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Best response I've read ALL DAY!

Ya know, I wouldn't mind getting Riley Cooper from free agency. Him paired with Gordon would be a decent combo and I don't think he'd come at an astronomical price.

He had the incident with that security guard and the "n" word, but that blew over fairly quick.

You know, the thing about the "n" word is that once it's spoken I'm not so sure it does go away.

You don't slip-up and say the "n" word. Just like you don't slip up and say deoxyribonucleic acid.

In order to slip-up and say deoxyribonucleic acid it would have to already be part of your usual, perhaps daily, vocabulary.

Same for the "n" word.

The "slip-up" is in the saying of it in public whereas typically the one "slipping-up" only says it in private.

What does go away is the hoopla and media coverage from it. Not the knowledge that the word is one he obviously often says in private. If he didn't say it often it likely would not have slipped out.

So we know where his head is at.

Now, do we wanna be his buddy and have him on our team? That's an especially pertinent question for a black player.

Doubt the Eagles let him go. I think they'll want to keep him over Maclin.

Edit: I'd really love Anquan Boldin here. He can still play despite being 32. We also have a lot of raw talent on the team in the WR position. It'd be nice to have him as a playmaker and a teacher here.

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But once I hit the field, all that hits the rearview.

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That's a good point as well.

I've been the same with co-workers I'd not have spent a moment's time with outside of work.

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Out of 53 diverse men with one goal, there's probably more than one or two guys I wouldn't like.

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I would be universally loved..

jc

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/19/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-wide-receivers/

Ranking the 2014 Free Agents: Wide Receivers
Michael Mountford | February 19, 2014

You’ve been reading along with our Projected Lineups series on a daily basis and have checked the PFF Free Agent Tracker more times than you can count, so you’ll be happy to see that we’re now ranking the top free agents available — the potential answers to the holes apparent on those team-by-team charts. We’ll be taking on a couple positions a day this week and discussing our Top 10 at each.

It’s more than just looking at our grades, but factoring in longevity, age, injuries and so much more in order to tell you who we think are the best gets out there.

We’ve been through the quarterbacks and running backs as well as the edge rushers and interior D-linemen, now it’s time for the receivers.

The 2014 free agent class might lack elite talent and depth. It is a year that has multiple interesting players, some of them have shown flashes of talent but surrounded by questions marks. Without further ado here are the Top 10 free agent wide receivers for 2014:

Here are the 10 best available as the 2014 free agency period nears:

1. Hakeem Nicks

2013 Grade: +0.1

2013 Snaps: 845

Hakeem Nicks headlines the 2014 Free Agent wide receivers. In 2013 Nicks had his worse season as a pro, however that does not take away from what he has shown since entering the league in ’09. What separates Nicks from all the other free agents is that he has shown the ability to be one of the upper-tier WRs. In the 2011 playoffs Nicks had 28 receptions for 445 yards (205 YAC) and graded out at +7.6, which is the second highest grade we have given out for a WR in the playoffs.

Nicks has shown great ability, but the past two seasons has been hampered with multiple injuries. The biggest question mark is if the two years when he has been hurt will slow him down, or if he is able to recover and become the threat he showed in his first three seasons. Nicks is a player who has never shown the ability to take the top of a defense, instead he’s a dangerous intermediate threat who can make things happen after the catch.

If Nicks can come into the 2014 season with full health he can be a major addition to any team. He is the one WR in this class who has the ability to play at an elite level and could provide a boost to any passing attack. Any team who gives him big money will have to hope he is back to his best and that he can stay on the field.

2. Eric Decker

2013 Grade: +16.7
2013 Snaps: 1,288

Since Eric Decker became a full time starter in his second season, he has consistently improved each year. Part of this improvement can be put down to Peyton Manning becoming his QB, but to think that Decker in his own right has not become better would be unfair on him. Over the past three seasons Decker has improved his Drop Rate fromm 16.98 in 2011 to 8.45 in 2013. While he does not have the hands of Larry Fitzgerald, Decker is now in the middle of the pack in that regard.

Through his career with Manning, Decker has showed ability in working the short to intermediate areas, but last year there was a clear difference in his production on deep passes. Some people will point to Manning regaining more arm strength after his multiple neck surgery, but Manning only attempted 11 more passes over 20 yards in 2013 than 2012 and his Accuracy Percentage actually went down. Decker was only targeted two more times in 2013 than 2012, but went 15-25, 509 yards and 5 TDS compared to his 2012 numbers of 8-23, 257 yards and 2 TDs.

Decker has defanitely had the benefit of a top quality QB, but is solid in his own right. While he might not have the upside of Nicks, he is without doubt a capable WR who has no history of missing time with injuries.

3. Golden Tate

2013 Grade: +10.8
2013 Snaps: 936

The biggest strength in Golden Tate’s game is his ability to gain yards after the catch. In 2012 and ’13 Tate has forced 45 Missed Tackles, while no other WR has more than 35 in the same span. Unsurprisingly Tate also has one of the best Yards after Reception Average in the league, managing 7.9 YAC/Rec average last season.

One of the biggest plus is for Tate is how exceptional a Punt Returner he is. Before 2013 he had only had returned 14 punts, however in 2013 the Seahawks made him their primary punt returner. The Seahawks benefited mightily from this move, while Tate only had 1 return over 40 yards, he consistently helped improve Seattle’s field position. Tate averaged 11.5 yards a return and graded out as the top punt returner.

