O-line Watch 2022

[membengal]

It is too damn hard to curate it, TJ. And no one has complained before when I put in full articles but I don't have to do that I suppose....

I bolded the linemen - if I missed some I will edit. 

[membengal]

NFL free agency rankings for 2022: Chris Godwin, Tyrann Mathieu and Von Miller among our top 150 players

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Where do Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Orlando Brown and J.C. Jackson rank among our top 150 pending unrestricted NFL free agent rankings? Glad you asked. We’ve got it all covered below.

As players get re-signed, tagged and released, we’ll update the rankings. The age in parentheses indicates how old the player will be at the start of the 2022 season.

Factors taken into account: performance, age, durability and positional value.

Stats are courtesy of TruMedia and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted. Contract data is from OverTheCap.com.

1. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (29)
He belongs in any conversation about who is the best wide receiver on the planet. Adams’ 2,927 yards over the past two seasons rank second among wide receivers, and his 29 touchdowns rank first. DeAndre Hopkins has the outlier contract among wide receivers at $27.25 million per year. No other wide receiver is making more than $22 million per year. If the Packers can’t sign Adams long term, they are expected to use the franchise tag to keep him around for at least 2022. Another option would be to tag him and then trade him.

2. Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Kansas City Chiefs (26)
Brown has leverage and is in terrific position to cash in. The Chiefs traded for him last offseason but did not sign Brown to an extension as part of the deal. He’s played well for them at left tackle and has missed just one game in his career. He’s young, durable, good and plays a premium position. The Chiefs could use the franchise tag on Brown, but that would essentially just be kicking the can down the road a year. If they don’t tag him, Brown very well could become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL with a deal worth more than $23 million per year. Either way, he’s not going anywhere.

3. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26)
The Bucs used the franchise tag on Godwin last offseason, but now he should get a chance to test free agency. Godwin suffered a torn ACL in December, but given how young he is and how productive he’s been, that injury is unlikely to significantly affect his market. His 3,276 receiving yards over the past three seasons rank eighth among wide receivers. It would be no surprise to see a team pay more than $20 million per year to land Godwin.

4. J.C. Jackson, CB, New England Patriots (26)
Two highly attractive qualities with Jackson: One, he can play man coverage at a high level. And two, his ball production is elite. Jackson’s 22 interceptions over the past three seasons are tops in the NFL. And his 47 passes defended are tied for second. Does he get beaten on occasion? Sure. But he played the fifth-most snaps of man coverage among corners last year, and opponents completed just 47.6% of their attempts when targeting Jackson in man. Jalen Ramsey set the top of the corner market at $20 million per year. Jackson figures to come in just below that at $18 or $19 million per season.

5. Terron Armstead, OT, New Orleans Saints (31)
The big question with Armstead is durability. He dealt with a number of injuries in 2021 and has played in 37 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. But when Armstead is on the field, he’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL. This is a position where demand outweighs supply. Trent Williams set the top of the market last offseason with a deal worth just more than $23 million per year. There are eight left tackles making $16 million per year or more, and Armstead will make that nine.

6. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (27)
The seventh overall pick in 2017, Williams battled injuries in his first two seasons but has come on strong. His 1,146 yards in 2021 were a career high and ranked 11th among all wide receivers. Williams is a big-play threat who has averaged 16.1 yards per reception in his career. His 17 receptions of 20-plus yards last year tied for ninth among wide receivers. Kenny Golladay could be a good comp for Williams. He received a four-year deal worth $18 million per year from the New York Giants last offseason. The franchise tag could be in play with Williams.

7. Chandler Jones, Edge, Arizona Cardinals (32)
He’s been one of the best pass rushers of the past decade and showed in 2021 that he can still get it done. Jones’ 10.5 sacks were tied for 13th league-wide, and his 28 QB hits ranked seventh. Jones is on the wrong side of 30, but he’s shown great durability. Jones has played 15 games or more in six of the past seven seasons. It would be no surprise to see Jones land a deal in the neighborhood of Shaquil Barrett, who signed for $17 million per year last offseason.

8. Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals (25)
Bates will be an attractive option for teams looking for a ball-hawking safety. His 35 passes defended over the past four seasons are tied for fourth among all safeties. And he has 10 interceptions in four seasons. Bates spent roughly 69% of his snaps last season as a free safety. He’ll be just 25 at the start of next season and has been extremely durable. Bates has missed just two games in four NFL seasons. The Bengals could opt to use the franchise tag on him. If not, Bates will likely command a deal that makes him among the top-five highest-paid safeties (between $14.5 million and $17.5 million per year).

9. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs (30)
Teams in the market for a versatile, play-making safety will likely have Mathieu at the top of their free agency wish lists. Mathieu logged more than 200 snaps as a free safety, a box safety and a slot corner in 2021. His 13 interceptions over the past three seasons tied for second among safeties and tied for fifth among all players. Mathieu has been incredibly durable, having missed just two games in the past five seasons. Mathieu is older than some of the other free-agent safeties on the market, but he should still find a big deal. Harrison Smith got an extension from the Minnesota Vikings worth $16 million per year before the 2021 season at the age of 32. Mathieu could receive a similar deal.

10. Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints (26)
He closes out the trio of talented safeties in the top 10. The Saints surprisingly used the franchise tag on Williams last offseason. He played well once again in 2021 and will now get a chance to test the market. Williams will fit best on a team in need of help in the back end of its defense. He played roughly 89% of his snaps at free safety for the Saints last year. Williams is young and durable (he’s started 76 of a possible 81 games over the past five seasons). He, Bates and Mathieu could very well find deals that are all in the same neighborhood.

11. Von Miller, Edge, Los Angeles Rams (33)
The future Hall of Famer showed during the Rams’ Super Bowl run that he still has juice. Miller finished the regular season with 9.5 sacks (tied for 18th), and his 47 hurries ranked tied for 13th. Miller is not the same player he was in his prime, but he should interest contending teams in need of a pass-rush boost. J.J. Watt’s two-year, $28 million deal from last offseason could be the floor for Miller.

12. Brandon Scherff, OG, Washington Commanders (30)
The big question with Scherff is durability. He missed six games in 2021 and has been sidelined for 14 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. When he’s on the field, Scherff is still a high-quality right guard. According to PFF, he did not allow a sack and gave up just one QB hit on 398 pass-blocking snaps last season. Joel Bitonio signed an extension with the Cleveland Browns in November worth $16 million per year. And Joe Thuney signed for $16 million per year with the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason. Scherff, who has played the past two years on the franchise tag, will likely find a deal in that same neighborhood if teams can get over the durability concerns.

13. Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears (29)
He made $17.98 million on the franchise tag last season and now will look to cash in on a long-term deal. Robinson was (again) the victim of bad quarterback play in 2021, managing just 38 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. But from 2019 to 2020, Robinson’s 2,397 receiving yards ranked third among all wide receivers, behind only Stefon Diggs and Hopkins. Robinson could find a deal in the range of what we saw Courtland Sutton ($15 million per year) and Golladay ($18 million per year) land within the past year.

14. Harold Landry, Edge, Tennessee Titans (26)
Landry checks a lot of boxes: age, durability and production. He has not missed a game over the past three seasons and rarely came off the field for the Titans. Since 2019, he’s played more snaps than any other edge defender or defensive lineman in the NFL. During that span, Landry’s 26.5 sacks rank 11th, and his 58 QB hits rank 20th. Landry is coming off a season in which he set career highs with 12 sacks and 22 QB hits. Leonard Floyd got a four-year deal worth $16 million per season from the Rams last offseason. Landry might not be far off of that.

15. Jadeveon Clowney, Edge, Cleveland Browns (29)
If it feels like he’s on this list every year, it’s because, well, he’s on this list every year. Clowney has been on four different teams in the past four seasons, and this will be the third consecutive offseason that he’s testing free agency. Last offseason Clowney was coming off a season in which he was limited to eight games and had no sacks and six QB hits. He still got a one-year, $8 million deal. Now he’s coming off a year in which he had nine sacks and 19 QB hits in 14 games, while finishing fourth in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric. He might settle for another one-year deal, but Clowney definitely set himself up for a pay bump.

16. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams (29)
His market is tough to project, given that Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl and underwent surgery in mid-February. Will Beckham still land a long-term deal, or will he wait to see what his options are in August or September and sign a one-year contract? After an in-season trade to the Rams, Beckham showed that he could still play, catching 48 balls for 593 yards in 12 games.

17. Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25)
He’s a feisty, competitive outside corner with experience and ball production. Davis’ 48 passes defended over the past three seasons are tops in the NFL, although he has just six interceptions in four NFL seasons. Davis has experience playing man and zone in Todd Bowles’ scheme. He’s had some durability issues, having missed 14 games over the past four seasons, including seven in 2021. But given his age, Davis’ best days could be ahead of him. William Jackson III and Shaquill Griffin signed deals worth around $13.5 million per year last offseason. That’s probably the floor for Davis. And he could be a franchise tag candidate.

18. Ryan Jensen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31)
He’s a tone-setter who thrives on getting under the skin of opposing defensive players. Jensen has been one of the best centers (arguably the best) in the NFL for years now. He hasn’t missed a game in the past five seasons. And we had him as a second-team All-Pro for 2021. Corey Linsley was in a similar spot last offseason and landed a deal worth $12.5 million per year. Jensen could easily top that and become the highest-paid center in the NFL.

19. Haason Reddick, Edge, Carolina Panthers (28)
When he hit free agency last offseason, the question was whether Reddick was a one-year wonder. He played on a one-year, $6 million deal and was productive once again with 11 sacks in 16 games. Over the past two seasons, Reddick has piled up 23.5 sacks. The only players with more are T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson and Aaron Donald. Reddick’s 39 QB hits over the past two seasons rank 18th. And his eight forced fumbles are tied for third. Given that there wasn’t much of a market last offseason, it’s tough to project what kind of deal Reddick’s going to get this time around. But he’s young and has been productive and durable (one missed game in five seasons). Something similar to what Matthew Judon ($13.6 million per year) received from the Patriots last offseason seems reasonable.

20. Cam Robinson, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars (26)
You’re probably thinking, “Based on performance, there’s no way that Robinson should be 20th!” And you’re right. But positional value matters. And competent left tackles get big paydays. I don’t make the rules. The Jaguars used the franchise tag ($13.7 million) on him last offseason. Robinson has been inconsistent in his five-year NFL career, but he’s started 61 games, including 44 over the past three seasons. PFF charged Robinson with just one sack allowed on 573 pass-blocking snaps last season. The floor for starting left tackles in free agency — specifically ones in their mid-20s — is around $14.5 million per year.

21. Stephon Gilmore, CB, Carolina Panthers (32)
If I had to play a game tomorrow and needed a cornerback, Gilmore would be my top choice from this list. But it’s a lot trickier than that. The Patriots traded Gilmore to the Panthers during last season. He appeared in eight games but played at least 60% of the snaps just three times. When Gilmore was on the field, he looked like his usual self: a man corner capable of providing consistently sticky coverage. But 32-year-old corners don’t often get paid big money. Gilmore’s market is one of the toughest to project.

22. Darious Williams, CB, Los Angeles Rams (29)
The Rams used a first-round tender on Williams last offseason, and now he’ll get to test free agency. Williams was phenomenal in 2020. He didn’t make quite as many plays in 2021 but was still a quality starter. His 23 passes defended over the past two seasons are tied for 14th. Williams should find a deal in between what Ronald Darby ($10 million per year) and Griffin ($13.3 million per year) signed for last offseason.

23. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins (26)
Over the past three seasons, Gesicki’s 2,053 receiving yards rank fifth among tight ends. He’s young and durable, having missed just one game in four seasons. Gesicki is not going to be for everyone. He lined up in-line on just 99 snaps last season and is purely a pass-catching tight end. In terms of efficiency, he ranks just 24th among tight ends in yards per route run over the past three seasons. Dallas Goedert is a better all-around player than Gesicki, but their receiving numbers are similar. Goedert signed an extension with the Eagles for $14.25 million per year. Last offseason, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith each received contracts worth $12.5 million per year. That could be the range for Gesicki.

24. Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys (26)
He ranks seventh among all tight ends with 1,423 receiving yards over the past two seasons, and his 12 touchdowns are tied for sixth-most. Schultz is young and has not missed a game during the past three seasons. Schultz lined up as an in-line tight end on roughly 59% of his offensive snaps last season and can get it done as a blocker. Austin Hooper signed for $10.5 million two years ago. Henry and Smith got $12.5 million last offseason. That could be the salary range for Schultz.

25. DJ Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (26)
He was limited to just four games last season because of an ankle injury, but Chark has been productive. From 2019 to 2020, he totaled 1,714 yards, which ranked 29th among all wide receivers. Chark has a rare combination of size (6-foot-3) and speed (4.34 40). His career could take off in the right scheme with more consistent quarterback play. The Carolina Panthers gave Robby Anderson an extension worth $14.75 million per year, and the Denver Broncos signed Courtland Sutton for $15 million per year. Given his upside, Chark could find a similar deal.

26. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals (25)
After splitting his time on the outside and in the slot his first three seasons, Kirk was almost exclusively a slot receiver in 2021. He lined up inside roughly 78% of the time. Kirk set career highs with 77 catches for 982 yards, which ranked 24th among wide receivers. Kirk ranked 26th out of 114 qualifying wide receivers in yards per route run. Nelson Agholor and Curtis Samuel both found deals between $11 million and $12 million per year last offseason. That could be the range for Kirk.

27. Randy Gregory, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (29)
He was extremely disruptive, finishing with six sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 12 games in 2021. But he missed time because of a calf injury. Gregory was a rotational player in 2020, and he was out of football in 2019. There’s no denying his talent, but Gregory has played more than 12 games just once in his career and will reportedly be coming off of offseason knee surgery.

28. Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge, Miami Dolphins (28)
Over the past two seasons, Ogbah ranks tied for 10th with 18 sacks, 11th with 46 hits, eighth with 86 hurries and first with 15 batted passes. And he hasn’t missed a start since 2019. When Ogbah was a free agent in 2020, he signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Dolphins. He should see a big bump on his next deal. Romeo Okwara signed for $12.3 million per year last offseason. That could be a good comp for Ogbah.

29. Laken Tomlinson, OG, San Francisco 49ers (30)
He made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2021 after turning in another strong performance. Tomlinson has not missed a game over the past four seasons and has played 100% of the team’s offensive snaps over the past three seasons. Tomlinson will likely be one of the most coveted offensive linemen in this year’s class.

30. Eric Fisher, OT, Indianapolis Colts (31)
I will repeat myself once again here: Left tackles get paid! Based purely on performance, Fisher should be nowhere near this spot. But supply and demand matter. Fisher was coming off of an Achilles injury last offseason and signed a one-year, $8.4 million deal with the Colts. He started 15 games and held up better as a run blocker than a pass blocker, where he allowed seven sacks and 11 quarterback hits. More half of the NFL’s left tackles (18 to be exact) are making at least $11 million per year. Charles Leno’s three-year, $37 million deal with Washington could be a good comp for Fisher.

31. Quandre Diggs, S, Seattle Seahawks (29)
If he were healthy, he’d be even higher. Diggs is one of the NFL’s most underrated ball-hawking safeties. But he got injured at the worst possible time. Diggs had surgery in January to repair a broken right fibula and dislocated ankle he suffered in Week 18. His 10 interceptions over the past two seasons are tied for first among safeties, and his 17 passes defended are tied for sixth. Diggs lined up at free safety on roughly 88% of his snaps last season. He didn’t miss a start in 2020 or 2021. Diggs’ market will be about when he expects to once again be fully healthy.

32. Akiem Hicks, DL, Chicago Bears (32)
When he’s on the field, Hicks has been a consistently disruptive interior defensive lineman who can make plays against the run and provide pass rush. But he has two things working against him. One, he’s 32 years old. And two, he’s missed 20 games over the past three seasons because of injuries. A contending team will likely still find Hicks attractive, given his production when healthy.

33. Charvarius Ward, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (26)
He’s started 43 games in four seasons for the Chiefs. Ward was asked to play a lot of man coverage in Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. He gave up some downfield completions but held up well overall. Per PFF, opponents completed just 38.3% of their passes when targeting Ward in man coverage. That was the best mark for any corner who played at least 50% of the snaps. The corner market can be tricky. Michael Davis got $8.4 million per year last offseason. Ronald Darby signed for $10 million per year. And Adoree’ Jackson got $13 million per year.

34. Trent Brown, OT, New England Patriots (29)
When he was last a free agent in 2019, Brown signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the (then) Oakland Raiders. He played just 16 games in two seasons for the Raiders, who then traded him back to the Patriots. The issue with Brown is durability. He’s played in just 14 games over the past two seasons. But when he’s on the field, Brown performs. And he can play left or right tackle. Given the demand for quality offensive linemen around the league, Brown should find a market.

