With the NFL Scouting Combine over and the franchise tag deadline behind us, we have a chance to look forward to the start of free agency by identifying the top players available at each position. With the new league year kicking off in a week, here’s The Comeback’s 2016 all-free agency all-star team.
Quarterback: Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos
Kirk Cousins was slapped with the franchise tag in Washington and Sam Bradford re-signed with the Eagles, leaving Osweiler and Ryan Fitzpatrick as the only impending free-agent quarterbacks who started multiple games in 2015. Fitzpatrick had slightly better numbers with the Jets but is still a 33-year-old journeyman. Osweiler has a higher ceiling.
Fullback: John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers
He’ll turn 34 in September, but the three-time Pro Bowler has missed just one game the last three years.
Running back: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Only Adrian Peterson rushed for more yards than the 27-year-old in 2015, and Martin averaged an extra 0.4 yards per carry. He’s small he hasn’t always been consistent, but the first-team All-Pro has to be viewed as a top-five back.
Wide receivers: Rishard Matthews, Miami Dolphins; Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
In limited action, Matthews caught more than 70 percent of the passes thrown his way and averaged a solid 60.2 yards per game in a breakout fourth season with Miami. At the age of 26, he should have a chance to compete for a starting job somewhere.
Jones’ rate-based numbers weren’t as strong, but he went over 800 yards and was more reliable than impending Browns free agent Travis Benjamin.
Tight end: Ladarius Green, San Diego Chargers
The extremely athletic 25-year-old excelled in relief of the suspended Antonio Gates during the first month of the 2015 season. Coby Fleener of the Colts has accomplished a lot more, but he appears to have a lower ceiling than Green.
Offensive tackles: Kelvin Beachum, Pittsburgh Steelers; Mitchell Schwartz, Cleveland Browns
Even with Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn off the market after being tagged, it’s a strong tackle market. But both Donald Penn and Andre Smith may be past their prime. The 26-year-old Schwartz is coming off the best year of his career, while the 26-year-old Beachum (coincidentally, they were both born on June 8, 1989) was one of the best pass protectors in football in 2014 before missing the majority of the 2015 campaign due to a torn ACL. No love here for the overrated, injury-prone Russell Okung.
Guards: Kelechi Osemele, Baltimore Ravens; Alex Boone, San Francisco 49ers
The monstrous Osemele has been one of the best interior offensive linemen in the league the last two years, and the 26-year-old proved in spot duty last season that he can hold it down on the outside as well. He’s clearly the best offensive lineman available this year.
Boone didn’t have a great sixth season in San Francisco but the veteran has still had a steady career and is probably a better option than much older options Richie Incognito and Evan Mathis.
Center: Stefen Wisniewski, Jacksonville Jaguars
The steady 26-year-old isn’t a star, but he’s started 77 of a possible 80 games during his five-year career and is at least an above-average option in the middle.
Defensive ends: Malik Jackson, Denver Broncos; Robert Ayers, New York Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul is the big name, but JPP wasn’t himself after returning from a severe freak hand injury last season, while his teammate Ayers quietly put together a solid nine-sack campaign. While Ayers may be the top 4-3 end on the market, the 26-year-old Jackson is clearly the best 3-4 end available following a breakout season with the Super Bowl champs.
Defensive tackles: Damon Harrison, New York Jets; Nick Fairley, Los Angeles Rams
The 27-year-old Harrison has Pro Bowl potential and is coming of his best season yet at nose tackle. Pro Football Focus graded the big guy as the second-best run-stopping interior defensive lineman in football in 2015.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Fairley was fantastic in a limited role with the the Rams. He might finally be ready to live up to his potential.
Outside linebackers: Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks; Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs
The versatile Irvin has the ability to come off the edge, defend the run and drop into coverage. He’s not a superstar, but could flourish outside of Seattle. Hali is 32, but pass-rushers can have pretty long shelf lives and he was superb as both a pass-rusher and a run defender in 2015.
Inside linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs; Danny Trevathan, Denver Broncos
The 33-year-old Johnson might not be worthy of a super-long-term deal, but he is coming off a Pro Bowl season that included 95 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Trevathan is only 25 and should be in for a Super Bowl premium after a 73-tackle season. Both were top-six inside linebackers at PFF.
Cornerbacks: Janoris Jenkins, Los Angeles Rams; Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Yeah, even after tagging Eric Berry the Chiefs have a lot of work to do on defense. The 28-year-old Smith has been extremely consistent and reliable in coverage throughout his seven-year career, while the the opportunistic Jenkins probably has more tread on his tires. They beat out quality impending free-agent corners Casey Hayward, Leon Hall and Adam Jones.
Safeties: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers; George Iloka, Cincinnati Bengals
Weddle is 31 and coming off a down year but it doesn’t sound as though he was happy in San Diego, so the three-time Pro Bowler could redeem himself elsewhere.
The 25-year-old Iloka might not have been as good as teammate Reggie Nelson in 2015, but he was a stud in 2014 and is seven years younger than Nelson. He edges out Tashaun Gipson, another youngster who came back to earth a little in 2015.
Kicker: Josh Brown, New York Giants
He’s 36, but the dude missed only two of 32 field-goal attempts in 2015.
Punter: Bryan Anger, Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2012 third-round pick ranked 11th in the league with 46.3 yards per punt in 2015.
