In preparation for the 2014 season, a collection of teams made free-agent pickups that contributed to huge positives (or negatives) throughout the campaign.
The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Golden Tate, who put up the best numbers of his career by far. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, added veteran wideout Steve Smith and running back Justin Forsett. After being overlooked elsewhere, both guys put up huge numbers in Baltimore's offense.
The New Orleans Saints' addition of safety Jairus Byrd (on a six-year, $56 million deal, mind you), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' acquisition of quarterback Josh McCown filled the opposite end of the spectrum as free-agent busts.
So who will hit the free-agent lottery in 2015? Conversely, who will swing and miss on signings as the Saints and Bucs did?
Here are the names to look out for as each team's most noteworthy upcoming FA. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order.)
Arizona Cardinals: Antonio Cromartie
A case could be made for free-agent pass rusher John Abraham here, considering he racked up 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2013. However, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve in September due to a concussion and didn't play at all in 2014. He's also 36 years old.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, on the other hand, played and performed well throughout 2014. He finished with 48 combined tackles and three interceptions. He's much younger than Abraham as a 30-year-old, so there's reason to believe he still has some good years ahead of him. In Cromartie's career, he's been named to the Pro Bowl three times—most recently in 2013.
Atlanta Falcons: Kroy Biermann
Veteran linebacker Kroy Biermann finished fifth on the Atlanta Falcons with 77 combined tackles in 2014. He also stuffed runners at or behind the line of scrimmage eight times for 18 yards and added 4.5 sacks.
Atlanta's defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season, which doesn't help Biermann's case. Nevertheless, he's still relatively young (29) and has remained durable throughout his career more often than not. He's played in all 16 regular season games in six of his seven professional years.
Baltimore Ravens: Torrey Smith
The Baltimore Ravens had yet another impressive season before falling to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a closely fought playoff affair. Now that their season has come to an end, Baltimore's front office has one huge question to answer (and no, not in reference to the Ray Rice debacle).
Torrey Smith—the Ravens' deep threat wide receiver who has become one of Joe Flacco's favorite targets—is set to become a free agent. Given his skill set, it's logical to assume he'll net a giant pay raise from his rookie contract.
Can Baltimore afford to keep him around as one of Flacco's major weapons, or will another team swoop in with too lucrative an offer?
Buffalo Bills: Jerry Hughes
You could argue that running back/kick returner C.J. Spiller deserves the nod in this spot as a multi-talented athlete who can impact the game in a variety of ways. The former Clemson standout has a player option for 2015 that he may decline in favor of testing the open market—even after an injury-riddled 2014.
While Spiller has been an important piece in Buffalo, defensive end Jerry Hughes is the most noteworthy player set to hit the market. The 26-year-old made up one-fourth of Buffalo's extremely talented defensive line (including Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mario Williams). Hughes racked up 9.5 sacks for the Bills throughout 2014 (third on the team), making him a valuable asset for teams in need of a pass rushers.
If you can't get after opposing quarterbacks in the NFL, you're going to have a tough time winning. Because Hughes can provide that expertise, he'll be a hot commodity during offseason festivities.
Carolina Panthers: Greg Hardy
Will 2015 be the season of forgive and forget?
Defensive end Greg Hardy joins the list of NFL players whose off-field issues cut their 2014 campaigns short. Like Ravens running back Ray Rice was, Hardy is cocooned in ugly domestic violence allegations. His trial date is set for Feb. 9.
The outcome of that trial may or may not impact his chances at returning to professional football. There's a chance he's already played his last game. Nevertheless, Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman said at the time of Hardy's suspension, “A guy of that caliber, man, we need that. Hands down, I would welcome that and relish the chance to play with that guy again,” per Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer.
Whether or not front offices around the league will feel the same way toward the embattled Pro Bowl defensive end remains to be seen. He has the talent necessary to be an impact player, but he also carries a ton of baggage.
Chicago Bears: Stephen Paea
Although many Chicago Bears fans may wish that Jay Cutler's gargantuan contract would come off the books in 2015, he remains under contract through the next four seasons (with a few caveats).
A pair of veterans named Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman will hit the market, but they're on the wrong side of 30 and each spent time on injured reserve in 2014. As a result, the most noteworthy upcoming free agent for the Bears is defensive tackle Stephen Paea.
The 26-year-old out of Oregon State is coming off a career year in which he played all 16 games for the first time. He had 33 combined tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
Cincinnati Bengals: Terence Newman
Simply put, Terence Newman did not play like a 36-year-old throughout the 2014 campaign. The veteran cornerback finished fifth on the Bengals in tackles with 72 despite missing three games. He added 14 pass deflections (leading Cincy's roster) and one interception.