35. Austin Corbett, OG, Los Angeles Rams (27)
He’s done an excellent job for the Rams at right guard over the past two seasons and has started 33 consecutive regular-season games. The top of the guard market is $16 million per year. If Corbett gets paid like a top-15 guard, that would mean a deal worth at least $9 million per year. Given his age and performance, he should have a strong market.

36. Brian Allen, OC, Los Angeles Rams (26)
After starting nine games in 2019, Allen suffered a serious knee injury and never saw the field in 2020. But Allen bounced back in a big way in 2021, starting 16 games and playing at a high level. Given that Allen is just 26 years old, it would be no surprise to see him find a strong market among center-needy teams.

37. Bradley Bozeman, G/C, Baltimore Ravens (27)
Bozeman played left guard in 2019 and 2020 before sliding over to center in 2021. He’s been a quality starter and extremely durable with 48 starts over the past three seasons. Frank Ragnow set the top of the center market at $13.5 million per year. There are currently eight centers who make $10 million or more per year.

38. Larry Ogunjobi, DL, Cincinnati Bengals (28)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $6.2 million deal with the Bengals. Ogunjobi should get a pay bump after turning in career highs with seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. He started 16 games in the regular season but suffered a foot injury in the wild-card round.

39. Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Atlanta Falcons (27)
He led the NFL with 192 tackles last season, and no player has more tackles (309) than Oluokun over the past two seasons. During that span, he produced five interceptions (tied for second among linebackers), five forced fumbles (tied for second) and five sacks. Oluokun played 98% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps last season and has missed just one game in four NFL seasons. There are currently 22 off-ball linebackers making at least $7 million per year and 16 making at least $10 million per year. Players like Cory Littleton, Joe Schobert and Blake Martinez all signed recent deals north of $10 million per year. It’s tough to predict where in that range Oluokun will land, but he’s young, durable and has been productive.

40. D.J. Jones, DL, San Francisco 49ers (27)
He got a chance to test free agency last offseason and returned to the 49ers on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. Jones set career highs with 56 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He finished first among defensive tackles in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. Jones started all 17 games and is now in line for a big pay bump. Defensive tackles like Davon Godchaux, Michael Brockers, Michael Pierce, Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson have signed recent deals that range from $7.5 million per year to $10.5 million per year. Jones should fall somewhere within that range.

41. Sebastian Joseph-Day, DL, Los Angeles Rams (27)
He was limited to seven starts in 2021 due to a pectoral injury, but Joseph-Day did not miss a game the previous two seasons. He is a quality starting defensive tackle who excels against the run. In 2021, he produced a tackle on 26.3% of his snaps against the run. That was the highest percentage of any defensive lineman in the NFL. Joseph-Day was more productive as a pass rusher this season with three sacks and five QB hits in seven games. Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson could be considered similar players, and they both recently received deals north of $10 million per year.

42. Bilal Nichols, DL, Chicago Bears (26)
Nichols has started 49 games in four seasons. Over the past two years, he has eight sacks and 22 QB hits. Nichols’ pass-rush production could give him a leg up on some of the other defensive tackles in this class.

43. B.J. Hill, DL, Cincinnati Bengals (27)
In his first season with the Bengals, Hill matched his career high with 5.5 sacks and set new career highs with 12 quarterback hits and 50 tackles. Hill has been a rotational player (he played 47% of the snaps during the regular season), but a team could peg him for an expanded role.

44. Derek Barnett, Edge, Philadelphia Eagles (26)
The good with Barnett: He’s young, he’s been a starter, and he has 76 QB hits in 64 career games. The bad: He’s coming off the worst season of his career in which he had more roughing the passer penalties (three) than sacks (2.5). Barnett’s career high for sacks is 6.5. He has flashed at times, but his film in 2021 was underwhelming. Interested teams will be gambling that Barnett’s best football is still ahead of him.

45. Donte Jackson, CB, Carolina Panthers (26)
A second-round pick in 2018, Jackson has started 51 games in four NFL seasons. According to PFF, Jackson allowed just 120 receiving yards on 140 snaps of man coverage last season. He’s had an up-and-down career but is young and talented and plays a premium position. Ronald Darby had a somewhat similar profile last offseason and found a three-year, $30 million deal from the Denver Broncos.

46. Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys (26)
Gallup suffered through injuries in 2021, including a torn ACL in Week 17. He appeared in only nine games and had 35 catches for 445 yards. But from 2019 to 2020, Gallup’s 1,950 yards ranked 22nd among wide receivers, and his 15.6 YPR average ranked fourth among players with at least 100 catches during that span. Gallup projects as a field-stretching, outside starting wide receiver. Given that he’s coming off of a late-season injury, it’s tough to know how much interest Gallup will generate. Will Fuller got a one-year, $10.6 million deal last offseason. A similar deal could be in play for Gallup.

47. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Denver Broncos (29)
Bridgewater was pretty much exactly on his career averages in a number of categories last year. He completed 66.9% of his passes, averaged 7.2 YPA and threw 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 14 starts. When Bridgewater was last a free agent, the Panthers gave him a three-year, $63 million deal. That’s almost certainly not happening this time around. He’s firmly in the fringe starter/excellent backup tier. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton both signed one-year, $10 million deals last offseason. Something similar could make sense for Bridgewater.

48. Folorunso Fatukasi, DL, New York Jets (27)
He’s another one of the strong run-stopping defensive tackles in this year’s class. Originally a sixth-round pick in 2018, Fatukasi worked his way up to 15-game starter last season. He finished with a career-high 46 tackles and ranked fourth among defensive tackles in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric. But Fatukasi hasn’t shown much pass-rush production (three career sacks). Davon Godchaux’s two-year, $15 million deal from last offseason could be a good comp.

49. Jarran Reed, DL, Kansas City Chiefs (29)
He had a contract dispute with the Seahawks last offseason and was released. Reed ended up signing with the Chiefs on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. He was a 17-game starter and had 2.5 sacks with 12 QB hits. Reed’s pass-rushing production has fluctuated, but he’s a starting-caliber defensive tackle who should get a pay bump from what he made last season.

50. Charles Harris, Edge, Detroit Lions (27)
A first-round pick in 2017, Harris disappointed in his first four seasons but had a career year in 2021 with the Lions, totaling 7.5 sacks, 16 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss while playing 76% of the snaps. Last offseason, Harris had to settle for a one-year, $1.75 million deal. Given his production last season, he figures to see a big bump on his next deal.

51. De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Green Bay Packers (29)
Campbell enters free agency for the third consecutive year — this time coming off of the best season of his career. In 2020, he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Packers. He turned in an All-Pro (first team) season, finishing with 145 tackles — seventh league-wide. Campbell had two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two sacks. Last offseason, Campbell didn’t have much of a market. How much will that change this time around?

52. Kyzir White, LB, Los Angeles Chargers (26)
He’s one of the more intriguing players in this group. White had a career year in 2021, finishing eighth league-wide with 144 tackles. A converted safety, White has a skill set that fits well in the modern NFL. Given how young he is, teams in need of linebacker help could view White as an ascending player and an appealing option.

53. Alex Cappa, OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
He started 17 games at right guard last season and played well. Cappa has not been a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but he’s been solid and has started 46 of a possible 49 games over the past three seasons. Matt Feiler signed for $7 million per season with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason, and Kevin Zeitler signed for $7.5 million per year with the Baltimore Ravens. Those deals could represent the floor for a potential deal with Cappa.

54. Uchenna Nwosu, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers (25)
Last season was the first in Nwosu’s career that he played more than 50% of the snaps, and he produced, setting career highs with five sacks and 17 QB hits. Given how young Nwosu is, teams in need of a versatile edge defender could easily talk themselves into the idea that his best football is still ahead of him.

55. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (25)
He was a free agent last offseason and settled for a one-year, $8 million deal to return to Pittsburgh. Smith-Schuster suffered a shoulder injury and appeared in just five games, although he returned in the wild-card round. It seems unlikely that Smith-Schuster will find a richer deal than he was offered last offseason, given that he had just 15 catches for 129 yards. But he’s still just 25 years old and could interest teams in the market for a tough slot receiver.

56. Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (26)
Gage has been quietly productive. His 1,556 receiving yards over the past two seasons rank 37th among wide receivers. Given how young Gage is, he should interest teams who are in the market for a competent No. 2 or 3 possession receiver.

57. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Green Bay Packers (27)
He played in 11 games last year and had 26 catches for 430 yards and three touchdowns. In 2020, Valdes-Scantling had 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns. He will interest teams looking to fill a very specific role: field-stretching deep threat. Valdes-Scantling has averaged a league-high 18.5 YPR over the past three seasons.

