson duo to assist them soldier by way of one other rebuilding 12 months. However why settle when you may afford to be the very best bidder on Jones?
Prediction: Jets
CB Patrick Peterson
Age: 30
2020 stats: 3 INT, 61 tackles (52 solo), 8 go breakups
2021 market worth: $10.4 million
The worth of shutdown corners in a pass-happy league is continuous to rise, which is why Peterson initiatives such a excessive market worth regardless of getting into his age-31 season.
Certain, the three-time All Professional might need misplaced a step or two, however he’s confirmed he can nonetheless compete with the league’s prime expertise. Simply ask D.Ok. Metcalf, who Peterson held to 5 catches and 69 yards in two matchups final season (Metcalf averaged 5.6 catches and 88 yards per recreation the remainder of the 12 months).
Groups just like the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, who had putrid go defences in 2020 and have cash to spend now, make sense for Peterson. However we like the concept of him pulling a Richard Sherman and sliding from one NFC West group (Arizona Cardinals) to a different (San Francisco 49ers).
The 49ers, who’ve practically $25 million in cap area, may overhaul their cornerback group, as all of their main contributors from final season — together with Sherman, Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley — are free brokers. They’re at the moment committing a grand complete of $3.14 million to cornerbacks on the roster.
In fact, San Francisco may carry again a few of its personal guys heading to free company, however Peterson has the kind of expertise and resume that solely Sherman can rival.
Prediction: 49ers
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Age: 24
2020 stats: 97 catches, 831 yards, 9 TDs
2021 market worth: $16.1 million
We’ve checked out one intra-division transfer — why not one other?
Smith-Schuster appears impossible to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, given each their cap state of affairs ($6 million of area) and the emergence of two youthful, inexpensive weapons in Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool (each of whom had extra receiving yards than Smith-Schuster in 2020).
Solely 2 WRs with 100+ slot targets in 2020
JuJu Smith-Schuster – 103
CeeDee Lamb – 101 pic.twitter.com/uD7LBDGPQd— PFF Fantasy Soccer (@PFF_Fantasy) March 12, 2021
Believers in Smith-Schuster can level to his 2018 Professional Bowl season, wherein his popping out marketing campaign featured 111 catches and over 1,400 yards. However he hasn’t come near clearing that bar in two seasons since, regardless of scoring a career-high 9 touchdowns this previous 12 months.
Merely put, it’s time to discover a new residence. And he shouldn’t need to wander far, as a result of the Baltimore Ravens are an ideal match.
The Ravens have a deadly rush assault — first in yards and makes an attempt, third in touchdowns in 2020 — and a viable deep risk in Marquise Brown. What they may use is a gentle presence to gobble up catches beneath and over the center. Smith-Schuster can do this.
We hesitate to name him a “possession receiver,” as a result of that’s only a good option to say he’s sluggish, however Smith-Schuster did submit a slightly ghastly 8.6 yards per catch final 12 months. Insulated within the Ravens’ buzzing offence, he has an opportunity to essentially shine once more.
Prediction: Ravens
OLB Bud Dupree
Age: 28
2020 stats: 8 sacks, 31 tackles (23 solo), 8 TFL, 15 QB hits
2021 market worth: $18.2 million
Dupree seems to be one other cap-crunch sufferer for the Steelers, who opted to not apply a second franchise tag to their 2015 first-round choose. That tag would’ve value $18.99 million, which is admittedly expensive for a one-year pact, however Dupree is certain to discover a good payday on the open market.
Prior to ripping his ACL in a Dec. 2 recreation in opposition to Baltimore, Dupree did loads to point out how disruptive he will be as a go rusher. And although knee surgical procedure recoveries shouldn’t be taken without any consideration, Dupree did tell ESPN last week he plans to be a full participant in coaching camp “primarily based on constructive suggestions from his docs.”
So the place does Dupree go from right here? In all probability someplace good, the place he can complement one other sturdy go rusher.
One group that stands proud is the Los Angeles Chargers, who’re in all probability prepared to maneuver on from longtime edge rusher Melvin Ingram — he was held sack-less in seven video games final 12 months and turns 32 in April.
Including Dupree, which is loads doable given the Chargers’ $25-plus million in cap room, to work reverse Joey Bosa is, properly, a scary thought for whoever is on the opposite aspect of that line.
The Browns are one other group that matches this mould (nearly $25 million in area, a spot open subsequent to Myles Garrett), however we just like the Chargers as Dupree’s optimum vacation spot.
Prediction: Chargers
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