Tate however has struggled on passes between 10-19 yards down field, gaining just 69 of his 959 yards on intermediate routes. While Tate is not the most complete WR in the game he makes up for it by being one of the best after the catch WR in the game.

4. Anquan Boldin

2013 Grade: +19.9
2013 Snaps: 1,003

When the Baltimore Ravens traded Boldin for a sixth round pick, it seemed at the time like a bad move. After the fact it looks even worse. Boldin has seemingly slipped into the Tony Gonzalez stage of his career perfectly as he struggles to create separation but manages still to win battles with his body and willingness to get the ball. Last season only two players who had over 85 targets did not have a interception when the ball was thrown their way, one was Roddy White, the other was Boldin.

While Boldin had the highest grade of any free agent WR in 2013, he only came in fourth on this list due to his age — he’ll turn 34 in the middle of next season. On a short-term deal Boldin will be a valuable asset to any team.

5. James Jones

2013 Grade: +2.9
2013 Snaps: 924

Jones had his best season in 2012 where he graded out at +8.0. Over the past three seasons he has shown that he is a capable WR and has the ability to make plays. While some people remember Jones’ 2012 campaign for leading the league in TDs, his best attribute is his production on passes under 10 yards.

When looking at what he has achieved so far in his career, though, it is easy to have cause for concern. The biggest question mark on Jones will be how he does when Aaron Rodgers is not his QB and when he is the more than the third- or fourth-best WR on the team. When Rodgers was hurt this season, Jones managed to still be a decent player, though.

Jones will be a very interesting free agent as he has a useful skillset if he is put in a position to succeed. If counted on to be one of the top two WRs for a team, we may see him struggle in his post-Green Bay days.

6. Julian Edelman

2013 Grade: +12.7
2013 Snaps: 1,165

In 2013 Julian Edelman seemed to have the perfect storm to have a breakout season. When all the other weapons for Tom Brady went down or struggled, the only consistent pass-catcher became Edelman. The Pats used Edelman effectively as a WR who could attack the middle of the field — when targeted across the middle and short of 20 yards, he had an 83% catch rate for 803 of his 1229 yards.

It is clear that Edelman is a good underneath WR but when asked to do anything more, the limitations are clear. In Edelman’s career he has only been targeted 26 times on passes over 20 yards, with a catch rate of 23%. There will be questions this offseason on how he will do outside of the Patriots’ system; it is very possible that he will be more valuable to the Pats than to any other team.

7. Riley Cooper

2013 Grade: +5.2
2013 Snaps: 1,060

Prior to the 2013 season, Cooper looked like he would become another of the league’s many below-average role player WRs. However, the hiring of Chip Kelly and his innovative offense made Cooper into a useful option and for the first time in his career he graded in the positive.

What Cooper does provide is a big target and though the 6-foot-3 receiver’s highest catch percentage in his first three seasons was 52.3%, in 2013 he managed to bring that up to a 59.6%. Cooper does make up for his lack of efficiency with the ability to make big plays, averaging over his career 15.8 yards per catch, all done with little to no YAC.

8. Emmanuel Sanders

2013 Grade: +1.5
2013 Snaps: 810

Emmanuel Sanders could be one of the more interesting free agent WRs this year. Over his first three seasons Sanders showed himself to be a capable role player who played mostly out of the slot (56%), but in 2013 the Steelers moved him into a full-time outside role (only 14.3% in the slot). Sanders excelled in using the middle of the field last season, gaining 65% of his yards there, but his yards per catch fell off by 2.5 yards from his career average of 13.6 — likely due to the way he was being used.

Sanders could receive a decent deal if a team believes he is able to develop into a solid second WR, however, he might be best served as a team’s third option.

9. Jerome Simpson

2013 Grade: +6.8
2013 Snaps: 658

Jerome Simpson will always be remembered for his touchdown when he did a front flip over Daryl Washington in 2011. His outstanding athletic ability, though, has rarely translated on to the field. In 2013 Simpson demonstrated that he’s a viable deep threat and still has the chance to become a more rounded WR, but he has rarely put a string of strong games together with only had seven games graded above a +1.0, out of 46 he has played in. While Simpson has struggled to put it all together on the field, a team might take a chance on this talented player on a ‘prove it’ deal.

10. Kenny Britt

2013 Grade: -13.2
2013 Snaps: 305

Summary: If anyone looked at the 2013 game film of Kenny Britt they would be shocked to see his name mentioned in any Top 10 free agent WR list. However, what should not be forgotten is how he played in 2011 before he tore his ACL, when it was looking like Britt was on his way to becoming a top-level WR.

In 2010 he was making strides in becoming a big playmaker, as he averaged 3.06 Yards Per Route Run. The problem is those days seem a long time ago, in 2013 Britt had seven drops on 33 targets and recorded the seconnd-lowest overall grade for a WR, on only 305 snaps. The ability that Britt flashed in ’09 and ’10 when he was one of the best deep threats in the league means there could be plenty of teams willing to give this talented WR a second chance to turn his career around. Maybe a change of scenery will do the trick.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/18/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-running-backs/

Ranking the 2014 Free Agents: Running Backs
Michael Renner | February 18, 2014

You’ve been reading along with our Projected Lineups series on a daily basis and have checked the PFF Free Agent Tracker more times than you can count, so you’ll be happy to see that we’re now ranking the top free agents available — the potential answers to the holes apparent on those team-by-team charts. We’ll be taking on a couple positions a day this week and discussing our Top 10 at each.