58. D.J. Reed, CB, Seattle Seahawks (26)
Originally a fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Reed joined the Seahawks before the 2020 season. He started 22 games over the past two years and did a terrific job last season at right cornerback. Per PFF’s charting, opponents completed just 38.5% of their passes when targeting Reed in man coverage. That was the second-best mark among corners. In 93 snaps of man, Reed allowed just five catches for 45 yards. Reed (5-foot-9) doesn’t have prototypical size for an outside corner, but he’s played well. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar projected a deal for Reed in the range of $8 million to $10 million per year.

59. Casey Hayward, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (33)
If this list were based solely on 2021 performance, Hayward would be near the top. He played great as a 17-game starter for the Raiders. But Hayward hit the market last offseason and had to settle for a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Given that he’s 33 years old, he’s likely looking at another one-year deal from a team in need of a short-term fix at corner.

60. James Daniels, OG, Chicago Bears (25)
Originally the 39th overall pick in 2018, Daniels has not proven to be more than an average starter through his first four seasons. But teams could be attracted to his youth and upside. There’s the possibility that Daniels could find more consistency on his next contract and be an ascending player. He has 48 starts under his belt, including 17 last year.

61. Duane Brown, OT, Seattle Seahawks (37)
He’s been remarkably durable, having not missed a start over the past two seasons. Brown has missed just four games in the past four years (all in 2019). He’s obviously past his prime, but demand always outweighs supply for left tackles. Andrew Whitworth got a two-year, $17 million deal from the Rams at the age of 40 last offseason. That’s probably the contract to work off of for Brown.

62. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)
It’s unclear whether he’ll want to keep playing somewhere without Tom Brady, but Gronkowski was still plenty productive last season, finishing with 55 catches for 802 yards (seventh among tight ends) and six touchdowns. And he’s always been an excellent blocker. He signed a one-year, $8 million deal last offseason and could be in line for something similar if he wants to keep playing.

63. Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals (31)
The Eagles traded Ertz to the Cardinals in the middle of last season, and his production immediately jumped (52.2 receiving yards per game with Arizona). Ertz finished with 74 catches for 763 yards (ninth among tight ends) and five touchdowns. Ertz is on the wrong side of 30, but there tends to be a market for veteran tight ends. Jimmy Graham got a two-year, $16 million deal from the Bears during the 2020 offseason. And Kyle Rudolph found a two-year, $12 million deal from the Giants last offseason. Ertz will be of interest to teams looking for a reliable veteran who can work the intermediate part of the field.

64. Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints (28)
He started seven games and completed 59% of his passes while averaging 7.3 YPA. He threw 14 touchdowns with three interceptions. Winston did not play as well as the statistics indicate. This will be his third consecutive offseason as a free agent. In 2020, Winston got a one-year, $1.1 million deal. Last year, he got a one-year, $5.5 million deal. It seems unlikely that his market will have changed dramatically after that seven-game stint.

65. Marcus Mariota, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (28)
There’s usually a market for bridge quarterbacks — players who can start for a year while teams look for longer-term solutions. Mariota spent the past two seasons as Derek Carr’s backup. He could be an attractive low-cost option for teams that want to draft a quarterback and have the rookie sit a year.

66. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Buffalo Bills (28)
He signed with the Bills last year on a team-friendly one-year, $2.5 million deal. Trubisky ended up playing just 33 offensive snaps as Josh Allen stayed healthy. Trubisky is similar to Mariota. He should be a low-cost option for teams in need of a solid backup or a spot starter who can keep the seat warm for a highly drafted rookie.

67. Joseph Noteboom, OT/OG, Los Angeles Rams (27)
He could end up being one of the surprises of this year’s class. Noteboom has just 18 starts (playoffs included) under his belt, but it’s possible that a team will look at how well he performed as a replacement left tackle and project him as a quality full-time starter. Noteboom also has experience playing right tackle and guard.

68. Morgan Moses, OT, New York Jets (31)
The Jets signed Moses in July after Washington released him, and he started 16 games at right tackle. Moses has been incredibly durable. He hasn’t missed a game in the past seven seasons. At 31, Moses’ best days are probably behind him, but he can still be a solid starter. Daryl Williams got $8 million per year from the Buffalo Bills last offseason, and Riley Reiff signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for $7.5 million. Those could be reasonable comps for Moses.

69. David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns (26)
He’s one of the tougher free agents to project. On one hand, Njoku has never lived up to his draft slot (29th overall in 2017). On the other hand, he turns 26 in July, and given his talent, there could be untapped upside. Njoku’s career high in receiving yards was 639 in 2018. Last year, he had 36 catches for 475 yards on 53 targets. Those numbers aren’t much different than what Jonnu Smith put up in 2020, and Smith signed with the New England Patriots for $12.5 million per year. Then again, Njoku’s production might align more with Gerald Everett, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

70. Gerald Everett, TE, Seattle Seahawks (28)
He hit free agency last offseason and signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Seahawks. Everett set career highs with 48 catches for 478 yards and four touchdowns. He finished 16th among 41 qualifying tight ends in yards per route run. Everett should find a starting job on a team in need of a pass-catching tight end.

71. C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (29)
He was coming off a torn Achilles but still turned in career highs with 49 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns. As we saw last offseason, demand usually outweighs supply at tight end. Uzomah should find a nice deal — whether it’s from the Bengals or someone else.

72. Will Fuller, WR, Miami Dolphins (28)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Dolphins. Injuries limited Fuller to just two games and four catches for 26 yards. Durability has been an issue throughout his career as Fuller has played more than 11 games once. And he was suspended in 2020 for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. Fuller is a talented, field-stretching receiver, but he’s likely looking at another one-year deal.

73. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
Top-tier running backs still get paid, but everyone else at the position has had a tough time. Where will Fournette land? He was a free agent last offseason and returned to the Bucs on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. But Fournette turned in a strong season, totaling 1,266 yards from scrimmage. Among the 50 backs with at least 100 carries, he ranked third in success rate, and Fournette averaged a career-best 4.5 YPC. Aaron Jones got a deal worth $12 million per year from the Packers last offseason, but Chris Carson signed with the Seahawks for $5.2 million per year. It’s tough to project where in that range Fournette will land.

74. Rasul Douglas, CB, Green Bay Packers (28)
After bouncing around, Douglas found a home with the Packers, producing career highs with five interceptions and 13 passes defended in 12 games. His best fit would be in a zone-heavy scheme where Douglas can keep eyes on the quarterback and make plays on the ball. Even though he’s only 28, Douglas has spent time on six different teams. At this time last year, he was just looking for a roster spot. Now Douglas will look to parlay his strong 2021 performance into a big payday.

75. Andrew Norwell, OG, Jacksonville Jaguars (30)
In 2018, Norwell signed a five-year deal with the Jaguars worth $13.3 million per year. He took a pay cut down to $9 million last season and now will become a free agent. Norwell’s best days are behind him (he was an All-Pro in 2017), but he can still be a solid starter at left guard. He could be looking at a contract in the $7 million per year range, which is what Kevin Zeitler and Matt Feiler signed for last offseason.

76. Justin Reid, S, Houston Texans (25)
Reid is one of the youngest players on this list. He’ll play all of next season at 25 years old. Originally a third-round pick in 2018, Reid has started 53 games in four seasons. He played nearly 70% of his snaps at free safety in 2021, and that’s likely where he’ll have the most value to interested teams.

77. Marcus Maye, S, New York Jets (29)

He’s a player who is likely to feel the negative effects of the franchise tag. Maye played on the tag in 2021 but was limited to six games because of an Achilles injury suffered in November. Now he probably won’t find the same type of deal he would have received last offseason, and if Maye signs a one-year “prove it” deal, he’ll be 30 next offseason when he hits free agency. Maye played at a high level in 2020, and when healthy, he’s an excellent free safety option. But teams might want to wait until the summer to see how close Maye is to being 100% for the 2022 season.

78. Jordan Whitehead, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25)

Originally a fourth-round pick in 2018, Whitehead has started 55 games in four seasons. He was most often used as a box safety but has shown versatility with 150+ snaps in the box, at slot corner and at free safety last season. Whitehead likely won’t command as much as the top-tier safeties in this class, but he’s young and can fill a role as a quality starter.

79. Terrell Edmunds, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (25)

He hasn’t lived up to his draft slot (28th overall pick in 2018), but Edmunds is one of the youngest players on this list, having just turned 25 in January. And he’s been incredibly durable, having missed just one game in four seasons. Edmunds is mostly a box safety, but he logged more than 250 snaps as both a slot corner and a free safety last season. A team could convince itself that Edmunds’ best football is still ahead of him.

