2016 Free Agents

[adam]

From NFL.com:

 

Top 20 2016 Unrestricted free agents

 

1. Von Miller, Denver Broncos linebacker: Miller has been one of the best overall defensive players in the league since he was drafted. He's as strong stopping the run as he is coming off the edge. There's no way the Broncos will let him hit the market.

 

2. Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers cornerback: There's nothing like having your breakout season in a contract year. Norman has been the best cornerback in football this year and is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He's not going anywhere.

 

3. Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets defensive end: Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams were splashy draft pick additions, but Wilkerson is still the best defensive lineman on the Jets. New York has played hardball in negotiations thus far with Wilkerson, but the franchise tag has to be an option here.

 

4. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears wide receiver: He might not be the most refined receiver in the league, but few are better at catching deep balls. He's fourth in the league in receiving yards-per-game and topped 1,400 yards in 2013.

 

5. Cordy Glenn, Buffalo Bills offensive tackle: True franchise left tackles are awfully hard to find. That's why he's a strong candidate for the franchise tag.

 

6. Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants defensive end: He's still disruptive despite playing with a club over his injured hand. There has to be a chance JPP will only get better as he learns how best to play with his disadvantage, and the ceiling here is tremendous. Still, he has struggled to wrap up opposing running backs. Can he finish plays?

 

7. Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs safety: Berry has come back from his cancer scare better than ever. Strong safety play is hard to find and Berry has the versatility teams are looking for.

 

8. Malik Jackson, Broncos defensive tackle: Like Norman, he's having a career year in a contract season. It's hard to find interior pass rushers like Jackson just entering his prime.

 

9. Doug Martin, Buccaneers running back: He won't make the same money as the guys listed above (and below) him here because of the position he plays, but no one has helped their value more this season. Martin has gone from an afterthought to the No. 2 rusher in the NFL.

 

10. Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks linebacker: He isn't a defense-changing talent, but he's also better than you think. Irvin is a quality versatile starter.

 

11. Russell Okung, Seahawks tackle: Even if Okung is only an average starter, he's going to get paid in this market. If he makes it there.

 

12. Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers safety: Weddle has a skill set that tons of teams are looking for to shore up the back end of their defenses. His age (30) works against him, but few safeties have been better over the last five years.

 

13. Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback: This season has not helped Bradford's value, yet there would be no shortage of teams willing to give Bradford a try if the Eagles don't want to re-sign him.

 

14. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins quarterback: Replacement level starting quarterbacks are worth plenty, and that appears to be Cousins' floor. At worst, he's a poor man's Andy Dalton with room to improve over time. He has more value to the Redskins than anyone else.

 

15. Matt Forte, Bears running back: One of the league's most complete backs has not shown many signs of age yet. Perhaps he should be paired with another quality option, but there's no doubt he could upgrade many backfields.

 

16. Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals right tackle: How will Smith react to getting paid big bucks (again)? While his career has included some ups and downs, Smith has often been a top-shelf starter.

 

17. Danny Trevathan, Broncos linebacker: Trevathan is a three-down linebacker entering his prime that can hold up in pass coverage. We're big fans of his skill set and he's just the type of above-average starter that gets paid like a superstar in free agency.

 

18. Janoris Jenkins, St. Louis Rams cornerback: He's steadily improved each season in the league and now is a playmaking starter.

 

19. Brock Osweiler, Broncos quarterback: It's hard to imagine John Elway letting his promising young starter hit the market, although this will be a tricky contract to pull off.

 

20. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker: Yes, he's 33 years old. But watch him play this year! He would be a great short-term pickup for a team that needs instant leadership.

 

I would be interested in the guys I bolded (assuming some of the other top guys are franchised). Obviously can't all of them, but one or two (besides Alshon) would be awesome.

[AZ54]

From NFL.com:

 

 

 

I would be interested in the guys I bolded (assuming some of the other top guys are franchised). Obviously can't all of them, but one or two (besides Alshon) would be awesome.

 

 

Wilkerson has been at the top of my FA wish list and will remain there unless or until he gets tagged. I'd guess we will also have interest in Malik Jackson (Broncos DE) as a secondary option.

 

Why not Eric Berry? If he's healthy that would be a huge plus for our secondary. Berry paired with Amos would be a pretty good combo. On the flip side I have no interest in the old and slow Eric Weddle. For what he offers I'd stick with Antrel Rolle.

 

I don't like Bruce Irvin...pretty much a one-trick pony and don't think he fits what Fangio wants.

 

I'd kick the tires (spare tire?) on Andre Smith once FA opens and see what kind of shape he's in. That will tell you much of what you need to know before any talk about signing him. If he's serious about staying in shape as he said a year ago then he could fill a definite need for us and maybe at a price that more or less offsets Bushrod's salary.

 

ILB play is killing our defense. Much of the blame in the media falls on SMC but I think he's ok. The other guys Jones and Anderson are mostly lost on the field. We need to bring in a good FA like Trevathan to shore this up and we need a high draft pick in the mix as well.

