Free Agency Forecast

Now that we have probably reach the only real dead period in the NFL, I thought I’d take a stab at who might go where in free agency. I took the following factors into consideration: current cap space for each team, the likelihood that a player reaches free agency (i.e. Suggs, Moss, Flozell Adams and other being franchised), team needs and outside connections to that team or area (hometowns, position coaches, etc). Again this was done for fun to fill in the time until real free agency starts.

(This order is listed from the most cap room to the least)

UPDATED: Jordan Gross will be franchised which changed the Dolphins and Vikings signings. Seattle signed Mike Wahle so now they go tight end.

1. San Diego Chargers: Alan Faneca OG Pittsburgh. Little to no chance Alan returns to Pittsburgh and San Diego having so much cap space could afford the luxury of this talented player.

2. Tennessee Titans: Asante Samuel CB New England. Titans need wide receivers and cornerbacks with the chance to cut ties with Pacman and replace him with a playoff warrior like Samuel the Titans would be silly not to look into it.

3. Miami Dolphins: Max Starks OT Pittsburgh. With the pending news of Jordan Gross getting slapped with the franchise tag Miami will now turn its direction to Max Starks. A mountain of man who could have a similar career to another pupil of Tony Sparano, Flozell Adams of the Cowboys.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jerry Porter WR Oakland…With Ernest Wilford moving on (see below) via free agency, Matt Jones likely getting cut and not sure if you could trust Dennis Northcutt, this would be a real nice addition to team with Reggie Williams next season.

5. Buffalo Bills: Ernest Wilford WR Jacksonville..The Bills desperately need a wide out taller than 5-10 and Wilford is underrated and should be within the budget of the always financially strapped Bills.

6. New Orleans Saints: Corey Williams DT Green Bay. The Packers sound as if they will not franchise the big fella and the Saints have the space literally and financially to fit Williams in as a starter for the next 5-7 years.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: Kawika Mitchell LB NY Giants ..I don’t think a team has ever had more issues in a season with linebackers than the Bengals did last year. Mitchell is fresh from starting in the Super Bowl and wants the security of a multi-year deal. The Bengals need a talent influx at that position and can use some solid successful players on this roster.

8. San Francisco 49’ers: Lance Briggs LB Chicago. Briggs days are likely over in Chicago and wants to go somewhere where he’ll be the man. After losing out on Adalius Thomas last year the 49’ers shouldn’t let this guy get away.

9. Cleveland Browns: Maake Kemoeatu NT Carolina. The Browns defense is in-flux and could use a run stopper the size of Ted Washington in his prime. Maake is just that type of guy and should welcome the chance to join a playoff caliber team in Cleveland.

10. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Turner RB San Diego. Edgerrin James has looked rather old the past two seasons and JJ Arrington has not offered the balance attack they had hoped for when he was drafted. Now they will try to rein Turner. By 2009 the Cards will look like the Cowboys current backfield with Turner getting 70% of the carries and James 30 percent.

11. NY Jets: Bryant Johnson WR Arizona. Jets need some more weapons and while Johnson is stuck behind Boldin and Fitzgerald, he has talent and is a smart player (former PSU) who should endear himself to the coaching staff rather early with his excellent routes, good hands and a quiet mouth.

12. Oakland Raiders: Bernard Berrian WR Chicago. Berrian is looking to go West and be “the man”. The chance he’ll be given in Oakland should take care of both of those desires and give Al Davis the HR threat he loves.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: D.J. Hackett WR Seattle. When Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway start for you in the playoffs you need to get younger. Hackett is sharing the ball with many in Seattle but should be able to get out of town and become a star in Tampa Bay.

14. NY Giants: Calvin Pace LB Arizona. Torbor and Mitchell are both free agents and could both leave. Pace is a slightly bigger LB and should excel in the schemes in NY.

15. Detroit Lions: Jake Scott OG Indy. The Lions need to improve their line and adding a guy from the group that protects Peyton would be a step in the right direction.

