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Mike Tannenbaum, ESPNMar 9, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
The 2024 NFL free agent class seems stable, and workforce executives across the league may have choices within the coming days as they scramble to plug holes of their rosters and improve their personnel. We’ll see some large cash flying round.
After I was an NFL exec with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, I all the time went into March with a number of gamers I completely wished to signal. And that was very true after I felt a free agent would outperform his contract. It is essential to combine “splash” strikes with savvy worth offers.
So for a third yr in a row, I am placing on my GM hat and breaking down 5 present free brokers I might be focusing on to signal this coming week if I had been operating a workforce. These are gamers who I imagine may also help any roster, although every workforce after all has its personal set of wants. Listed below are 5 names I might pursue, the offers I might provide them and why I believe every can be well worth the cash.
Observe NFL free company’s largest offers
The deal I might provide: Three years, $120 million ($80 million assured)
Sure, he might be 36 in August, and sure, he’s coming off a proper Achilles tendon tear. These are apparent components. However let’s not overlook that Cousins has been extremely productive. Regardless of being restricted to eight video games with Minnesota final season, Cousins threw 18 landing passes. He completed seventh in Complete QBR at 63.2. He has had greater than 4,200 passing yards in every of his previous three full seasons, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 44-to-15 since 2020 is fifth-best within the NFL.
Merely put, Cousins is dramatically higher than every other quarterback obtainable in free company, and when he’s wholesome — he just lately posted video of himself throwing — he is without doubt one of the prime 12 passers within the league. Not each workforce wants a quarterback, however he is the highest choice. I might be attempting to signal him to a three-year cope with comparable ensures to the contract that Daniel Jones received in New York final March however with a decrease total per-year common to account for his age and up to date damage historical past.
The deal I might provide: One yr, $8 million (totally assured)
Henry won’t be what he as soon as was, however that is a tricky threshold to keep up for anybody. He rushed for over 2,000 yards and scored 17 TDs simply 4 seasons in the past. However now he is 30 years outdated, and there is a good probability {that a} workforce might signal him to a price deal given the operating again market.
Henry was nonetheless very productive for the Titans final season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, gaining 1,167 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns (together with 214 receiving yards). He had 23 carries for 10 or extra yards. I imagine he can nonetheless be a productive front-line starter.
In case you’re in search of a operating again this offseason, the free agent class is fairly stable. I like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler, amongst others. But when I can get Henry on a completely assured one-year deal underneath $10 million, I am leaping at that probability. And bear in mind, the draft class lacks top-end, early-pick choices on the place. So if I am in search of assist there, I am caring for it in March.
The deal I might provide: One yr, $15 million ($5 million assured)
That is among the many most fascinating free agent conditions that we have seen in recent times. Smith has been among the finest left tackles within the NFL over the previous decade — however he’s 33 years outdated and has not performed a full season since 2015.
So many groups want offensive line assist, and when Smith is on the sector, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound blocker is hard to get round. His go block win charge nonetheless exhibits that he’s a stable choice, rating twenty sixth out of 69 tackles final season with Dallas (89.1%). And when you have a run-heavy offense, you may love Smith. He was fifth amongst tackles in run block win charge final season (79%).
I might be in on Smith if I might get him on a short-term cope with low ensures. Contemplate that his 13 video games in 2023 had been his most since 2019. The sturdiness considerations are actual. But when it is a one-year cope with round $5 million assured, it could possibly be a steal.
The deal I might provide: Three years, $36 million ($25 million assured)
In my view, he is without doubt one of the most underrated gamers within the NFL. Whereas Van Ginkel might be 29 years outdated in July, he has performed in each sport over the previous 4 seasons, and his manufacturing is definitely underneath the radar.
In 2023, he had a profession yr, posting 69 tackles, 6 sacks, 32 pressures and 6 go breakups — and his position expanded whereas filling in for the injured Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips in Miami. His 17.8% go rush win charge and 10.7% stress charge had been each within the prime 30 leaguewide, too.
Enormous cash might be spent on Danielle Hunter and Jonathan Greenard, however I just like the upside, reliability and flexibility of Van Ginkel at $12 million yearly.
The deal I might provide: One yr, $10 million ($7 million assured)
Wagner might be undervalued in free company as a result of he might be 34 years outdated when the 2024 season kicks off, however he seems to be ageless. He hasn’t missed a sport in two years and has performed in at the least 15 in each season since 2014. And Wagner was really extra productive final season than he was in 2022, main the NFL in tackles with 183. (He additionally had 3.5 sacks for the Seahawks.)
Not solely is Wagner an awesome participant but in addition an amazing chief. If I am operating a workforce, I’d be excited to convey him in due to his nice intangibles and on-field play — even when I am committing to just one season.
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