It’s more than just looking at our grades, but factoring in longevity, age, injuries and so much more in order to tell you who we think are the best gets out there.

Yesterday we trotted out the quarterbacks and edge rushers and today we start with the running backs and 10 names that will find homes for 2014 and could make an impact.

1. Knowshon Moreno

2013 Grade: +9.9
2013 Snaps: 724

Summary: The No. 1 running back, almost by default, comes from this year’s Super Bowl runner up. Knowshon Moreno is the only back on this list without injury, workload, or age concerns. This last season Moreno proved that he can produce effectively in an every-down role over the course of the season. In terms of pure ability, there are probably six or seven free agents I’d prefer, but none are proven commodities at this point in time. At just 27 years old, and with just 992 career touches to his name, Moreno is sure to have at least a few more productive seasons in his legs before the dreaded running back decline sets in.

2013 was by far Moreno’s most accomplished as a pro. He set career highs in snaps (724), rushing yards (1,038), receiving yards (548), touchdowns (13), and PFF grade (+9.9). His 241 carries were more the most Moreno’s had in a season since his rookie year and is 60 receptions were a career high by a wide margin. With his rushing (+4.2 grade), pass catching (+7.0 grade), and adequate pass blocking (0.0 grade) ability, Moreno provides the ability to plug and play 600+ snaps immediately.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew

2013 Grade: +3.9
2013 Snaps: 664

Summary: If this were two offseasons ago Maurice Jones-Drew would be the unquestioned number one back available. As it stands now though, teams will likely give the other members of this Top 10 a closer look than the former All-Pro. I like MJD’s chances of having a something left in the tank, though.

2013 was a frustrating year for the Jaguars and an even more so for Jones-Drew. He battled ankle and hamstring injuries all year and ran behind the worst run blocking in the NFL per our grading. It all led to a career-low 3.4 yards per carry and a PFF-era-low 2.2 average yards after contact. Lost in his poor rushing, however, was an utterly incredible pass blocking season. In 110 pass blocking snaps he didn’t allow a single pressure. That’s the most unblemished set of pass blocking snaps we’ve ever seen. If he can get his legs healthy, MJD is as complete a running back as they come.

The big question is can his legs return to form at 29 years of age with 1,804 carries to his name? Maybe not all the way back, but he doesn’t have to be in the upper echelon of running backs in the league.

3. Ben Tate

2013 Grade: -3.6
2013 Snaps: 491

Summary: Of all the running back free agents to be, Ben Tate might command the largest contract. At a youthful 25 years of age (26 by start of next season) with 421 career attempts, Tate is poised to play at a high level over a full four-to-five year contract. The Texans’ back has a career 4.7 yards per carry average and an elite size/speed combination (5-foot-11, 220-pounds, 4.43 combine 40-yard dash). The only problem is that Tate’s best season came all the way back in 2011. In that season he ran for 987 yards at 5.4 yards per carry with an average of 3.3 yards after contact.

He’s been no slouch since then, with +4.6 rushing grades in each of the past two seasons, but he didn’t blow the doors off in a full-time role last season like some expected. From week 7 on, Tate took 130 carries for 504 yards for a yards per carry of 3.9 and a yards after contact of 2.0. He also dropped three passes and had a receiving grade of -5.3 in those eight games. While he did play with four broken ribs for some of that time, it tempered my enthusiasm of his impending free agency a tiny bit. Still, if I had to choose the most talented free agent running back it would be him.

Tate’s contract is the one out of this group I am most curious to see. With Arian Foster’s $8.5m cap hit next season and virtually unreleasable contract, Tate will hit the open market for all to bid. Reggie Bush’s four-year $16m from last offseason is the barometer I’m looking at with Tate. With his age and talent, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got more.

4. LeGarrette Blount

2013 Grade: +10.1
2013 Snaps: 289

Summary: He may look more like a linebacker, but Legarrette Blount has proven in his four seasons that he can flat out run with the rock in his hands. Over his career he’s averaged a missed tackle once every 5.4 carries and 3.06 yards after contact per attempt. To illustrate how insane that is, only one running back last season had a better yards after contact than Blount’s career average (Andre Ellington). His rookie season was one of the more under-appreciated seasons in recent memory. In 2010 he led the NFL with 50 broken tackles on just 201 attempts (22nd-most in the NFL) and averaged 5.0 yards per carry behind our 30th-ranked run blocking unit.

Blount’s talent has never been the issue, though. Ever since his infamous punch his final year at Oregon, Blount has been followed by character concerns that won’t cease now. It caused him to go undrafted and will likely cause some teams to pass without thinking twice again this time around. Even after a tremendous bounce-back season in New England where he had the ninth-highest rushing grade at +7.8 (highest of all free agents) on just 153 attempts, don’t expect Blount to command top dollar in free agency. He’ll likely still have to prove he’s matured and won’t put up a season like in 2012 where he failed to break a tackle on 41 attempts and averaged just 1.8 yards after contact.