80. Jayron Kearse, S, Dallas Cowboys (28)

It’s tough to predict how the league will view him. Any team could have had Kearse last offseason, and he ended up signing with the Cowboys on a one-year, $1.13 million deal. But he performed at a high level and looked like one of the NFL’s most improved players. Kearse started 15 games and finished with 101 tackles. He missed just 3.9% of his tackle attempts, which was the second-best mark among safeties, and Kearse showed the ability to do a lot of different things, including get after the quarterback. He logged more than 400 snaps as a box safety but also played more than 150 snaps at slot corner and as a free safety. Kearse started just 12 games in his first five NFL seasons, but teams could be intrigued with his skill set after the way he performed last year.

81. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys (26)

He had an amazing rookie season in 2018 but battled injuries the next two years. The good news for Vander Esch is he stayed healthy for all 17 games last year, although he wasn’t a full-time player (played 58% of the defensive snaps). He is young and has impressive physical tools, but interested teams will have to do their homework, given the injury history.

82. Calais Campbell, DL, Baltimore Ravens (36)

It’s unclear whether he’ll want to keep playing. Campbell is no longer the pass rusher he was in his prime. He finished last season with 1.5 sacks and 12 QB hits in 15 games. But he can still be disruptive against the run and has the reputation of being an all-time locker room guy. The Ravens could look to bring Campbell back on a one-year deal, or he could see if another contending team might be interested.

83. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots (35)

He’s started 188 games, including 17 last year, during his 12-year career with the Patriots. And McCourty hasn’t missed a game in the last six years. McCourty is a prototypical free safety, and he still got it done last year with three interceptions and 10 passes defended. He could be a nice short-term option on a contending team.

84. Melvin Ingram, Edge, Kansas City Chiefs (33)

He was a free agent last year but was coming off of an injury-riddled season and had to settle for a one-year, $4 million deal from the Steelers. Pittsburgh traded Ingram to the Chiefs, and he played well there in a nine-game stint. He’s clearly in the declining phase of his career (two sacks in his past 22 games), but Ingram’s film is better than his stats. He’s probably looking at a one-year deal but still has value as a rotational edge defender.

85. Ndamukong Suh, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35)

One of the most durable players of this era, Suh has started 191 of a possible 193 games during his 12-year career. He had six sacks and 13 QB hits last year. Suh has signed four consecutive one-year deals. He got $9 million in 2021. Given his age, Suh might have to settle for less this offseason, but if he wants to keep playing, he should find a starting job.

86. Justin Houston, Edge, Baltimore Ravens (33)

He was a free agent last offseason and had to settle for a one-year, $2.075 million deal with the Ravens. Houston started 15 games and had 4.5 sacks with 17 QB hits. Given his age, Houston could be looking at another one-year deal. He’d be a fine short-term solution for a team in need of edge help.

87. Jerry Hughes, Edge, Buffalo Bills (34)

His numbers dropped to just two sacks and seven QB hits in 2021, but The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia noted that Hughes’ pressure numbers were still impressive. Buscaglia called Hughes the Bills’ best defensive end last year by a wide margin. And he’s been durable. Hughes has missed just one game in nine seasons with the Bills. He’ll be an option for teams looking for a veteran rotational pass rusher.

88. Patrick Peterson, CB, Minnesota Vikings (32)

As a free agent last offseason, Peterson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Vikings. He’s clearly in the declining phase of his career but still started 13 games. Peterson is likely looking at another one-year deal this offseason.

89. Joe Haden, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (33)

He’s another veteran CB whose best days are behind him. Haden started 11 games last season for the Steelers. He had no interceptions and six passes defended. Haden should still find a starting spot somewhere, but given his age, he’s likely looking at a one-year deal.

90. Kyle Fuller, CB, Denver Broncos (30)

It’s tough to know what the league is going to make of Fuller. The Bears released him before last season, and Denver signed him to a one-year, $9.5 million deal. But Fuller played poorly and ended up getting benched by Vic Fangio. Fuller might have to settle for a one-year deal, but he should still get an opportunity to start somewhere.

91. Jason Pierre-Paul, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)

He’s had a terrific career, but Pierre-Paul’s 2021 campaign was underwhelming as he finished with 2.5 sacks and five QB hits in 12 games. In 2020, he looked like his usual self with 9.5 sacks and 14 QB hits. Pierre-Paul is one of many veteran pass rushers in this class who could be looking at a one-year deal.

92. Levi Wallace, CB, Buffalo Bills (27)

He’s a tough player to project. On one hand, Wallace was a free agent last offseason and had to settle on a one-year, $1.75 million deal to return to Buffalo. On the other hand, he was a 17-game starter in 2021 and now could find a significantly better deal. Wallace has started 52 games in four seasons and should interest zone-heavy teams looking for an outside corner.

93. Steven Nelson, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (29)

The Steelers released Nelson after the free agency period was well underway last offseason. He ended up settling for a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Eagles. Nelson started 16 games and was solid. He’s a feisty, competitive outside corner who should find a starting job somewhere.

94. A.J. Green, WR, Arizona Cardinals (34)

He signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Cardinals last offseason. Green had an inconsistent year but finished with 54 catches for 848 yards and three touchdowns. He’s likely looking at a similar deal this offseason.

95. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/WR, Atlanta Falcons (31)

Patterson’s performance was one of the cooler under-the-radar stories of the 2021 season. First-year coach Arthur Smith used him as both a running back and a wide receiver, and Patterson had a career year. He totaled 1,166 yards from scrimmage (618 rushing, 548 receiving), which was almost double his previous career high (627). And this was his ninth NFL season! There’s a strong possibility that another team pays up for Patterson and then doesn’t know what to do with him. But if paired with a crafty offensive schemer, perhaps he can deliver an encore performance.

96. Anthony Barr, LB, Minnesota Vikings (30)

Durability is a concern with Barr as he’s played in just 13 games over the past two seasons. But when he’s on the field, Barr has still been effective (72 tackles, three interceptions, 2.5 sacks last season). Barr will interest teams looking for a short-term fix at linebacker who can do a little bit of everything.

97. Dante Fowler Jr., Edge, Atlanta Falcons (28)

He parlayed an 11.5-sack season in 2019 into a three-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons. Atlanta restructured his deal last season, paying Fowler $6 million. And then they released him. Fowler had 7.5 sacks and 16 QB hits in 28 games with Atlanta. He’ll now likely join his fourth different team in seven NFL seasons.

98. Arden Key, Edge, San Francisco 49ers (26)

Key had just three sacks in his first three seasons with the Raiders. But he broke out last year, setting career highs with 6.5 sacks and 17 QB hits. Key lined up both as an edge defender and an interior pass rusher. Teams will have to weigh Key’s one year of production against his lackluster first three seasons. But he’s young enough to make the upside intriguing.

99. Maliek Collins, DL, Houston Texans (27)

He’s a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. In 2020, Collins signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Raiders. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Texans. Collins started 15 games and had 2.5 sacks, seven QB hits and a career-high nine tackles for loss. He should find a starting job somewhere.

100. Quinton Jefferson, DL, Las Vegas Raiders (29)

Jefferson started 17 games for the Raiders and set career highs with 4.5 sacks and 16 QB hits. His value is as an interior pass rusher. Jefferson signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal last offseason. He should see a pay bump this year.

101. William Gholston, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31)

He’s coming off of a career-high 4.5 sacks to go along with 11 QB hits. Gholston can line up at defensive end or defensive tackle, and he has not missed a game in the past four seasons.

102. Riley Reiff, OT, Cincinnati Bengals (33)

He signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Bengals last offseason and started 12 games at right tackle before suffering an ankle injury. Reiff played left tackle for the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. He will likely find another one-year deal similar to what he signed last year.

103. Ben Jones, OC, Tennessee Titans (33)

Jones has been a quality starter for a long time, and his durability is nearly unmatched. Jones has been active for 160 of a possible 161 games since entering the league in 2012. He’s missed just one start in the last eight seasons. Jones will be an attractive option for teams that are looking for a reliable veteran center.

104. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants (28)

His talent can be tantalizing, but Engram has yet to put it all together. It hasn’t helped that he’s been playing on one of the NFL’s worst offenses. Engram had 46 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns last year, averaging an unimpressive 8.9 yards per reception. His best option could be to sign a one-year deal with a good quarterback and then look to cash in next offseason.