Newman will turn 37 years old in September, so there's no guarantee that he'll opt to return for another go. “I don't even know if I want to keep playing,” Newman said, per NKY Sports Reporter Richard Skinner.
If he does decide to play for another season, there's reason to believe he can still be an impactful defender.
Cleveland Browns: Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer didn't play as well throughout 2014 as he did in three games the season prior. However, his late-season replacement—rookie QB Johnny Manziel—was even less effective under center.
It's unclear whether or not the Cleveland Browns will bring Hoyer back—even if he's filling a backup role—but he's one of the best free-agent QBs available in an offseason devoid of marquee talents available at the position.
Could Hoyer land a starting job elsewhere? Aside from Cleveland, the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills could be in the market for a fresh face, but Hoyer will more than likely be relegated to a backup role somewhere.
Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant/DeMarco Murray
Wide receiver Dez Bryant and running back DeMarco Murray are two of the best free agents available at any position.
Murray is coming off a career year in which he played all 16 games for the first time in his career while racking up a Cowboys record 1,845 yards on the ground. He's just 26 years old, but past injury troubles and the incredible workload he experienced in 2014 could raise significant red flags.
As for Bryant, he hauled in 88 catches for 1,320 yards and a career-high 16 touchdowns. The ‘Boys will certainly want to bring both guys back—one at the least. Both will command lucrative contracts, but Jerry Jones shouldn't be deterred.
Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas
After an extremely strong start that eventually fizzled out for the Denver Broncos, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas put together a phenomenal season.
The former first round pick hauled in a career-best 111 receptions for a career-high 1,619 yards. He scored 11 touchdowns and didn't fumble the ball once.
Now, he'll be a free agent. Denver seems to have more pressing issues—like the future of aging star Peyton Manning—but Thomas still needs to be a priority during the offseason.
Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh
Despite all the on-field hullabaloo that has generated Ndamukong Suh's reputation as a dirty player, he's still one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the game.
He was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and fourth First-Team All-Pro berth in 2014. The 28-year-old had 53 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 stuffs and three pass deflection. He made his presence known in Detroit's playoff game against Dallas by sacking Tony Romo twice.
If a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter is any indication, Suh doesn't intend to re-sign with the Lions and has a desire to play in New York. The Big Apple could welcome a big star in the coming months.
Green Bay Packers: Take Your Pick
The Green Bay Packers remain in the hunt for Super Bowl rings heading into the NFC Championship against the Seattle Seahawks. They're one of the best teams in football thanks to mainstays Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews (who are both locked up on long-term deals through 2018), but the inevitable offseason is going to bring a plethora of questions.
Cornerback Tramon Williams, defensive lineman B.J. Raji, offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga, Pro Bowl fullback (and cult hero) John Kuhn and dynamic receiver Randall Cobb are all set to hit free agency. There are quite a few big names on that list who will command big money.
Green Bay's front office will likely have to pick and choose guys they deem most important to the franchise, because bringing all of them back isn't very feasible.
Houston Texans: Kareem Jackson
Even though the Houston Texans didn't wind up making the postseason, Kareem Jackson gave his squad a great shot with his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.
The 26-year-old cornerback picked off two of Joe Flacco's throws, which set up good field position and 10 points for the sputtering offense. It capped an all-around solid year for the University of Alabama product.
Jackson missed three games due to injury, but that shouldn't hurt his offseason stock. He was an important part of Houston's secondary.
Honorable Mention: Brooks Reed
Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne
It was tempting to put backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in this spot, but ultimately, veteran wideout Reggie Wayne is more meaningful to the Colts franchise (note heavy sarcasm).
Wayne has spent his entire 14-year career with Indianapolis. While his production in recent years has waned, he still caught 64 passes for 779 yards—second on the team behind go-to guy T.Y. Hilton.
Will Wayne and the organization show mutual loyalty and keep him around for 2015, or will the relationship sour and push the long-time pro to a different situation?
Jacksonville Jaguars: Geno Hayes
The Jacksonville Jaguars experienced yet another season to forget in 2014 with a 3-13 record. This is still a very young team, so it makes sense that the Jags have very few players with expiring contracts this offseason (many guys are still on rookie deals).
One soon-to-be free agent is linebacker Geno Hayes. The 27-year-old out of Florida State showed good versatility in 2014 when the coaching staff asked him to move from the weak side to the strong side linebacker spot due to a variety of circumstances.
He logged 51 combined tackles, two sacks and nine stuffs, but he could be on his way out of Jacksonville considering that the team will get Paul Posluszny back after he spent most of 2014 on IR.
Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston
The Kansas City Chiefs defense ranked No. 2 at stopping the pass during 2014. Justin Houston was the reason why.