5. Donald Brown

2013 Grade: +6.9
2013 Snaps: 379

Summary: Taken 15 picks after Moreno in the first round of the 2009 draft, Donald Brown had similarly failed to live up to his lofty draft status until this past season. Brown’s struggles may have had more to do with opportunities than anything else. In his five seasons, the Colts’ running back amassed a mere 551 carries and averaged over 10 carries a game in just one season. That could be a gift and a curse for potential free agent suitors. On one hand, Brown should be fresh at just 27 years of age with so few carries under his belt, but on the other, he may not transition well into a full-time role.

One thing you can be certain of with Brown, though, is that you’ll be getting a talented running back. The former Connecticut standout’s 2013 season proved once and for all that Trent Richardson’s struggles weren’t just the offensive lines fault. Brown averaged a whopping 2.4 yards more per carry than Richardson (5.3 vs. 2.9) and had an elusive rating 25.4 points higher (73.8 vs. 48.4). By our metric, Brown calculated out as the most elusive back last year with at least 100 touches. He also was one of the biggest breakaway threats, achieving eight runs of 15 yards or more and 40% of his total yards on those runs.

The biggest question for the former first-rounder is: was last season an aberration or the norm? Brown set career highs in almost every category and it would be safe to expect some sort of regression. The Colts’ slew of coaches have also never been confident enough in Brown’s ability to give him the full-time role. It’s also worth noting that he got all his production behind our 23rd-ranked run blocking unit. He may not command top dollar in free agency, but Brown will be a quality back wherever he ends up next season.

6. James Starks

2013 Grade: +5.6
2013 Snaps: 224

Summary: If a team is looking for high risk-reward potential in free agency, James Starks is your man. Starks won’t command anything too pricey on the open market, due in large part to his vast injury history. In four NFL seasons, he has missed 29 total games due to injury. That’s not a great omen for a back that will already be 28 years old by the start of the 2014 season.

With all that said, Starks’ talent is undeniable. At 6-foot-2 and 218-pounds, the former sixth-round pick out of Buffalo resembles a poor man’s Adrian Peterson. Including the playoffs, Starks had the highest yards per carry of any back with at least 75 carries at 5.6. He also tied for the second highest yards after contact per attempt at 3.0.

Starks shares quite a few similarities to Donald Brown in that both are coming off of career years with inconsistent production previously and limited attempts. Neither have ever taken handoffs behind quality run blocking either. It’s hard to imagine any team going into the 2014 season with Starks as their featured back because of his injury history and you’ll most likely see him perform in a tandem next year. Outside of Ben Tate, I’m probably most excited to see what Starks can do with if he gets any sort of an increased role.

7. Rashad Jennings

2013 Grade: +6.0
2013 Snaps: 567

Summary: In his fifth season in the NFL Rashad Jennings thrived in a full time role. After playing four seasons in Jacksonville with mixed results, Jennings signed in Oakland for just $630k and had a fantastic year. From Week 9 on Jennings was given the bulk of the Raiders’ carries and did not disappoint. In the last eight games he played, Jennings gained 593 yards at 4.7 yards per carry and averaged 2.9 yards after contact. He outperformed former No. 4 overall pick Darren McFadden by leaps and bounds with an overall grade 15.8 points higher.

Jennings is still fairly close to a one-hit wonder, though. His 2012 season was absolutely dismal. Then with Jacksonville he averaged 2.8 yards per carry and broke just six tackles on 101 carries. Hopefully that can just be chalked up to lingering effects from his 2011 knee injury that cost him the whole season. Whatever the reason may be, Jennings likely won’t command too much on the open market with the valid question marks about his inconsistency and his age (will be 29 by training camp).

8. Rashard Mendenhall

2013 Grade: -3.5
2013 Snaps: 470

Summary: Running behind an offensive line as porous as the Cardinals’ was last season always makes for a difficult evaluation. Averaging the fifth-worst yards per carry (3.2) when the league leader in yards per carry is your teammate doesn’t help your cause, though. Rashard Mendenhall’s career stats and grades paint the picture of a quality back, but never much more. The alarming thing is that Mendenhall has been trending precipitously downwards as of late. From 2009-2011 Mendenhall had running grades of -2.1, +0.5, and +6.1 along with elusive ratings of 36.6, 35.3, and 37.1. In 2012-2013 his running grades were -4.5 and -4.7 while his elusive ratings were 31.9 and 26.1. Mendenhall still has his flashes, and there is no doubt he was limited by the run blocking struggles in Arizona. It’s just that there isn’t too much to get enthused about for the type of contract he might demand as a four year starter ($2.5M last offseason).

9. Toby Gerhart

2013 Grade: +3.0
2013 Snaps: 199

Summary: Toby Gerhart is another one in the group of highly-talented free agent backs that never really got a chance at full-time snaps. A former second-round selection, Gerhart served as a sort of ‘insurance plan’ to Adrian Peterson that only had to be cashed in for a few games in 2011. His career stats are still mighty impressive, though: 276 carries for 1,305 yards at 4.7 yards per carry and 2.8 yards after contact per attempt.

