Free Agency is slowing down but there is still plenty of good talent available. Let’s take a look at some more signings and the big names still available.
WR Signings
Rishard Matthews signed a 3 year 15 million dollar deal with the Titans. Matthews gets 5 million guaranteed and a 2.5 million signing bonus included in that amount. Matthews had one good year with the Dolphins in his fourth year but not much else in other years. Matthews will be a solid weapon for Marcus Mariota.
Jermaine Kearse tested the market but returned to Seattle at WR. Kearse had a nice 2015 season but earned a 3 year deal. Kearse notched a 3 year 13 million dollar deal. This was a good signing by Seattle to get their guy back.
North
The Lions signed Tahir Whitehead to a 2 year 8 million dollar deal. Whitehead played a lot for Detroit in 2014 and 2015 and is good on special teams. Whitehead can play the run but most importantly cover well. Whitehead can play Mike or SAM LB for Detroit. Detroit has a good LB core now with Levy, Bynes, Whitehead and Van Noy. Quinn appears to be getting Mayhew’s players back (Ngata, Walker, Whitehead). Mayhew knows talent and Quinn is agreeing with him.
The Lions added some special team depth with DB Johnson Bademosi. Bademosi got a surprising 2 year 4.5 million dollar deal. He was a very good special team player for the Browns and led the league in special teams tackles. The Lions have made special teams a priority with Bademosi, Tavon Wilson and Whitehead signings.
The Lions also added Stefan Charles from Buffalo on a one year deal. Charles had some success at DT for the Bills in their rotation and didn’t fit Rex Ryan’s 3-4 scheme. Charles will battle Gabe Wright and Carraun Reid for the backup jobs behind Ngata and Walker.
The Lions are busy as LT Russell Okung and safety Rafael Bush will visit. Okung would solidify LT and the Lions could move Reiff to RT killing two birds with one stone. Okung is his own agent which complicates matters. Bush missed 15 games last season with a torn pectoral and 6 games in 2014 with a broken leg. Bush was a solid player when healthy for the Saints and could battle Tavon Wilson for the strong safety spot if signed.
The Bears re-signed two CBs from the team last year. Porter got a surprising 3 year and 12 million dollar deal from the Bears. Porter allowed a low completion percentage but high amount of TDs and big YPC. Porter got 4.25 million guaranteed but only a 900,000 signing bonus. Sherick McManis signed a two year deal with the Bears and will battle for the nickel spot again. The Bears have visits with Akiem Hicks (DE) and Jermaine Gresham (TE) on Friday.
The Packers re-signed Nick Perry to a smart 1 year and 5 million dollar deal. This bolsters the Packers OLB depth. Perry could earn some incentives which boosts his cap number over 5 million. Thompson is awake I guess.
The Vikings finalized their deal with Alex Boone. Boone should be a starting guard and has a nasty streak. He has had success in pass pro and run blocking with the 49ers but struggled in run blocking in 2015. Boone got big money on a 4 year 26.8 million dollar deal. Paying almost 7 million for Boone means Mike Harris is a back-up now unless he beats out Brandon Fusco. The Vikings are also interest in RT Andre Smith and could have a very different offensive line in 2016.
FA Available
There is plenty of good talent out there available. Russel Okung, Donald Penn, William Beattty and Kelvin Beachum are left tackles sitting on the market. Okung, Beatty and Beachum have some injury situations to clear up but should play in 2016. Okung visits the Giants and Lions today.
There are some older CBs available with Leon Hall, Brent Grimes (cut) and Antonio Cromartie (cut). Prince Amukamara has an injury past but is a good CB when healthy. Amukamara is a young number 1 CB and will visit the Jaguars. Casey Hayward is the best slot CB available and Noah Carroll could play the nickel role too.
Anquan Boldin could help a team as a possession receiver and Andre Johnson still wants to play after a terrible year with the Colts. Roddy White is another old WR that still wants to play.
Eric Weddle is 31 year old safety that has been a top 5 safety almost every year of his career. He wants to play for a contender. Reggie Nelson (32) is an older starting safety from the Bengals that could help a team in safety need. Nelson is a free safety. Dashon Goldson is 31 and hasn’t stuck around despite a big deal a few years ago with the Bucs. Goldson glory days in San Francisco are far in the past. Walter Thurmond is another solid safety available along with William Moore. Both could be starters but Thurmond offers more upside with coverage at the age of 28.
Jahri Evans and Louis Vazquez are two older guards that can still play at a high level despite being cut for cap reasons.
Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the way for top QBs left and wants to be paid like a starter. Brian Hoyer may be released from the Texans after the Osweiler deal.
DeMeco Ryan and Stephen Tulloch are ILBs that can play the run. They lack in coverage but could help a team. James Laurinitus and David Hawthorne could start somewhere at LB. Jerrell Freeman from the Colts is probably the best ILB left on the market though.
Steve McClendon, Mike Devito and Al Woods offer a 3-4 team a solid defensive lineman for run defense. Terrance Knighton and Akiem Hicks are the best available on the defensive line.
Nick Fairley has finally lost weight and could try and live up to his potential at DT. The former Lion had a nice season in 300 snaps with the Rams on a one year deal. He’ll probably get another short term deal.
Robert Ayers had a good 2015 season with the Giants. He has revitalized his career and should start at DE or provide a consistent pass rush at the very least. If you want a head case, add Greg Hardy at DE.
There is plenty more talent available too. The bargain shoppers will start scrounging for talent in the next few weeks.