16. Houston Texans: Drayton Florence CB San Diego The Texans defense is improving but you can never have enough quality corners. Florence is looking to be a starter from day 1 and get paid that way. The Texans should be able to handle both parts of that request.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Randall Gay CB New England ..With the likely resigning of Flozell, Ken Hamlin, Marion Barber and Chris Canty, the Cowboys won’t be able to make that “big splash” Jerry likes to do but you could do a lot worse then settle for Randall Gay. He’s a very solid 3rd corner who could become a FS once they move Roy Williams and Hamlin becomes the SS.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Faine C New Orleans. Chiefs need to get stronger up the middle and Faine is looking for a new line to anchor. This would be a great addition and be amazing how suddenly the QB looks better with Jeff Faine on the roster.

19. Chicago Bears: Julius Jones RB Dallas ..Bears learned a hard lesson after they traded Thomas Jones…The lesson was Cedric Benson can’t carry the load alone. Lucky for them Thomas’s little brother is available and should fill a similar role.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Musa Smith RB Baltimore. Was just me or when Parker went down did everyone know Pittsburgh was done. Well if they can get Musa to stay healthy he would give them a terrific two headed monster in Pittsburgh. Very talented just hasn’t had the chance to get on the field. Perfect bargain player for the Steelers.

21. Green Bay Packers: Gibril Wilson S NY Giants. Packers need an upgrade at safety and adding Wilson gives them a young talented playoff test leader for their secondary. Harris and Woodson are getting older so Wilson would eventually be the leader of that group.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Antwan Odom DE Tennessee. Philly is looking replace Jevon Kearse, Jerome McDougle and Darren Howard and Antwan would be a great player to team with Trent Cole for the next six or seven years. Granted of any team, Philly is the most difficult to predict when it comes to anything.

23. Denver Broncos: Clark Haggans LB Pittsburgh. Broncos need to upgrade at OLB and Haggans is the type of veteran who can come in and be an instant success in Denver. After escaping the financially frugal Steelers, Haggans will get a big payday and a chance to be a difference maker for the Broncos D.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Bobby McCray DE Jacksonville. With the disturbing news regarding Kenechi Udeze, the Vikings would be wise to add a player such as McCray who can help with the pass rush and at 26 still have room to improve his game.

25. New England Patriots: Boss Bailey LB Detroit. Had a great season that didn’t end that way but it did show that they need some youth at LB and Bailey would be an absolute steal for the Pats. Unlimited talent who would explode in the NFL world under Bill “Steven Spielberg” Belichick.

26. St. Louis Rams: Jacques Reeves CB Dallas. While the Reeves had only a slightly better than average year in Dallas, he would be a major addition to the porous secondary in St. Louis. Little chance Dallas brings him back but would serve as a dependable starter and upgrade for the Rams.

27. Seattle Seahawks: Ben Troupe TE Tennessee…With the recent addition of Mike Wahle at guard the Seahawks should turn their focus to the need for an upgrade at tight end. Troupe is far from the complete tight end but is a solid blocker and should help the running game and pass protection. Look for them to add a young offensive threat in the draft at this position.

28. Indianapolis Colts: Damien Woody G Detroit. They will need to replace Jake Scott and Woody would give them a solid veteran who can play multiple positions if needed.

29. Carolina Panthers: George Foster T Detroit ..Another team that likely will have a new coach in place when the 2009 season starts but until then they will need to fill the whole created by Jordan Gross’s expected departure.

30. Atlanta Falcons: Jesse Chatman RB Miami ..The franchise that likely had the second worse off-season so far (look at team #32 for that distinction) and will likely be looking to replace Warrick Dunn and that’s where a guy like Jesse Chatman fits perfect. A guy that gives you a 120% ever time out and can be used almost identical to how they use Dunn.

31. Baltimore Ravens: Na’il Diggs LB Carolina ..A team with little cap room especially after franchising Terrell Suggs but adding Diggs gives them some nice depth at linebacker. Diggs is one of the most under-rated players and should fit in nicely. Should the Ravens open up some cap space they may make a run at a QB (that’s if there is one on the market).

32. Washington Redskins: Victor Hobson LB NY Jets ..The Redskins linebacking core is getting old and at 28, Hobson will give them a great option at OLB and possible MLB down the road. Plus don’t the Redskins always raid the Jets. One other note…..Does Danny Snyder have any idea how to run a franchise??


Well, there you have it a Mock Free Agency. How many other blogs or sites have the guts to try to figure something like this out. Love to hear your feedback so drop me a line at Canes612@comcast.net