The 26-year-old picked a heck of a time to post the best season of his career. In his contract year, Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks. The former Georgia Bulldog put his mark on the league as one of the best pass rushers, which is why he'll command big money in the offseason.
As NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt wrote in November, “You just don't find guys like him every day.” Look for Kansas City to do everything in its power to retain the defensive terror.
Miami Dolphins: Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno was placed on season-ending injured reserve after just three games due to an ACL injury. In his stead, backup running back Lamar Miller rushed for 1,099 yards on a career-high 5.1 yards per carry to accompany eight touchdowns.
Due to Miller's breakout, the Miami Dolphins are under no obligation to bring Moreno back. With that said, the former 1,000-yard runner could latch on with another organization and regain the form he had in 2013 as a member of the Denver Broncos.
Unfortunately for Moreno, there's simply not much demand for running backs. Case in point: Moreno tested the free agent market last year only to settle for a one-year, $3 million deal from Miami. Perhaps he'll get a multi-year deal elsewhere, but it's unlikely.
Minnesota Vikings: Matt Asiata
In an interview with Mike Florio on NBC Sports Pro Football Talk Live (h/t NBC Sports' Darin Gantt), Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said that he would like to have beleaguered running back Adrian Peterson back with the club in 2015.
Zimmer added, “But it has to be a two-way street and he has to get his life taken care of—but we'll sit down and talk, but I'm a pretty good recruiter, too.”
Peterson's future will likely decide that of free-agent running back Matt Asiata, who filled the void when the former MVP was suspended. If Peterson returns, Asiata will be expendable. He should be able to find interest elsewhere, as he at least proved he can be a serviceable goal-line back—he scored nine touchdowns for Minnesota in 2014.
New England Patriots: Darrelle Revis
After spending the 2013 season toiling in Tampa Bay's zone-scheme defense, Darrelle Revis found a new home with the New England Patriots. In 2014, head coach Bill Belichick put the veteran in a position to succeed, and he was right back to isolating defenders on “Revis Island.”
The 29-year-old has a team option for 2015 that would pay him $25 million. He's a lockdown corner, but the Pats would be insane to pick up that hefty deal.
Ideally, New England will find a way to re-sign him to a more reasonable figure and keep him where he's shown to be a perfect fit. If the two parties can't reach an agreement, Revis will have no shortage of suitors.
New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram didn't make it through the full season like he did back in 2012 (missing three games due to injury), but he had his best statistical output overall.
The fourth-year pro rushed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns. His 172-yard rushing game with a TD against the Packers in Week 8 led to a 44-23 blowout over Aaron Rodgers and company—no small feat for a Saints team that missed the playoffs altogether.
New Orleans is usually recognized for its passing attack with Drew Brees, but the offense actually had a good amount of balance when Ingram was in the backfield. The Saints need to shore up a lackluster defensive unit in the offseason, but it's fair to say fans wouldn't mind having Ingram return.
New York Giants: Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rolle revitalized his NFL career after moving from cornerback to safety. He's had a lot of success when playing zone coverage or when given the opportunity to roam the field and make plays on the ball.
That trend continued in 2014. The 32-year-old veteran played all 16 games, racked up 87 combined tackles and added nine pass deflections with three interceptions.
A variety of NFL teams had problems stopping the pass this season. That was partly due to a weak pass rush, but the defensive backs were lacking for teams like the Saints, Falcons and Ravens. Look for a wide variety of suitors to show interest in Rolle.
New York Jets: David Harris
The New York Jets had a variety of weaknesses in 2014 that led them to finish 4-12 (last in the AFC East). Defending the run wasn't among those shortcomings.
Gang Green boasted a stout defensive line, but linebacker David Harris was the alpha dog leading New York's D. He finished the season with a team-leading 124 combined tackles (ranking him 11th in all of football), added six sacks and forced two fumbles. He recorded double-digit tackles in five games.
Teams in need of a run-stifling linebacker will surely have Harris atop their free-agent wishlists (if the budget permits). He's still in the prime of his career and could improve any defense in the game with his presence.
Oakland Raiders: Charles Woodson
Whoever coined the term “ageless wonder” must have time traveled to 2014 to see Charles Woodson play football. The legendary defensive back had one of the best seasons of his 17-year career as a 38-year-old for the Oakland Raiders.
He amassed a career-high 112 combined tackles to accompany eight pass deflections, four stuffs, a sack and four interceptions (pushing his career total to 60 picks).
When asked in November if he plans to keep playing in 2015, the free-agent-to-be said, “No question,” per the Associated Press. “I'm not thinking about going into the 40s but I don't know. I'll continue to say it: I feel great.”