105. Robert Tonyan, TE, Green Bay Packers (28)

An ACL injury limited Tonyan to eight games (18 catches for 204 yards) last season. But in 2020, he had 52 catches for 586 and 11 touchdowns. He ranks 17th among tight ends in yards per route run over the past two seasons. Tonyan should interest teams in the market for a pass-catching tight end.

106. Harrison Phillips, DL, Buffalo Bills (26)

Phillips came on strong last season, starting eight games and playing 55% of the snaps. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote that Phillips should be a priority for the Bills to re-sign. Phillips has just 1.5 sacks in 45 career games but has held up well against the run.

107. Derrick Nnadi, DL, Kansas City Chiefs (26)

Nnadi is another run-stuffing defensive tackle in a class that’s filled with them. He’s been extremely durable, having played in 64 of a possible 65 games in four seasons (52 starts). Nnadi hasn’t shown much pass-rush juice, although he did set career highs with three sacks and five QB hits last year.

108. Tyler Conklin, TE, Minnesota Vikings (27)

Injuries forced him into the starting lineup, and Conklin produced. He caught 61 balls, and his 593 receiving yards ranked 14th among tight ends. Conklin lined up mostly as an in-line tight end. His production in 2021 could lead to a starting job somewhere.

109. Mo Alie-Cox, TE, Indianapolis Colts (29)

He’s been a part-time player, but Alie-Cox’s 710 receiving yards over the past two seasons rank 27th among tight ends. And he’s ninth among tight ends in yards per route run during that span. Alie-Cox could get an opportunity to start somewhere, but at the very least he should find a role as a No. 2 tight end. He’s missed just one game in the past three years.

110. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers (33)
The Panthers inexplicably gave Newton a $6 million deal in the middle of last season. He completed just 54.8% of his passes, averaged 5.4 YPA and threw four touchdowns with five interceptions. Newton continued to have value as a runner (230 yards, five touchdowns). He’ll likely have to decide whether he’s willing to accept a backup role at this stage of his career.

111. Andy Dalton, QB, Chicago Bears (34)
In one of the more baffling moves of last offseason, the Bears signed Dalton to a one-year, $10 million deal. He started six games, completed 63.1% of his passes, averaged 6.4 YPA and threw eight touchdowns with nine interceptions. Top backups get paid around $5 million or $6 million per year. That’s likely what Dalton is looking at this time around.

112. Sammy Watkins, WR, Baltimore Ravens (29)
He signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Ravens last offseason and finished with 27 catches for 394 yards and one touchdown. Watkins has missed 10 games over the past two seasons. He’s likely looking at another one-year deal.

113. Cedrick Wilson, WR, Dallas Cowboys (26)
He saw a bump in playing time and made the most of it, setting career highs with 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns. Wilson lined up in the slot on roughly 85% of his snaps and ranked 34th out of 114 qualifying wide receivers in yards per route run.

114. Trai Turner, OG, Pittsburgh Steelers (29)
He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Steelers last offseason and started all 17 games. Turner should see at least a modest pay bump this year and will interest teams in need of a starting-caliber right guard.

115. Connor Williams, OG, Dallas Cowboys (25)
He was the weak link on the Cowboys’ offensive line last year, but Williams has a couple things working in his favor. One, he’s young, so teams that liked Williams as a prospect back in 2018 could still be intrigued by his upside. And two, he’s started 51 games in four seasons. At the very least, given the OL need around the league, Williams should get a chance to compete for a starting job somewhere.

116. Tracy Walker, S, Detroit Lions (27)
Walker has started 34 games in four seasons, including 15 last year. He played as a free safety on roughly 70% of his snaps last season and finished with a 108 tackles, six passes defended and one interception.

117. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals (27)
Conner was a free agent last offseason and signed with the Cardinals on a one-year, $1.75 million deal. He proceeded to pile up 1,127 yards from scrimmage. Conner averaged just 3.7 YPC, but that number is deceiving because of how he was used in short yardage and goal-to-go situations. His 44.6% success rate ranked eighth among the 58 backs who had at least 75 carries. And Conner averaged 10.1 YPR on 37 catches. His 18 total touchdowns ranked third among running backs. Conner should be a nice option for teams looking to add to their running back corps.

118. Melvin Gordon, RB, Denver Broncos (29)
When Gordon was last a free agent in 2020, the Broncos gave him a two-year, $16 million deal. He totaled 1,131 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns last season. Gordon averaged 4.5 YPC and and finished 21st out of 58 backs with a 41.4% success rate. He’ll be another veteran option for RB-needy teams.

119. Xavier Woods, S, Minnesota Vikings (27)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year deal for $1.75 million. Woods started all 17 games and set career highs with 108 tackles, three interceptions and 10 passes defended. He played 100% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps. Woods lined up as a free safety 62% of the time but also logged more than 150 snaps in the box and has a slot corner. He’s missed just four games in five NFL seasons. Woods should find a better market this time around.

120. Dont’a Hightower, LB, New England Patriots (32)
He’s had an incredible career, but at 32, Hightower is a declining player. He could draw interest from teams looking for a downhill thumper against the run.

121. Anthony Walker, LB, Cleveland Browns (27)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Browns. Walker started 12 games, had 113 tackles and emerged as one of the team’s defensive leaders. He’s a solid starter who should at least find a similar deal this offseason.

122. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Buffalo Bills (35)
He signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Bills last offseason and was productive with 42 catches for 626 yards in 14 games. It’s unclear whether Sanders wants to continue playing. Given his age, he’d likely be looking at another one-year deal.

123. Keelan Cole, WR, New York Jets (29)
He signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Jets last offseason and had 28 catches for 449 yards. The previous season in Jacksonville, Cole caught 55 balls for 642 yards. He lined up outside on roughly 83% of his snaps last season but was in the slot more than 68% of the time in 2020.

124. Zach Pascal, WR, Indianapolis Colts (27)
He had just 38 catches for 384 yards last year, but from 2019 to 2020, Pascal totaled 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also never missed a game in his NFL career. Pascal won’t be at the top of fans’ wish lists, but he should be relatively affordable and can be a reliable option for teams looking for a veteran who can compete for playing time.

125. Germain Ifedi, OG/OT, Chicago Bears (28)
Injuries limited Ifedi to nine games last year, but he missed just four games in his first five NFL seasons. Ifedi will be a free agent for the third consecutive year. Last offseason, he returned to the Bears on a one-year, $4.25 million deal. He’s started 83 games in his career and has experience at both guard and tackle.

126. Lucas Patrick, OC/OG, Green Bay Packers (29)
He started 28 games over the past two years — at center in 2021 and at both right guard and left guard in 2020. Patrick doesn’t have the same ceiling as some of the other interior offensive linemen on this list, but he’ll be a nice option for teams looking for competence and versatility.

127. Braxton Berrios, WR, New York Jets (26)
He earned an All-Pro nod as a kickoff returner in 2021. Berrios averaged 30.4 yards per kickoff return, which was the second-best mark among players with at least 15 returns. As a slot receiver, Berrios set career highs with 46 catches for 431 yards. He should find a home on a team that is looking for a depth wide receiver who can offer a special teams boost.

128. Brandon Shell, OT, Seattle Seahawks (30)
Shell has battled injuries, having missed 12 games over the past two seasons. And even when healthy, he’s been an up-and-down right tackle. Given the league-wide need for tackles, Shell could still find a starting job, but his recent history suggests he’s unlikely to to be a quality long-term fix.

129. Jacoby Brissett, QB, Miami Dolphins (29)
He signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Dolphins last offseason and could find something similar this time around. Brissett is a fine backup option. The Dolphins went 2-3 in the five games that he started last season.

130. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Houston Texans (33)
He signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Texans last offseason. Taylor completed 60.7% of his passes and averaged 6.4 YPA in six starts. He has likely entered the full-time backup portion of his career.

131. Sheldon Richardson, DL, Minnesota Vikings (31)
The Browns released Richardson in April, and he caught on with the Vikings on a one-year, $3.6 million deal. Richardson had 2.5 sacks and 13 QB hits. He has not missed a game in the last four years. Richardson will interest teams in the market for some interior pass rush.

132. Lorenzo Carter, Edge, New York Giants (26)
Coming off of an injury, he finished last season strong with five sacks in the last four games. Carter has 14.5 career sacks in 49 games. Teams could look at him as a rotational pass rusher or someone who can compete for a starting job.

133. DaQuan Jones, DL, Carolina Panthers (30)
He’s another option for teams in the market for a reliable nose tackle. Jones was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $4.05 million deal. He started all 17 games for Carolina and has been extremely durable (no missed starts in the past four seasons).