While, in retrospect, the Vikings would have been better off using their 51st overall pick in the 2010 draft on a different position, Gerhart played up to his draft status when given the chance. At 6-foot-1, 231-pounds, Gerhart appears well suited for a heavy workload. It will be interesting to see if a team takes a flier on the 27-year-old running back and gives him those carries.

10. Andre Brown

2013 Grade: -4.6
2013 Snaps: 369

Summary: If deemed healthy, former teammate Ahmad Bradshaw would be more deserving of this spot, but Andre Brown is a quality option in his own right. Injuries soured a promising 2013 campaign and could limit his potential in free agency, but he’s still an intriguing option. It’s not his 2013 season, but his 2012 season that I’m talking about, though. In 2012 Brown had a PFF grade of +5.4 in 225 snaps with 5.3 yards per carry and 3.4 yards after contact per attempt. Mix that with the fact that Brown is six feet tall, 227-pounds, and ran a 4.49 40 at the combine and there is reason to take a long look. The problem is that’s all the numbers we have to base Brown off of. After he put up those numbers he broke his leg twice and never looked the same. Brown should come cheap, but it will likely be a roll of the dice on what kind of production you’ll get based on his history.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/19/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-linebackers/

Ranking the 2014 Free Agents: Linebackers
John Breitenbach | February 19, 2014

You’ve been reading along with our Projected Lineups series on a daily basis and have checked the PFF Free Agent Tracker more times than you can count, so you’ll be happy to see that we’re now ranking the top free agents available — the potential answers to the holes apparent on those team-by-team charts. We’ll be taking on a couple positions a day this week and discussing our Top 10 at each.

It’s more than just looking at our grades, but factoring in longevity, age, injuries and so much more in order to tell you who we think are the best gets out there.

We’ve been through the quarterbacks and running backs as well as the edge rushers and interior D-linemen. Earlier today we put up the wide receivers and now we have a look at the middle/inside and 4-3 outside linebackers.

The linebacker position has become increasingly devalued in today’s NFL but that’s given organizations the opportunity to go bargain hunting. This year’s crop is somewhat underwhelming, though, with a number of journeyman making the Top 10. The best players in the group are either aging, coming off injury or restricted free agents. Once past the Top 5 or so, teams should be looking for nothing more than players who can compete for backup jobs. In fact, just six of the Top 10 had both positive grades and played more than 100 snaps. Here’s a more in-depth look at the top linebackers available in free agency for 2014.

1. Karlos Dansby

2013 Grade: +13.3
2013 Snaps: 1,107

Count me as one of those surprised by how well Dansby performed in Arizona. It was a joyous return for the man drafted by the Cardinals who played probably his best season in his tenth year in the league. Partnering with Daryl Washington in the middle, the duo made the best pair of cover linebackers in the league and seemed a perfect fit for Todd Bowles’ 3-4 schemes. Overall, Dansby was our third ranked inside linebacker in coverage (+9.5 grade) allowing just a QB rating of 75.0 with a staggering 10 pass deflections in coverage, the second most at the position in the last six years. Dansby also made plays, grabbing four interceptions and bringing the QB down eight times. Unlike his partner, the former Dolphin was also able to make plays in the run game, recording more stops in 2013 (63) than he did in 2012 (59). He was by no mean greats in that department (+1.6) but, combined with his quality in coverage and efficiency when blitzing, Dansby’s versatility ensured him a top five place in our inside linebacker rakings.

While his 2013 season was impressive there are obviously concerns with Dansby entering his 11th year as a pro. There’s significant risk with giving him a big contract, despite the quality of his play, with a decline potentially just around a corner. With his athleticism Dansby seems like the kind of guy who could go downhill quickly if he loses a step which could well scare teams away. After receiving just a one year contract from the Cardinals in the 2013 offseason, don’t be surprised if the same thing happens this year.

2. Daryl Smith

2013 Grade: +0.2
2013 Snaps: 1,097

We’ve come to expect so much from Smith that in some ways his 2013 was a little disappointing. It’s no surprise he failed to reach the lofty heights of 2011 coming off a season ending injury the year before and moving to a new scheme but his -13.1 grade against the run (sixth worst) really came out of nowhere. Unlike previous seasons he simply couldn’t find a way to shed blocks finishing with an alarmingly poor 34 stops despite missing just five snaps all season.

To put that in perspective, Akeem Jordan had 33 despite playing in less than half the snaps that Smith did (483 compared to 1,097). While his regression in the run game is concerning, Smith still has value as a nickel linebacker where he can use his cover and rush skills to good effect. His +4.9 pass rush grade is good enough for third, bested only by Jerrell Freeman and NaVorro Bowman.

Smith’s +8.8 coverage grade is also good enough to make it into the top five. His most impressive stat is allowing only 58.9% of passes to be complete, good enough for fourth best in the league. Underrated for so many years the former Jaguar deserves to get on the field next year, but I’m not sure there’ll be a whole lot of suitors.

3. Brandon Spikes

2013 Grade: +9.8
2013 Snaps: 694

In many ways Spikes is the most appealing option in this crop. His main advantage is youth, having played just four seasons, but he is not without baggage. The former second-round pick ended up on Injured Reserve and it remains to be seen whether he’ll need offseason surgery. There are concerns on the field as well, where Spikes struggles when forced to go backward. Despite finishing sixth overall among inside linebackers, he recorded a -3.6 grade in coverage and an 84.0 QB rating allowed.