 

At CB I can see us having interest in Janoris Jenkins. As well as Porter has played at times he's had other moments where he's been easily beaten in coverage. He'll probably be back but look for the team to work to find a longer term solution. Fuller has played well lately and I like Callahan. There aren't many good options at CB in FA which likely means Jenkins will get a huge contract. I expect we'll be drafting one early.

[scs787]

Based on the "Undersized" defensive lines he deployed in SF I kinda doubt it would happen, but I would really love Damon Harrison. Goldman has shown a good deal of pass rush abilities, and he played some 5tech in college as well. Bears rank in the bottom 3rd in run defense this year, a line with Goldman and Harrison would be really tough to run on. Probably doesn't happen, but man I would love to see that.

 

Malik Jackson or Derek Wolfe are probably more realistic.

 

I think Travathon should be #1 on the Bears offseason board. Really solid all around football player and he's still young.

 

I would LOVE Eric Berry. Latest report I saw on him was way back in September saying he played in 71 of 73 snaps so it looks to me that he's healthy and will only get better.

 

Travathon and Berry, then a guy like Reggie Ragland(Or hopefully Malcolm Smith) would go a long way in fixing the problems in the middle of the field.

[jason]

Out of that list, the Bears should focus on the following:

 

Alshon Jeffery - Lock up our guy with a healthy contract.

Glenn/Okung - If they don't get franchised, get one. Period.

Eric Berry - I'd love to have Berry on the Bears.

 

A guy who is not top ten that I'd like to get is Andre Smith. He's a pretty soid RT and is an URFA.

 

An OL of Glenn/Okung-Slausson-Grasu-Long-Smith would be pretty damn good, and would allow the Bears to truly go all-in with the defense.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

Out of that list, the Bears should focus on the following:

 

Alshon Jeffery - Lock up our guy with a healthy contract.

Glenn/Okung - If they don't get franchised, get one. Period.

Eric Berry - I'd love to have Berry on the Bears.

 

A guy who is not top ten that I'd like to get is Andre Smith. He's a pretty soid RT and is an URFA.

 

An OL of Glenn/Okung-Slausson-Grasu-Long-Smith would be pretty damn good, and would allow the Bears to truly go all-in with the defense.

 

Aside from the AJ part of this I absolutely and unequivocally agree with this proposal. That would be a damn nice Oline.

[adam]

Aside from the AJ part of this I absolutely and unequivocally agree with this proposal. That would be a damn nice Oline.

So you don't want Alshon?

[Alaskan Grizzly]

So you don't want Alshon?

 

No I'd like him. Just not sure I'd give him a "healthy" (long term) without some parameters. He started the season out with a suspicious injury bug. Missed a lot of the preseason etc. Perhaps it was legitimate injuries and we've learned nothing if not that Fox is elusive when it comes to injury reports. Some said he (AJ) was angered by Brandon's departure. Maybe he's out of that slump(?) and is able to play without that distraction? He at least looks the part. I just don't want for him to become a distraction if/when he gets a huge payday.

[AZ54]

Out of that list, the Bears should focus on the following:

 

Alshon Jeffery - Lock up our guy with a healthy contract.

Glenn/Okung - If they don't get franchised, get one. Period.

Eric Berry - I'd love to have Berry on the Bears.

 

A guy who is not top ten that I'd like to get is Andre Smith. He's a pretty soid RT and is an URFA.

 

An OL of Glenn/Okung-Slausson-Grasu-Long-Smith would be pretty damn good, and would allow the Bears to truly go all-in with the defense.

 

Okung has fought a lot of injuries in the last few years. Glenn is a no-brainer but he'll never see FA. I think Andre Smith is the more likely FA target among these three.

 

 

[jason]

Aside from the AJ part of this I absolutely and unequivocally agree with this proposal. That would be a damn nice Oline.

 

I knew you would like the proposal. I just wish we could get ten years out of a OLineman rather than post-FA five.

[Stinger226]

Out of that list, the Bears should focus on the following:

 

Alshon Jeffery - Lock up our guy with a healthy contract.

Glenn/Okung - If they don't get franchised, get one. Period.

Eric Berry - I'd love to have Berry on the Bears.

 

A guy who is not top ten that I'd like to get is Andre Smith. He's a pretty soid RT and is an URFA.

 

An OL of Glenn/Okung-Slausson-Grasu-Long-Smith would be pretty damn good, and would allow the Bears to truly go all-in with the defense.

I agree with Jeffery and grabbing Berry, do not think they will go after a top flight LT.

I think they go after someone to shore up the middle of the defense. Hopefully Danny Trevathan or Rolando McClain- maybe Michel Wilhoite.

An offensive guard like a Alex Boone or Kelechi Osemele for the line.

I think we spend some money on key spots beside Jeffery, like a top flight safety or ILB.

 

So my desire acquisitions would be :

 

resign Jeffrey

Danny Trevathan

Alex Boone

because of the money Trevathan will cost we go after SS David Burton also from Denver who has played well on the best defense in the league.

 

In the draft we address best player available probably a 5T DE or another inside LB.

I also think we grab a LT and another OLB or CB early in the draft.

I think we move on from Bennett and grab a TE in the middle rounds or maybe a free agent like DWayne Allen or even Coby Fleener.