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C.J. Spiller among top 10 potential bargain free agents - NFL - ESPN
By Mike Sando
Ndamukong Suh has dominated the NFL free-agency discussion as if it were a scout-team guard, but most teams' fate in the market will hinge upon their ability to find bargains. Price, contract structure and team fit are key variables in the annual high-stakes game of player acquisition. Careers for executives, coaches and players hinge on how well those efforts go.
The list of potential "bargain" free agents provided below serves as a counterbalance to the"buyer-beware" veterans discussed previously. The truth is that some players could belong on either list depending upon how much they command in the market, where they land, etc.
My search for bargains focused on three general groups of players: 2011 draft choices who are coming off of four-year rookie deals and might benefit from a new address; players coming off injuries; and players at potentially discounted positions.
Top 10 potential free-agent bargains
1. Davon House, CB, Green Bay Packers: House has spent his entire four-year career with Green Bay and is still only 25 years old (he turns 26 in July). He has good size for the position and seems to have good ability, but injuries suffered in 2012 and last season set back his efforts to win additional playing time. Was it a case of bad luck, or does House lack durability? If he stays healthy, he could become a very good player at a decent price. Then again, there might not be many true bargains at corner if reports are true about Byron Maxwell getting $10 million a season
2. Cecil Shorts III, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: The draft appears stocked at receiver. Quite a few veterans are also available. That is bad for players such as Shorts and good for teams seeking value. Shorts has missed games and his production has trended downward. He could benefit from a QB upgrade after catching passes from Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles.
3. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills: Spiller was drafted ninth overall in 2010 and he has occasionally played like it. "He has first-round measurables, has shown flashes and could put it all together," one personnel evaluator said. "Darren Sproles could be a precedent." Spiller has also factored on special teams. He has four career kick returns for touchdowns, including one last season.
4. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals: A contract negotiator said he thought Gresham could be a good value at around $3 million or $3.5 million per season. An evaluator described the 2010 first-round pick as a "great kid" but a "classic underachiever" who might benefit from a new environment "where everyone works harder than him all the time and pushes him." Seattle? Houston?
5. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: The fourth choice in the 2008 draft turns 28 in August and he averaged no better than 3.4 yards per carry in any of the past three seasons. "The team component is critical for him," an evaluator said. "He could be the type of guy who goes to a place like New England, gets great coaching and becomes productive in whatever role it is, but probably only for a year or two."
6. Kenrick Ellis, DL, New York Jets: A third-round pick in 2011, Ellis played a career-low 28.6 percent of the defensive snaps last season. "He is a good player, a run-stuffer and a power pass-rusher who just has not taken it to the next level," a personnel director said. "He could be a good fourth guy for your 3-4."
7. Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders: We can forgive Oakland fans for rolling their eyes on this one, but Moore did catch 17 touchdown passes over his first three seasons as a fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft. The receiver market should be soft. Moore, 26, caught 67 passes for 1,137 yards (17.0 average) and nine scores in 21 games when Carson Palmer was his quarterback.
8. Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots: Torn knee ligaments suffered during October of last season make Ridley a candidate for a one-year deal to reestablish himself. If he can stay healthy and shake some of his past fumbling issues, he could be a productive runner.
9. Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle Seahawks: Smith is young (25) and has big-game experience (he was the MVP of Super Bowl 48). He also knows the defensive schemes former Seattle coordinators Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn have taken elsewhere. Smith's price should be reasonable after a down 2014 season.
10. Lance Kendricks, TE, St. Louis Rams: The Rams have played musical coordinators and musical quarterbacks throughout Kendricks' four-year run with the team. The 2011 second-round choice has good speed and could benefit from a QB upgrade.
Full article and other notes - Attached .pdf file
By Mike Sando
Ndamukong Suh has dominated the NFL free-agency discussion as if it were a scout-team guard, but most teams' fate in the market will hinge upon their ability to find bargains. Price, contract structure and team fit are key variables in the annual high-stakes game of player acquisition. Careers for executives, coaches and players hinge on how well those efforts go.
The list of potential "bargain" free agents provided below serves as a counterbalance to the"buyer-beware" veterans discussed previously. The truth is that some players could belong on either list depending upon how much they command in the market, where they land, etc.
My search for bargains focused on three general groups of players: 2011 draft choices who are coming off of four-year rookie deals and might benefit from a new address; players coming off injuries; and players at potentially discounted positions.
Top 10 potential free-agent bargains
1. Davon House, CB, Green Bay Packers: House has spent his entire four-year career with Green Bay and is still only 25 years old (he turns 26 in July). He has good size for the position and seems to have good ability, but injuries suffered in 2012 and last season set back his efforts to win additional playing time. Was it a case of bad luck, or does House lack durability? If he stays healthy, he could become a very good player at a decent price. Then again, there might not be many true bargains at corner if reports are true about Byron Maxwell getting $10 million a season
2. Cecil Shorts III, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: The draft appears stocked at receiver. Quite a few veterans are also available. That is bad for players such as Shorts and good for teams seeking value. Shorts has missed games and his production has trended downward. He could benefit from a QB upgrade after catching passes from Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles.
3. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills: Spiller was drafted ninth overall in 2010 and he has occasionally played like it. "He has first-round measurables, has shown flashes and could put it all together," one personnel evaluator said. "Darren Sproles could be a precedent." Spiller has also factored on special teams. He has four career kick returns for touchdowns, including one last season.
4. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals: A contract negotiator said he thought Gresham could be a good value at around $3 million or $3.5 million per season. An evaluator described the 2010 first-round pick as a "great kid" but a "classic underachiever" who might benefit from a new environment "where everyone works harder than him all the time and pushes him." Seattle? Houston?
5. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: The fourth choice in the 2008 draft turns 28 in August and he averaged no better than 3.4 yards per carry in any of the past three seasons. "The team component is critical for him," an evaluator said. "He could be the type of guy who goes to a place like New England, gets great coaching and becomes productive in whatever role it is, but probably only for a year or two."
6. Kenrick Ellis, DL, New York Jets: A third-round pick in 2011, Ellis played a career-low 28.6 percent of the defensive snaps last season. "He is a good player, a run-stuffer and a power pass-rusher who just has not taken it to the next level," a personnel director said. "He could be a good fourth guy for your 3-4."
7. Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders: We can forgive Oakland fans for rolling their eyes on this one, but Moore did catch 17 touchdown passes over his first three seasons as a fifth-round pick in the 2011 draft. The receiver market should be soft. Moore, 26, caught 67 passes for 1,137 yards (17.0 average) and nine scores in 21 games when Carson Palmer was his quarterback.
8. Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots: Torn knee ligaments suffered during October of last season make Ridley a candidate for a one-year deal to reestablish himself. If he can stay healthy and shake some of his past fumbling issues, he could be a productive runner.
9. Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle Seahawks: Smith is young (25) and has big-game experience (he was the MVP of Super Bowl 48). He also knows the defensive schemes former Seattle coordinators Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn have taken elsewhere. Smith's price should be reasonable after a down 2014 season.
10. Lance Kendricks, TE, St. Louis Rams: The Rams have played musical coordinators and musical quarterbacks throughout Kendricks' four-year run with the team. The 2011 second-round choice has good speed and could benefit from a QB upgrade.
Full article and other notes - Attached .pdf file