134. Solomon Thomas, DL, Las Vegas Raiders (27)
The third overall pick in 2017, Thomas got a change of scenery, signing with the Raiders on a one-year, $3.25 million deal last offseason. He had his most productive year with 3.5 sacks and 12 QB hits while playing 48% of the snaps. Given how young Thomas still is, he should at least see a modest bump from last year’s salary.

135. Jamison Crowder, WR, New York Jets (29)
Crowder had 51 catches for 447 yards last season, averaging a career-low 8.8 YPR. He missed five games in 2021 and has missed 16 over the past four seasons. Crowder never got consistent quarterback play during his three-year run with the Jets. He’ll interest teams who are in the market for a veteran slot receiver.

136. Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (28)
Pringle played 49% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps last year and set career highs with 42 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns. It seems unlikely that Pringle would leave Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid and see an uptick in production, but he should be able to compete for playing time somewhere.

137. Ronnie Harrison, S, Cleveland Browns (25)
He’s missed 10 games over the past two seasons but was a 40-game starter on his rookie contract. The Jaguars originally drafted Harrison in the third round of the 2018 draft and then traded him to Cleveland before the 2020 season. He started 11 games last season and logged over 100 snaps in the box, as a slot corner and as a free safety.

138. Anthony Harris, S, Philadelphia Eagles (30)
The Vikings used the franchise tag on Harris in 2020. Last offseason, he signed with the Eagles on a one-year, $4 million deal. Harris is a competent starter whose strength is playing free safety.

139. Desmond King, CB, Houston Texans (27)
He was a 12-game starter last season and played 86% of the Texans’ defensive snaps. King lined up at outside corner after playing nickel earlier in his career. He tied a career high with three interceptions, adds value as a punt returner and is still young. At the very least, King should see a modest bump from the one-year, $3 million deal he signed last offseason.

140. Anthony Averett, CB, Baltimore Ravens (28)
After injuries crushed the Ravens at cornerback, Averett was thrown into a prominent role and started 14 games. He took his lumps but finished with three interceptions and 11 passes defended and looked like someone who could be a competent starter as he gains more experience.

141. Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB, New England Patriots (26)
He’s started 29 games over the past two seasons, including 16 in 2021. Bentley’s 108 tackles last season were tied for 30th league-wide. He’s a downhill thumper who can help teams that need to improve their run defense.

142. Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals (26)
He missed five games because of injuries last season but showed some juice as a runner, setting career highs with 116 carries for 592 yards. Edmonds averaged 5.1 YPC  and has averaged 4.7 YPC for his career. His 43.1% success rate ranked 13th among 58 backs with at least 75 carries. And Edmonds is a viable pass-catcher. He should interest teams looking for a complementary back.

143. Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks (26)
It went largely unnoticed, but Penny was one of the best backs in the NFL down the stretch last season. From Weeks 13 to 17, he totaled 516 yards, which was second only to Jonathan Taylor. And Penny averaged 6.3 YPC on 119 rushes overall. Ready for a surprising stat? In the last 10 years, there have been 454 running back seasons with at least 100 carries. Among that sample, Penny’s 2021 ranks first in terms of YPC. Penny, the 27th overall pick in 2018, looked like a bust through his first three seasons. We’re talking about a small sample in 2021. And he’s appeared in only 37 games in four seasons. But it will be fascinating to see how his market shapes up.

144. O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27)
The 19th overall pick in 2017, Howard’s stock has plummeted in recent years. He was limited to four games due to injury in 2020 and played just 31% of the offensive snaps in 2021, catching 14 balls for 135 yards. Howard’s best bet is to probably to sign a one-year deal somewhere and rebuild his value.

145. Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (27)
He was a free agent last offseason and signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Seahawks. Seattle then traded him to Pittsburgh, where Witherspoon played 57% of the snaps in nine games. He could be looking at another one-year deal on a team that’s looking for an outside corner.

146. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Indianapolis Colts (32)
Rhodes has signed one-year deals in each of the past two offseasons. In 2020, he received $3 million, and last year Rhodes got $4.8 million. He started 29 of a possible 33 games with the Colts and should still get a look as a starter.

147. Jared Cook, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (35)
His career is winding down, but Cook still had 48 catches for 564 yards and four touchdowns last season. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Chargers last offseason and will likely be looking for something similar this year.

148. Patrick Ricard, FB, Baltimore Ravens (28)
No free agency list would be complete without at least one fullback. Ricard played a career high 57% of the snaps last year and made the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season. When Ricard last got a contract extension, it was for $3.65 million per year. Kyle Juszczyk set the top of the fullback market at $5.4 million per year.

149. J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington Commanders (29)
He had 609 yards from scrimmage in 11 games last season. McKissic’s 986 receiving yards over the past two seasons rank third among running backs behind only Alvin Kamara and Austin Ekeler. McKissic should interest teams who are in the market for a reliable pass-catching back.

150. Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB, Houston Texans (28)
He got an opportunity to be a full-time player for the first time in his career and produced mixed results. Grugier-Hill finished with a career-high 108 tackles. He had 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. Grugier-Hill will be a free agent for the third consecutive offseason. Last year, he got a one-year, $2.5 million deal. He’ll hope for a bump this time around.

 

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I forgot the Bengals' 2 best DT's are FA's.  I hope they are able to re-sign Hill at least.   Who knows what's going on with Og yet.

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/24/bengals-target-free-agent-brandon-scherff/?itm_source=parsely-api

[TJJackson]

Thanks for the list, Mem

I'm hoping for a quality (PFF in 70s or better) player no older than 28 who signs for at least 4 years and doesnt have a durability knock....so for example I have no interest in Armstead. 

Can be any of ORT, ORG, or OC

In a perfect world they are better at pass pro than run blocking but are still a plus run blocker

On a related note - I understand the chatter about shifting Jonah to another spot but until I hear him saying he'd be cool with it, I have no interest in that

[AMPHAR]

Good news from DJ.   Opines that starting OL upgrades can be had as deep as the 4th round.      

 

[TJJackson]

I made the mistake of reading an Amphar post

ah well

so: the reason OL upgrades can allegedly be had in the 4th round is much moreso about our OL being so very bad, rather than the 2022 OL draft class being so good

that said, we need to draft OLs for future need regardless, and I'd like to see 2 of the first 4 picks (better still, 2 of the first 3) be OLs, and thats even if we pick up 2 quality OL FAs 

[ArmyBengal]

I have no interest in linemen after the 3rd round, barring some unexpected drop of a player that shouldn't have.
I want at least 2 free agent o-linemen and at least 1-2 within our first three picks.

There simply is no way I'm going to believe that a 4th or 5th round rookie is going to beat out anyone currently on the roster for a starting spot.
I don't care how bad they may have been last season, that's literally finding needles in haystacks.

Not that I've ever looked for needles in haystacks, but that shit sounds pretty fucking hard.

[ArmyBengal]

I mean seriously, looking at guys expected to be there in the 5th round, it's just disrespectful to suggest those guys are likely to beat out someone.

I've gone back and looked, those aren't even guys I want to get drafted, let alone suggest they start in 2022.

Diamonds are always found and I don't suppose it hurts to go in search of, but we should have a better plan than "hope and pray".

[TJJackson]

Jeremiahs always been a bit skewed on his draft projection takes versus other analysts

Not saying that such tendencies are wrong by any stretch, but him saying such a thing didnt really surprise me at all

But yeah, its an extreme even for him to say a 5th rounder would be an immediate 2022 upgrade over even our worst superbowl OL starter

On a related note:  does anyone see Trey Hill (2021 r6 pick) sticking around on the regular roster this coming year?  I see him as struggling to even make the practice squad, most likely released.  That said, here's to hoping he's put his knee issues behind him and puts together a solid camp to make things interesting

 

[membengal]

Well, given that we started Prince and Adeniji...not really, no?

[ArmyBengal]

Even Prince and Adeniji have an understanding of the type of scheme we run, how the coaches want it ran, and have established working relationships with the other players on the line, along with the coaches.  More training, more understanding, more reps, etc...  I would simply offer up that when considering that amount of information, it would be hard for almost ANY 5th round, or later, rookie to be expected to come in and start.

Again, I'm not ruling out possibility, but rather looking at probability and commenting that I would hope that our team isn't in that line of thought.

Please also understand that none of that is an endorsement of either Prince or Adeniji.

[AMPHAR]

35 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

I mean seriously, looking at guys expected to be there in the 5th round, it's just disrespectful to suggest those guys are likely to beat out someone.