Spikes’ strength and physicality serves him well when taking on blocks but he is sub-standard in space giving opposing offenses a chance to create mismatches in the passing game. That grade was amassed playing predominantly on running downs and it would seem unwise to expect his performance in coverage to suddenly improve. For that reason Spikes’ value seems to be as a two-down backer only. He’s a very good one at that, recording easily the best run defense grade (+11.6) among all inside linebackers. Four missed tackles in 73 attempted with 48 stops is a very good return.

Spikes has also shown some ability as a pass rusher in the past too. In 2012 he finished with a sack, seven hits and six hurries (+5.2). There is certainly value to be had in a run defending middle linebacker but with an increasing emphasis on ability to defend in space Spikes might find his value decreasing as the year’s go on. One intriguing possibility could be to use him as the strongside linebacker in base and then shift him to defensive end in the nickel. So far so good as a pass rusher but adapting to beating a tackle one-on-one off the edge is quite a different story.

4. Donald Butler

2013 Grade: -11.8
2013 Snaps: 717

Drafted in the same year as Spikes but a round later, Butler might be fortunate to be this high. His 2013 was simply a nightmare for someone who should have stepped it up in his fourth year as a pro. Injuries and inconsistency have really hurt a guy who started his career admirably and looked set to be at the very least a serviceable inside linebacker.

After combining for a +9.3 grade in 2011 and 2012 when he first got on the field, much was expected of Butler this season in combination with Manti Te’o. Thus far results have not met expectations. Te’o struggled as a rookie and Butler did absolutely nothing to help him. Missing seven games on the past two seasons hasn’t helped but his play on the field really stood out in a negative way in 2013.

The former Washington product was not exceptionally poor in any department, but three red lights in all three facets of his play make for telling reading. He made a fairly pitiful 27 stops out of 71 tackles, missed ten and allowed a QB rating above 90. Butler also recorded just six combined pressures (-2.9). Fourth position on this list represents potential more than anything but reports suggest the Chargers are committed to keeping him around. If that’s the case then Charger fans will be hoping the Butler of previous seasons is back next year.

5. Desmond Bishop

2013 Grade: +1.0
2013 Snaps: 45

Bishop has been unfortunate to suffer season-ending injuries in the past two years because he was among the best just three years ago for Green Bay. With that said, three years is a long time, especially when you’re trying to come back from a torn ACL. That’s not to mention the fact he’s now entering his thirties. There’s always hope a former great can regain his previous form but such hope often remains just that especially after this long on the sidelines.

When he was at his best, Bishop was a complete linebacker, making plays in every facet of the game. During his amazing 2010 season he graded in the green seven times without taking a single red. In fact, he only graded in the red in any facet of his game once during the Packers’ run to the Super Bowl. His 2011 season was also solid but injuries started to creep in. His dominant performance in the divisional round of the playoffs offered some hope that he was getting back to his best, but in the end it wasn’t to be.

The previous two years have been tough and the odds are stacked against him but there’s always a chance with a guy like Bishop.

6. Vincent Rey

2013 Grade: +6.3
2013 Snaps: 348

Perhaps the most underrated of the Bengals’ defensive players no one expected much of Rey when he was forced into the lineup in the middle of the year after Rey Maualuga suffered an injury. He held his own in those three starts (and was certainly better than the man he replaced) racking up three sacks and seven stops in what was nearly his best game of the season. I say “nearly” because the undrafted free agent, later in the year, managed to gather a +4.5 grade in just six snaps against the Vikings. Rey recorded a sack on his only rush and had a pick and forced incompletion on his two targets.

The Duke product played his best football later in the year recording three games in the green out of the last six with none in the red. It remains to be seen whether he could handle a full season’s workload, but at this stage that no longer looks unlikely.

Unfortunately for any teams that might be interested, they’ll have to pay compensation with Rey being a restricted free agent. What with the Bengals’ bewildering commitment to Maualuga, however, they might not tender him at a high level giving teams the opportunity to get a player with upside on the cheap. If he can improve his tackling (six missed on 39 attempts) then Rey can be at least a capable NFL starter.

7. Keith Rivers

2013 Grade: +0.4
2013 Snaps: 429

While Rivers is a solid player, so much more was expected when he was drafted in the first round back in 2008. It’s been a rocky road for the USC product which culminated in a trade for just a fifth round pick last offseason. Rivers won’t kill you, but he’s certainly not lived up to those expectations. He’s a good player against the run, recording a +3.7 grade in that department in 2013, but struggles in coverage and as a pass rusher (-4.1 combined). There’s just not much compelling against Rivers and, at this stage in his career, there’s hard to see much upside.

Rivers would work as a temporary stopgap and two-down thumper, but his struggles against tight ends make him less appealing in today’s NFL. The likelihood is he’ll catch on somewhere, but he’s certainly not a guy to hang your hat on. Injuries have played a big part too with Rivers taking the field in just 59 games over the past six years. It’s telling also that the best of those years came all the way back in 2010, when he was able to elevate his run defense and increase his performance in coverage to a serviceable level. Rivers managed to crack the Top 10 among 4-3 outside linebackers that year but with his level of play seemingly dropping, there’s unlikely to be much interest come March.

