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This year’s NFL free agent market is littered with big names, from Dak Prescott to Allen Robinson to Chris Godwin. That doesn’t even include the half-dozen quarterbacks that could still be moved via trade, or the top-tier veterans – from Teddy Bridgewater to Von Miller – who could be downsized as victims of the ceiling. But the big names aren’t the only veterans chasing the free market. Sometimes it’s the underrated additions to bargains, or the calculated surprise bets, that pay off more than anyone else.
Below we have identified 10 free agents who fly at least a little under the radar. Some will start in 2021. Some will have deep reservations. But all deserve a long look when the 2021 offseason officially kicks off on March 17:
Note: AAV indicates the average annual value.
Projected AAV: $ 5 to $ 7 million
The logical contenders: Bears, Broncos, Chargers, Eagles, Jaguars, Patriots
For a guy who has twice succeeded as a full-time emergency starter in Indianapolis, Brissett really feels like an afterthought right now, and the arrival of Carson Wentz via trade almost guarantees that he heads elsewhere. No one should see him as a foolproof No. 1; in two years as a 15-game starter, he was completely conservative – safe and generally stable, but rarely a game changer. Yet his courage, underrated mobility, and experience in winning systems make him a QB of high-end backup and / or bridge. He would be the perfect veteran to team up with a young No.1 or a waiting starter, and he’s more than capable of keeping it strong for weeks at a time.
Projected AAV: $ 3 to $ 5 million
The logical contenders: Buccaneers, Dolphins, Falcons, Jets, Panthers, Seahawks
Running backs are more and more taboo for free agents, and the truth is, you can find usable reserves at any cost. But if you’re looking for the middle ground between shelling out big bucks for a game creator like Aaron Jones and gaining momentum on an untested late rookie, it’s Davis. Best known to fantasy owners as the guy who replaced Christian McCaffrey throughout 2020, he’s never been a home-run threat on the field, averaging 3.7 yards per run for his career. , but more as a bulk bulldozer. But it’s also been one of the NFL’s most trusted RBs when used – a plug-and-play, short-haul, and third-down option.
Projected AAV: $ 9 to $ 12 million
The logical contenders: Bears, Browns, Colts, Dolphins, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Crows, Titans, Washington
Davis is by no means an anonymous character, finishing fifth in the 2017 Draft and coming out with a career-high 984 yards and five scores in 2020. But in a crowded WR market with brighter names like Allen Robinson and JuJu Smith -Schuster, he’s probably not getting the attention he deserves. His eventual contract will likely suggest otherwise, but everything says he’s worth the bet: he’s young (just turned 26), has been an ascending big game threat, and endured an average QB game prior to emergence. by Ryan Tannehill. On a competitor like Baltimore or Green Bay, he would be ready for an even bigger breakout.
Projected AAV: 8 to 10 million dollars
The logical contenders: Chiefs, Colts, Dolphins, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Washington
In terms of name recognition, he’s even taller than Davis. It’s no surprise that he’s now a bit neglected throughout the league, considering he’s 31 and his injuries have sapped him by nine games in the past three years. But even though Hilton isn’t the same big-playing speedster who quietly eclipsed 1,000 yards in five of six seasons from 2013 to 2018, he still has more juice than enough to warrant a starting job. You can’t count on the No.1 production at this point in his career, but you could do a lot worse for a No.2 failure. A lot. Like Davis, his ideal landing point would be with a candidate, where he can revive a role that spans the pitch against other talent.
Projected AAV: 8 to 12 million dollars
The logical contenders: Bears, Colts, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, Raiders, Washington
When the former first player got just over a million dollars to join the Raiders before 2020, his contract seemed oddly small, even for a guy whose mental mistakes made his Eagles career a roller coaster ride. . This time around, he’s sure to get a pay raise, and rightly so: While Agholor had too many hiccups to justify being a team’s primary target, his Las Vegas escape was the achievement. of great athleticism before. When his confidence is in place and the QB’s chemistry is there, his quick-twitch abilities make him a threat with the ball in his hands. His best move may be a return to Vegas, but he has the natural knack to make it work elsewhere.
Projected AAV: $ 3 to $ 5 million
The logical contenders: Eagles, jaguars, patriots, texans
I bet you wouldn’t have guessed that he was one of the busiest tight ends in the NFL in mid-2020. From Week 7 to Week 11, the former Packers substitute replaced injured Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert to record 15 catches for 246 yards and two scores in five games. It’s an incredibly small sample size, but extrapolated over a full season, you’re looking at over 800 yards. Under no circumstances should Rodgers justify more than a chance to compete for a backup spot. Its ceiling is low. In terms of reliability, however, he was offered as a seven-year-old vet and a rotating member. If you need an experienced body with a tight toe, it can be trusted.
Projected AAV: $ 9 to $ 12 million
The logical contenders: Invoices, Broncos, Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Raiders, Ravens, Texans
Of all the free agents on this list, Hendrickson is perhaps the most likely to break the bank. His profile practically demands a lucrative salary: he’s a freshly 26-year-old pass passer from an elite defense, and his 2020 contract year culminated in a career-high 13.5 sacks to accompany 25 shots. sure QB and 12 tackles for loss. Yet, as a surprise escape, he doesn’t carry the weight of a JJ Watt or Shaquil Barrett or Jadeveon Clowney. Anyone needing a long-term pass passer should be part of the Saints’ former third round, which erupted in just three starts the year before, when he recorded 4.5 sacks and nine hits behind. Cameron Jordan and Co.
Projected AAV: $ 4-7 million
The logical contenders: Broncos, Cardinals, Eagles, 49ers, Panthers, Steelers
It remains to be seen whether Hilton is as well-regarded in the NFL as he is in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers rewarded his rise as an undrafted rookie with a restricted second-round bidding in 2020. The young corner is not certainly not a stopper material; at 5ft 9in and 184lbs, he was limited to the lunge and displayed poor levels of coverage. He’s, however, a bit of a torpedo (in a good way), making a name for himself as a blitzer and game maker. His physical limitations dictate that he will likely have to stay indoors, but he would bring a constant ardor to any defense.
Projected AAV: $ 7 to $ 9 million
The logical contenders: Broncos, Cardinals, Colts, Cowboys, 49ers, Packers
Not long ago, Rhodes would have called himself an overrated autonomous agent. After bombing as an aging starter with the Vikings, who peaked as a big-bodied No.1 before paying him big bucks, the former first-rounder has rebounded in a big way with the Colts , progressing quietly as 2020 continued. become a staple of Indy’s stingy defense. Heading into his 31-year-old season, Rhodes cannot be seen as more than a year-to-year response away from home, but in today’s NFL nothing more than a game. repairable around the corner is a win. In a comfortable system with talent around him, he can still be a starter in the first half of the league.
Projected AAV: $ 1 to $ 3 million
The logical contenders: Browns, Eagles, 49ers, Raiders, Vikings, Washington
Unlike Rhodes, his Colts side mate, Hooker is banking on the past rather than recent success to boost his market. Two games in 2020, after Indy had already turned down his fifth-year option, the former first-rounder suffered a torn Achilles to land on the injured reserve for the second time in four years. The medical history is disheartening: A torn ACL and LCM in 2017 limited him to seven games, hip and foot problems sidelined him in late 2018, and knee surgery delayed his early 2019. When in good health, however, he has shown the ability to be a ball hawk, intercepting seven career passes. At only 24 years old, it’s a low risk bet to start as a deep security.
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