I've gone back and looked, those aren't even guys I want to get drafted, let alone suggest they start in 2022.

Diamonds are always found and I don't suppose it hurts to go in search of, but we should have a better plan than "hope and pray".

I hope they are insulted.   There's a lot of snaps played along that Offensive line by guys acquired after the 5th round.   I doubt any of them are ever comfortable.

Fred - has already lost time to Prince who was already cut by the team that drafted him.   Adeniji a 6th rounder coming off an injury.   I sure hope he hasn't hit an entitlement stage off his few starts. 

Spain goes by "Mr. Undrafted" on twitter.   Hopkins undrafted. 

 

 

 

[TJJackson]

Do I think a 2022 5th rounder could be an upgrade over our worst OL superbowl starters immediately? 

Nah.  

Not impossible but unlikely.

 

Do I think that same 5th rounder could be an upgrade over our worst OL superbowl starters by the end of 2022 or in 2023?

Yep. 

A definite possibility, tho not a certainty

[AMPHAR]

4 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Even Prince and Adeniji have an understanding of the type of scheme we run, how the coaches want it ran, and have established working relationships with the other players on the line, along with the coaches.  More training, more understanding, more reps, etc...  I would simply offer up that when considering that amount of information, it would be hard for almost ANY 5th round, or later, rookie to be expected to come in and start.

Again, I'm not ruling out possibility, but rather looking at probability and commenting that I would hope that our team isn't in that line of thought.

Please also understand that none of that is an endorsement of either Prince or Adeniji.

Still insulted?   Prince, Fred, and Adeniji were all acquired under a different line coach and the previous offseason saw a former 1st rounder and 4th rounders jettisoned.   By the way those 2 started games after being cut.

Its not impossible to find someone you like better over what the current group has put on film from the 5th round. 

To point out DJ said up to the 4th round, I think.   

[AMPHAR]

Anyway judging the guy based on a particular round is a dumb exercise.    There could be a run on the position that sucks them up before the late rounds or an opposite effect they could be seeing a "starting graded" player that some how fell to the 6th.    Draft classes stand on their own just like college recruiting classes or high school graduating classes.  

 

[membengal]

1. This draft is actually pretty deep at T.

2. This draft is actually pretty deep at G.

3. That means that there very well will be players kicking around in rounds 3 and 4 who may be upgrades for what the Bengals put out there on the right side in the Super Bowl.

4. Just because there will be players who might be upgrades right away in rounds 3 and 4 does not mean that we will be the team that correctly drafts said theoretical upgrade at that spot in the draft (our history on that front has not been kind...)

5. The best way to address this remains a 2/5 or 3/5 makeover of the line in FA (4/5 if I had my way). Get at least four the five spots sorted out before the draft and then leave the last spot to a scrum between returning players who we hope to still see develop (Smith, Carman, Adeniji, Prince) and a high draft pick at 31 remains my preferred way of approaching this.

6. I agree we do not want and should NOT be in a position where we are counting on finding a day 2 or early day 3 gem as an answer. We don't seem to do that well. 

[ArmyBengal]

Obviously the Bengals have guys drafted or that were brought in from elsewhere that were drafted in the later rounds.

I don't think much of any of them.  Is it because they were a late round guy ??  No, it's because they aren't that good.

Not my issue that most late round guys aren't considered starters.  If they were, they'd be drafted sooner.
Do scouts make mistakes ??  Of course, just like there are busts in the early rounds.

Here's my bottom-line...
When a team is truly a Super Bowl contending team and they have one glaring weakness, I want to see that weakness attempted to be fixed with proven commodities or players with high level expectations.  I don't want players that most view as developmental or taking a couple of seasons to see action on the field.

Personally, i'm all in on spending everything they can in free agency this year on the o-line and some of their own before Burrow and Chase hit renewal.
Make moves giving up draft picks, whatever.  DO YOUR BEST to fix the o-line.

I know it's a pipe dream, but pay for Armstead, pay for Jansen, draft Zion Johnson (if he falls) and don't look back.
Give me something like: Armstead, Carmen, Jansen, Johnson, and Williams

[AMPHAR]

45 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Obviously the Bengals have guys drafted or that were brought in from elsewhere that were drafted in the later rounds.

I don't think much of any of them.  Is it because they were a late round guy ??  No, it's because they aren't that good.

Not my issue that most late round guys aren't considered starters.  If they were, they'd be drafted sooner.
Do scouts make mistakes ??  Of course, just like there are busts in the early rounds.

Here's my bottom-line...
When a team is truly a Super Bowl contending team and they have one glaring weakness, I want to see that weakness attempted to be fixed with proven commodities or players with high level expectations.  I don't want players that most view as developmental or taking a couple of seasons to see action on the field.

Personally, i'm all in on spending everything they can in free agency this year on the o-line and some of their own before Burrow and Chase hit renewal.
Make moves giving up draft picks, whatever.  DO YOUR BEST to fix the o-line.

I know it's a pipe dream, but pay for Armstead, pay for Jansen, draft Zion Johnson (if he falls) and don't look back.
Give me something like: Armstead, Carmen, Jansen, Johnson, and Williams

I'm not arguing for or against.   I think they spread the wealth because that's what got them there in the first place. 

I think 3/5 FA plan certainly has merit in wanting that.

I think the best we'll see is a combination of two guys drafted in 2018, 150 or higher with a combined cap dollar amount of 18-20mil.   To get a 3rd would need a 1 year deal.    I think the most likely is 1 multi year guy (8/9 mil range) coupled with a 1 year guy. 

They still have to address resigning or replacing Bates, Interior pass rush, and CBs.  I also think they'll be staring at a Center or Guard upgrade at pick 31 which cold factor in.

They've never been an "All in" franchise.  I doubt they go there now.  They'll spread the wealth over multiple players via different position groups is my guess.

 

 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

I agree AMPHAR in what I think we will see and won't really complain about that, as I thought it was most probable.

An OG upgrade in free agency, coupled with bringing Reiff back on a one year deal, and a probable first round o-lineman as well.
What I expect to see is something like:
Williams, Carman, Hopkins, Norwell, Reiff

With the possibility of a new Center as well, but a guy like Bozeman.
While I don't like that too much more than current, it would be considered an upgrade.

[Wraith]

My thoughts are that you stick with what got you here.  Last two years they signed a bunch of guys looking for their second or third contracts, guys that were talented, hungry, and a little pissed off.   I think they do that again for one Terron Armsteads they can get three Connor Williams'.

[membengal]

Gregg Rosenthal's top 101 FAs (not paywall - click to view):

https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2022-who-are-the-best-nfl-players-available

This was hilarious (he had Jensen #19 overall):

Quote

Ben Jones
C · Age: 33
Jones has only missed one game in 10 NFL seasons. Basically, he’s Ryan Jensen without the hype, dirty plays or ass sweat. 

 

[ArmyBengal]

I just don't want to see too little done, thinking it's not a big deal.

Windows don't stay open long and for every Burrow and Chase you have on a team, when those contracts are due, you can't keep everyone.

Build now, while you still can.

[AMPHAR]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

I just don't want to see too little done, thinking it's not a big deal.

Windows don't stay open long and for every Burrow and Chase you have on a team, when those contracts are due, you can't keep everyone.

Build now, while you still can.

Nobody in the national media is going to question the Kansas Chiefs to the degree they have the Bengals, in regards to the OL, but.....   The Chiefs are going to lose one of the best young LTs in the game or have nearly 40 mil in cap room locked up in their left side of the line while a defense that wasn't good says goodbye to multiple contributors.  Then the still have a Hill extension to manage through next off season. 

But you can question did they really need to do the Thuney deal plus trade for Brown or was it an overreaction?   The Thuney money could have been put into that defense in theory.

At the end of the day a year went off their window and a Superbowl was not had and I'm thinking they'll have rough roster decisions coming up to get back up again in 2022.

 

[ArmyBengal]

Probably right Amphar…

[AMPHAR]

Quote

I’ll tell you the guy who’s like my crush right now, I think he’s going to end up going in the first round, but maybe there’s a chance he’s there in the second round, but Tyler Smith from Tulsa. He’s one of the nastiest offensive lineman you’ll see. Just big time explosive. He can bend and recover. He can uproot guys in the run game. He just plays pissed off. Like looking for a comp, I was trying to figure out who a comp was, and somebody on Twitter used it and I’m stealing it from them, so I apologize, but I said Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. So I thought, yeah, that’s a good one. He’s just really angry. But he’s one I think would be interested in the second round.

According to DJ the Tyler Smith train is about to take off.