8. Akeem Jordan

2013 Grade: +4.5
2013 Snaps: 483

Following Andy Reid to Kansas City was a smart career move for Jordan who looked more comfortable in the Chiefs’ 3-4 where his limited athleticism was masked somewhat. Jordan’s never been the best in space but he’s always been a disciplined and aggressive run defender. No doubt he was helped a lot by the talent around him but that doesn’t take away from a season that was good enough to leave him 11th overall among inside linebackers. Only a single player who finished higher also played fewer snaps, and that’s the man at No. 6 on this list.

Jordan’s 28 stops in the run game in 224 reps were good enough for fifth in Run Stop Percentage and he missed just four tackles. With something of a dearth of quality at the ILB position (just 15 out of 55 graded in the green in 2013) Jordan could certainly do a job for somebody. He has versatility too, having played both weakside and strongside linebacker at times in the Eagles’ 4-3.

While Jordan’s utility on defense is great, linebackers like him have to make their mark on special teams. That’s exactly what the undrafted free agent out of James Madison did for the Chiefs, recording a +7.5 grade contributing equally on both kickoffs and punts.

9. Joe Mays

2013 Grade: -1.8
2013 Snaps: 563

Another former Eagle checks in at No. 9 and it’s another former small-school prospect with Mays graduating from North Dakota State back in 2008. There’s always been a buzz around him with his ability to hit and be aggressive at the point of attack especially obvious. Still, it’s his work going backwards that is always likely to hold him back and that’s the reason why he’s been on three different teams since he entered the league.

This season was a solid one for Mays who started 14 games at inside linebacker in the Texans’ 3-4. As you might expect considering he weighs 250-pounds but is only 5-foot-11, he more than held his own against the run, recording 36 stops, but struggled in coverage, allowing a QB rating of 105.1.

Consistency is an issue for Mays, too, with five green graded games and five in the red. That inconsistency extends even to his performances against the run, where he finished with four games below -1.0 despite grading above average by year’s end. A sub-package role makes sense for Mays who can contribute so long as not too much is asked of him.

10. Daryl Sharpton

2013 Grade: -8.0
2013 Snaps: 743

The last man to make the list is Mays’ partner at inside linebacker for the Texans in 2013. It wasn’t a good year overall for Sharpton who struggled mightily in coverage, but there is at least some upside there. As with seemingly all of Houston’s linebackers, Sharpton was great disrupting the run, (+8.8) but tended to get beat in coverage (-11.9). In fact, he played well enough to finish second overall in run defense, with only Spikes outperforming him. In contrast, Sharpton finished third to last in the coverage department, allowing above 80% of targets to be complete with three touchdowns and an eventual QB rating of 128.5.

The numbers are pretty alarming when you delve deeper, with Sharpton allowing 1.7 Yards Per Cover Snap, a good 0.35 yards more than anyone else. Unsurprisingly, he also allowed the most receptions per cover snap (7.1). Sharpton could also do with improving his work as a blitzer, as he recorded just five hits and five hurries culminating in an overall grade of -4.0. With all that said, Sharpton is still young at the age of 26 which explains why he was able to sneak onto the list with an overall poor year in 2013.

Keith Rivers just came in to the league at a bad time. He would have had a nice career back when the league emphasized running the ball.

Quote:

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3. Golden Tate

2013 Grade: +10.8
2013 Snaps: 936

The biggest strength in Golden Tate’s game is his ability to gain yards after the catch. In 2012 and ’13 Tate has forced 45 Missed Tackles, while no other WR has more than 35 in the same span. Unsurprisingly Tate also has one of the best Yards after Reception Average in the league, managing 7.9 YAC/Rec average last season.

One of the biggest plus is for Tate is how exceptional a Punt Returner he is. Before 2013 he had only had returned 14 punts, however in 2013 the Seahawks made him their primary punt returner. The Seahawks benefited mightily from this move, while Tate only had 1 return over 40 yards, he consistently helped improve Seattle’s field position. Tate averaged 11.5 yards a return and graded out as the top punt returner.

Tate however has struggled on passes between 10-19 yards down field, gaining just 69 of his 959 yards on intermediate routes. While Tate is not the most complete WR in the game he makes up for it by being one of the best after the catch WR in the game.

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With his ability to create after the catch, he sounds like a solid WCO type receiver. I wouldn't mind seeing us go after him if the price is right.

Tate(WR), Gerhart and Blount intrigue me most. I'm not much interested in anyone else. We'd be much better suited to go draft a LB with the money we pay our front 7 already.

I want nothing to do with Blount or Tate. Blount is a headcase and will be 28 next season. Tate will be expensive and has an extensive injury history.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/21/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-safeties/

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/20/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-cornerbacks/

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/02/21/ranking-the-2014-free-agents-guards/

Give me Byrd, re-sign Ward, one of Shields, T.Brown or Munnerlyn as CB2, one of G.Schwartz, Asamoah, Rinehart or S.smith as RG, J.Jones as WR2, Jennings for RB, Bishop for ILB....if it was for me we would have already have the older Schwartz or Rinehart and Munnerlyn on the Roster, but our geniuses thought Owens and Gilkey were the smarter depth moves for the same money. Now it'll cost a bit more to get them in....if only to make ANY FA forget what Circus the three Stooges left.