If Woodson would like to play for a Super Bowl contender in 2015, there are a handful of teams that can provide that opportunity. Even at this stage of his career, he still provides an immense amount of value.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Maclin
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was overshadowed by performances from Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown and rookie Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014, but he quietly put together a phenomenal year under the quarterback tandem of Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez.
Maclin played all 16 games for the first time since 2010, caught 85 passes and compiled 1,318 receiving yards. He also scored 10 TDs through the air (tied for a career best).
Bryant and Demaryius Thomas will likely get most of the media coverage during free agency, but Maclin should be on the radar of every team looking to add playmakers to its offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jason Worilds
The Pittsburgh Steelers' three-headed offensive monster of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell was the reason why the Steel City reached the playoffs. However, the defense managed to hold its own.
One member of Pittsburgh's D who is set to become a free agent is linebacker Jason Worilds. He was fifth on the team in total tackles (59) and led the Steelers with 7.5 sacks (tied with defensive end Cameron Heyward).
The biggest selling point? Worilds is just 26 years old. He'll be a hot commodity on the free-agent market this spring.
San Diego Chargers: Nick Hardwick
San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick was placed on season-ending injured reserve in September. As a result of his neck injury—which may threaten to end his professional career—San Diego was forced to play five different centers.
Quarterback Philip Rivers certainly wishes his long-time teammate had stayed healthy. He honored Hardwick by wearing his No. 61 on the back of his helmet (rather than Rivers' own No. 17).
There's no guarantee Hardwick will return to football in 2015, but he's a proven mainstay who can be a difference-maker. If he's healthy, look for San Diego to bring him back to play with Rivers yet again.
San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati
From one offensive lineman to another, Mike Iupati of the San Francisco 49ers is also set to become an FA. The 27-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler, having earned a berth on that team for three straight seasons.
He'll likely earn a hefty new contract as one of the best guards in football, but that can't deter the Niners from re-signing him. If San Fran is going to return to prominence in 2015, Colin Kaepernick will need to stay protected.
Honorable Mentions: Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree
Seattle Seahawks: Kevin Williams
After spending 11 seasons as the leader of the Vikings defensive line, 34-year-old Kevin Williams continued making an impact in a new uniform.
Throughout his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, Williams recorded 30 combined tackles, three sacks, two pass deflections and six stuffs. During an injury-riddled season for Seattle's roster, the veteran defensive tackle played all 16 games.
When Seattle's playoff run comes to an end, Williams will be free to sign a new contract with whoever wants him. Age is a concern, but he's still proven himself as a disruptive force on defense.
St. Louis Rams: Kenny Britt
Kenny Britt is another NFL player who comes with baggage. He's had a number of run-ins with the law throughout his career, which has raised red flags in the eyes of various organizations.
If Britt can put his past behind him and focus on football, though, he can be an impact receiver. The 26-year-old had a career year for the St. Louis Rams in 2014 despite the fact that Austin Davis and Shaun Hill split time under center in the absence of Sam Bradford.
He caught 48 passes for 748 yards and three touchdowns. As a high-risk, high-reward gamble, he's worth an incentive-laden deal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn
Health is the biggest question facing free-agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn. The 26-year-old was put on injured reserve after just one game in 2014 due to a biceps injury. It marked the second time in a three-year span that his season ended early via IR.
In the two seasons where Clayborn stayed healthy—2011 and 2013—he put up huge stats. The former Iowa Hawkeye racked up 106 combined tackles, 13 sacks and an astonishing 18 stuffs in that span (16 of those during the 2013 season).
Clayborn is worth the price tag when he ducks the injury bug, but that remains a prominent risk for teams thinking about signing him.
Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker
Has former No. 8 overall pick Jake Locker worn out his welcome with the Tennessee Titans?
Of Tennessee's quarterback crop in 2014—Locker, Charlie Whitehurst and Zach Mettenberger—the former had the worst quarterback rating (70.9). He also threw the fewest touchdowns (five) and had the highest INT percentage: 4.8 percent.
Locker may benefit from a weak free-agent market at the quarterback position, but it's difficult to envision him winning a starting job elsewhere.
Washington: Brian Orakpo
When Brian Orakpo first entered the league, he put together back-to-back-to-back season with at least 8.5 sacks and 50 combined tackles. He was one of the game's best up-and-coming pass rushers, but injuries have since derailed his career.
Orakpo has suffered a torn pectoral three times dating back to 2011 (left and right). It cut his 2012 season short after just two games and ended his 2014 season after seven contests.
Injuries are always a concern in sports, but Orakpo suffering repeat season-enders with pectoral tears adds even more question marks. He's still just 28 years old, but the question remains: can he stay healthy?
The post Every NFL Team's Most Noteworthy 2015 Free Agent appeared first on FindTheBest: The Official Blog.
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