Some targets I like from the above list:
The New Orleans Saints rarely let a player they want to retain get away, but after making
Ryan Ramczyk the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history by a decent margin with his five-year, $96 million extension signed before 2021, the decision with Armstead gets interesting. He has consistently been one of the best tackles in football since he was drafted in 2013, earning an overall grade above 75.0 in each season. While he’s graded better as a pass-blocker over his career, he’s not a liability in the run game by any means. If Armstead does get to test the open market, a dozen teams should be lining up to make him an offer.
Strengths:
– Elite in pass protection
– Scheme-diverse run-blocker
– Explosive athlete
Weaknesses:
– Injury history
Scheme Fit/Role:
HIGH-END STARTING LEFT TACKLE: There aren't many weaknesses to Armstead's game. He's one of the position's best pass-protectors and rarely loses in the run game across both gap and zone run concepts. There are plenty of teams with cap space next offseason — such as Jacksonville and Miami — that could make use of Armstead's services if the Saints opt against bringing him back. Slotting in next to
Quenton Nelson in Indianapolis would be the most intriguing potential landing spot for the 30-year-old.
Recent Injury History:
Armstead played over 750 offensive snaps just twice in the first six seasons of his career due to a litany of injuries, but he had been healthier of late heading into 2021. Armstead missed nine games in 2021 with elbow and knee injuries.
Contract Projection: Three years, $57.75 million ($19.25M per year, $43.75 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
We recently saw an elite tackle on the wrong side of 30 with injury concerns step into San Francisco's offense and become the most valuable tackle in football. Armstead may not quite be
Trent Williams, but he's one of the best all-around tackles in the league and would make almost any offense better.
Williams has been the one continuous thread in a secondary that has experienced some changes over the years, and perhaps we’re now at the point where we need to give him more credit for keeping everything in front of him on the backend.
The Saints have prioritized free-agent spending and drafting in the secondary, so we’re not suggesting Williams is playing in a weak group, but he has graded above 70.0 for five years in a row now as the free safety manning the deep third of the field. He’ll still be just 26 years old in Week 1 of 2022 after playing on the franchise tag and should have offers to become one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.
Strengths:
– Consistency
– Performs well in all facets
Weaknesses:
– Can struggle for physicality
– Inconsistent matched up in man coverage
Scheme Fit/Role:
VERSATILE FS: Marcus Williams has been a consistently impressive player for the Saints in his NFL career. He has been the team's free safety and is excellent in zones at all levels of the coverage. He would be a good starting safety in any scheme but fits best in a defense that plays with two high safeties, such as Atlanta's or Houston's.
Recent Injury History:
Williams has been remarkably injury-free in his NFL career and has little concern in that area.
Contract Projection: Four years, $64.5 million ($16.125M per year, $35 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
Williams was excellent as a rookie before being the player embarrassed on the “Minneapolis Miracle” play by the Vikings. Since then, he has continued to excel and would be a good starting free safety for much of the NFL.
Robinson endured a disastrous 2021 season as he once again tried to produce in a woeful passing offense. He saw just 44 targets through Week 8 after commanding 76 targets through Week 8 in 2020. While the lion’s share of the blame can be placed on the Bears’ offense in general, Robinson individually earned the worst overall grade of his career thus far (66.9). It’s entirely possible the focus was on staying healthy and getting ready for 2022 and beyond outside of Chicago.
Strengths:
– Contested catches
– Body control
– Hands
Weaknesses:
– His quarterbacks
– Speed
Scheme Fit/Role:
NO. 1 WR: Allen Robinson has a history of balling out despite awful quarterbacks throwing him the football dating back to high school. He isn't the fastest receiver in the game, but he is good at everything else and can defeat press coverage and beat elite cover corners. He won't be coming off his best year but is still a No. 1 option. Teams such as Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Cleveland could all use him for that spot.
Recent Injury History:
Robinson has had several injuries in the NFL, with his most recent one of significance being December 2020. His most severe injury was a torn ACL in 2017.
Contract Projection: Three years, $48 million ($16M per year, $30 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
Robinson's true ceiling is still something of an unknown because he has literally never experienced elite quarterback play. And yet, he has still consistently performed as a top-10 receiver.
Bates was looking for an extension this past offseason, but the Bengals instead chose to prioritize the player they drafted one round after Bates in 2018 — edge defender
Sam Hubbard. The Cincinnati defense took a major step forward in 2021, with free-agent additions
Trey Hendrickson and
D.J. Reader wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks and cornerback addition
Chidobe Awuzie outperforming the man he replaced in Washington Commodes cornerback
William Jackson III. Will Bates get his due from the Bengals, or will he be the latest homegrown player to depart?