Big offseason Mr Farmer, be smart and don't outsmart yourself. Sign freaking good established players at need positions instead of trying to show the World how smart you are by inserting late rounders and UDFAs. Use your damn resources. Every armchair GM on here like me would look good with 50+mil. to spend. Just do it....

Brown's interest in Jarius Byrd is real:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000...us-byrd-is-real

So... this means a few things. From here on after, when I say "they" - I'm referring to front office, Ray, Mike, and so forth:

They don't wish to pay TJ and would want to move Gipson or someone else to strong safety.

They want to pay BOTH TJ and Byrd and demote Gipson (doubt it, two high priced safeties would be pretty insane.)

The article is totally bogus and yet another pooper false statement made by someone.

It's very good to "leak" the Byrd story right now -- because it puts some pressure on TJ Ward in contract negotiations (and Ward is the only person we can negotiate with now).

Who knows if the story has any teeth - but it's only good for the Browns that the story is out now.

Wasn't he a captain last year? Let the deconstruction begin!

Why are people worried about salary cap? I've Saadi it numerous times, until we're paying 6 figure salaries you're worrying about something that won't happens for 5 years. Guys will be in their 30's and washed up by then.

j/c

2014 PFF Free Agency Tracker

Every year we launch into free agency with the aim to deliver the most comprehensive service out there. We’ve got rankings, breakdowns, team needs and some special features all coming up, but it starts here…

With the Pro Football Focus 2014 Free Agency Tracker.

We’ve got a rundown on all the available free agents with a breakdown of their 2013 snaps and player grades (though, note, grades aren’t ranking the free agent as they’re just a part of the evaluation process for what makes a desirable free agent).

This year we’re making it even easier for you to find what you’re looking for by breaking the pages down a number of ways:

Free agent lists by position:

QB | RB | FB | TE | WR | OT | G | C | Specialists
S | CB | LB | Edge Defenders | Interior D-Line

Top Free Agents Articles:

QB | RB | TE | WR | OT | G | C | Specialists
S | CB | LB | Edge Defenders | Interior D-Line

Free agent lists by team:

ARZ | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET
GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ
OAK | PHI | PIT | STL | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS

Projected lineups by team:

ARZ | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET
GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ
OAK | PHI | PIT | STL | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS


https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/07/2014-pff-free-agency-tracker/

Ward as the highest rated safety.

we have talent. can we please sign our home grown talent?

jc

Franchise tag deadline coming for Bills

Posted by Darin Gantt on February 27, 2014, 8:32 AM EST

The Bills used the franchise tag to sit on safety Jairus Byrd last year, and they’re considering doing it again.

Or at least they’re saying they are.

Bills General Manager Doug Whaley told the team’s official website (the most useful vehicle for delivering an unvarnished message) that they were able and willing to use the tag on Byrd again.

“We have to leave every option on the table open,” Whaley said. “When you’re trying to keep a good player you’re going to try every means necessary to keep him. . . .

“The salary cap will not prohibit us from getting done what we need to get done. So we are very comfortable.”

The franchise tag for safeties this year is estimated to be $8.24 million, but they’d have to pay Byrd 120 percent of last year’s $6.9 million tag value, which would nudge it up to $8.3 million.

That’s far too much for one year’s worth of any safety, but having been unable to do a long-term deal, the Bills might be trying to position themselves for another move. There was talk at the Scouting Combine about Cleveland having interest in Byrd, which makes sense given the way he played in Mike Pettine’s defense a year ago.

So if the Bills are looking to finagle a deal with the Browns, announcing your willingness to tag Byrd and keep him is a good way to establish the baseline for talks.

Donald Butler announces he's staying in San Diego:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/28/donald-butler-announces-hes-staying-with-chargers/

That sucks. I wanted him before we released DQ, and even MORE SO afterwards... free agent ILB are extremely slim pickings now unless you're okay with an aged person...

He was someone I was hoping we would target. Welp.... One down, Farmer.

I think this pretty much guarantees that we will sign Arthur Moats. It would be a solid 2nd tier FA signing. He's played 43 DE, 34 OLB and ILB.

He's a down hill guy thats pretty good against the run, would bring a pass rush presence to the middle and is very average against the pass.

The big thing is that he played for Mike Pettine and he's young.

From what I've read, seems like the remaining FA inside linebackers are either over the hill, injury prone, liabilities in coverage, or combinations of the above.

I have a few Bungle fan friends who fear that Vinny Rey, who is young & has excelled both inside & outside, will end up being an unrestricted FA. Not sure if they know what they're talking about. Would he not be worth tendering?

Yeah, Butler was a guy I was hoping we would land.

It's getting dire now. No DQ. No Butler.

LBer in the first round?

I mentioned Rey on another thread, or maybe this one, as a guy. He actually performed very well when he had to step in for Malaluga. He's an interesting guy.

Good call, man.

He's a restricted free argent this year.

Bummer, but thanks for the information. I did not know that.

Well, looking at the rules of restricted free agent tenders, if they don't tag him with a first or second round tender (both are above two mil) then we can sign him without giving up a draft pick since he was undrafted. But it does look like the Bengals have the cap space to tender him with a 1st or 2nd.