(Photo by Jeffrey Beall)
More than a week has passed since the onset of the 2018 NFL free agency season, and many of the market’s top players have found their new homes; however, many talented gamechangers remain unsigned. As a continuation of Hamsky’s “Best of the Rest” series, I present to you the Best of the Rest 2.0:
1. Ndamukong Suh (DT)
Hamsky already detailed the Suh situation in his previous blog, but several days later Suh still remains one of the top players on the market. No team should expect him to be a locker room role model, but at age 31 the 5-time Pro Bowler should have plenty left in the tank to add to a contender. The word on the street is that Suh is likely to land with either the Rams, Titans, or Saints--all teams who made early exits in the 2017 playoffs. Suh and Aaron Donald on the same D-line? Good grief.
2. Bashaud Breeland (CB)
Starting-caliber cornerback play comes at a premium in the NFL, which makes it surprising that Breeland is still unsigned. The 26-year-old had made 58 starts in his first four seasons as a pro, and with a career high 19 passes-defensed in 2017, it appears that Breeland is just entering his prime. Expect the former Clemson Tiger to earn a large pay-day.
3. Kenny Vaccaro (SS)
Although he never developed into the dominant safety that the Saints expected him to be, Vaccaro has been a reliable starter at the position over the past several seasons. With good size and speed, the 2013 first-rounder would be a defensive backfield upgrade for many teams. His situation is very similar to Eric Reid’s, which Hamsky detailed in his previous blog. In today’s passing-dominated league, every team could use another good safety.
4. Johnathan Hankins (DT)
The 6’3” 320 pound Hankins was an extremely effective run defender for the Colts in 2017, and at age 26 he could be a long term solution on the defensive line for many teams. With teams like the Eagles finding success employing six to seven defensive lineman in a rotation, there is always room on a team for a great lineman like Hankins.
5. EJ Gaines (CB)
Similar to Breeland, Gaines is a young corner who has quietly posted several solid seasons of starting play. After playing well for the Rams and Bills, it’s surprising that Gaines has yet to land with a new team. Again, there is no such thing as having too much cornerback depth or talent, and there are plenty of secondary-needy teams in the NFL.
6. NaVorro Bowman (LB)
It’s rare for a four-time All-Pro linebacker to be anything but a hot commodity during free agency, but that hasn’t been the case with Bowman. Back when he was paired with Patrick Willis on the 49ers, Bowman was one of the league’s most dynamic three-down inside linebackers. After returning from a gruesome knee injury sustained at the end of 2013 that forced him to miss the entire 2014 season, Bowman bounced back nicely in 2015 but has been sapped of some of his pass-defense abilities. He’s more of a two-down player now, but with 127 tackles in 2017, he’s proven that he’s still a pretty darn effective one.
7. Adrian Peterson (RB)
Posting several explosive games with the Arizona Cardinals in the latter half of 2017, the once-dominant Peterson proved that he can still contribute to an NFL roster. He’s no longer the unstoppable workhorse he once was, but Peterson can still serve as an early-down bruiser in an effective capacity, especially if he is able to play behind a good offensive line--something that he’s been deprived of over his last several years in the league.
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