Strengths:
– Range in coverage
– Ball skills
– Plays on the ball
Weaknesses:
– Inconsistency
– Tackling
Scheme Fit/Role:
SINGLE-HIGH FS/SPLIT SAFETY: Bates showed in 2020 that he can be an elite center field safety with the range to get to the sideline and make plays on the football. He is an ideal player for the Seattle Cover 1/Cover 3 style of defense, which is becoming increasingly less prevalent. He would also thrive in any system that runs with split safety shells, which makes him an ideal fit for most of the league in some shape or form.
Recent Injury History:
Bates has barely missed a snap in his NFL career and has little to no real injury concerns.
Contract Projection: Franchise tag (1-year, $12,911,000)
Bottom Line:
A year ago, Bates was coming off a career year and looked like the best safety in the game, but it represented a major outlier from the rest of his career and regression hit this season. He is still an impact coverage player at the position who fits in some way in pretty much every scheme in the league.
The 2021 offseason was a big one for centers, with the
Los Angeles Chargers’
Corey Linsley signing the biggest deal ever at the position. Linsley was quickly surpassed by
Detroit Lions center
Frank Ragnow’s extension as the market continued its upward trajectory. Jensen, who earned a 70.3 overall grade in 2021, now has a decision to make after Buccaneers quarterback
Tom Brady announced his retirement: stick around with Tampa Bay, or find a new home.
Strengths:
– Finishing and maintaining blocks
– Blocking in space
Weaknesses:
– Can be overaggressive
– Snap accuracy
Scheme Fit/Role:
STARTING CENTER: Jensen's best fit is on a downhill rushing offense that takes advantage of his physicality, but he's graded above the 70th percentile among all centers in gap and zone run schemes over the past three seasons. He would slide into nearly any offense without many issues.
Recent Injury History:
Jensen has been one of the most durable centers in the league since he signed with Tampa Bay prior to the 2018 season. He hasn't missed a start for the Buccaneers, notching over 4,000 offensive snaps for the team over that stretch.
Contract Projection: Three years, $39 million ($13M per year, $24.25 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
Jensen became a fan favorite in Baltimore and Tampa Bay because of his attitude and well-rounded game that can be plugged into most NFL offenses. The biggest concern for potential suitors would be that he's now on the other side of 30 at a position that takes a beating in the trenches, especially given the way that he plays it.
Scherff played the 2021 season on his second consecutive franchise tag at a value of $18.036 million, bringing his three-year earnings to $45,591,000. He already ranks in the top five among guards in career earnings, and he’s never signed a multi-year veteran contract. Scherff missed Weeks 5 through 8 with a sprained MCL but had another strong season with 70.0-plus grades in both run- and pass blocking. Injuries have kept him sidelined from time to time, but he has unteachable talent, which led to his selection at No. 5 overall in 2015.
Strengths:
– Reliable in pass protection
– Zone blocking
Weaknesses:
– Durability
– Hasn't been as dominant in gap schemes in recent years
Scheme Fit/Role:
STARTING GUARD: Scherff is one of the best all-around guards in football when healthy. He has graded out better the past several seasons in zone rushing schemes, where his ability on the move shines. He would be a nice addition to the Jets' young, rebuilding offensive line opposite
Mekhi Becton and
Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Recent Injury History:
The MCL sprain that sidelined Scherff for multiple weeks in 2021 is the latest in a growing list of injuries that have limited him throughout his career. Scherff has missed at least two games in each of the last five seasons.
Contract Projection: Three years, $50 million ($16.67 million per year, $30 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
A healthy Scherff is the best interior offensive lineman scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, but it's difficult to bank on Scherff staying healthy through an entire NFL season.
Tomlinson picked up where he left off in 2020 with a second consecutive overall grade above 75.0, and he also recorded a much-improved, career-best 75.2 pass-blocking grade. The former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2015 may be in for a bigger deal this time around than his early extension signed in 2018 for $16.5 million across three years.
Strengths:
– Value-add in run game, one of highest percentages of positively graded run blocks
– Zone blocking
Weaknesses:
– Pass blocking on true pass sets
– Locking onto targets on the move
Scheme Fit/Role:
STARTING GUARD: Tomlinson has developed into one of the best guards in the league under Kyle Shanahan, so a zone-heavy system is best for him to ensure continued high production. However, Tomlinson has done it all throughout his career and he can play in any scheme.
Recent Injury History:
Since 2017, Tomlinson has played at least 1,000 snaps in every season. He tore an MCL toward the end of 2018 but recovered in time to play every game in 2019.
Contract Projection: Three years, $27 million ($9M per year, $16.5 million total guaranteed)
Bottom Line:
After a slow start to his career, Tomlinson developed into a high-end starter and his most recent work ranks him among the league's best guards. He's a valuable asset in the run game and a strong pass protector who has plenty of good football left as a starting guard.
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