NFL teams and their fans are hotly anticipating 4 pm on March 10, 2015, when free agency begins. This year’s free agent pool is one of the deepest in recent memory and could arguably be deemed the best ever.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and New York Jets could be celebrating Christmas in March this year with each over 58 million under the projected cap. This is before players carrying high contracts are released.
While the quarterback position is not stellar this year led by Brian Hoyer, Jake Locker, and Michael Vick, you can make an All-Pro team out of the running backs and wide receivers available this year. Demarco Murray leads this year’s group of running backs and is looking to cash in on his big year with a big raise over his 2014 salary of 1.4 million. Cheaper options at the running back position include Justin Forsett, Mark Ingram, Steven Ridley, Ryan Matthews, and Knowshon Moreno. The wide receivers are led by Dez Bryant, DeMaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb, and Jeremy Maclin who can all transform a team’s passing game to elite status.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and Terrance Knighton are the top defensive lineman available this year. Top outside linebackers include Justin Houston, Lance Briggs, and Brian Orakpo while Brando Spikes, Rolando McClain, and Rey Maualuga are the top inside backers. Rounding out the top secondary options are cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie, Ike Taylor, and Charles Tillman and safeties Antrel Rolle, Brandon Meriweather, and Devin McCourty.
Teams will have until March 4 to sign their own free agents or risk losing them in the open market that begins six days later.
Only time will tell what strategies teams will use. Does it make sense for a team like the Dallas Cowboys to pay max contracts to both DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant or sign one of them and look for cheaper options via free agency, the draft, or players currently under contract? The latter seems to be the best plan of attack if the Cowboys would like to build on this year’s success.
Meanwhile, adding an elite running back, wide receiver, and pass rusher via free agency for a team with plenty of money like the New York Jets can help new coach Todd Bowles turn around this storied franchise during the 2015 campaign. Players acquired during the draft can then be used to upgrade depth on the roster and allow the Jets to take the best player available.
And that’s…as I see it!
Come check out my blog articles and others at http://thegamedayreport.com.
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