Monday 16 May 2016

There are still some decent players available in NFL free agency

The 2016 NFL Draft is a thing of the past, but free agency will continue onward and onward and onward ... through camp and into the regular season. The players without jobs at this moment are hoping to land with teams for training camp and the preseason to try and earn spots on regular season rosters.

But teams now have a better idea of their rosters and their needs following the draft. Now is the time for the second wave of free agency. The most notable change between the start of free agency and now is the fact that the deadline for signings to count against the compensatory pick formula for 2017 has passed. On May 12, it became possible for teams to sign free agents without them counting in the formula.

This is a big deal for teams, and the names still on the market should be able to find and sign with new teams sooner rather than later. Below, we'll take a look at a few of the biggest names.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick is still engaged in a stalemate with the New York Jets, a team that may not even be talking to him at this stage of the offseason. Fitzpatrick played hard, took an unreal amount of punishment and was a bright spot on a surprisingly competent Jets team last season. The two sides need each other, and something should get done as Fitzpatrick is a solid bridge to rookie Christian Hackenberg. Fitzpatrick completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 3,905 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season.

Other notable QBs: Matt Flynn, Josh Freeman, Tarvaris Jackson

RB Arian Foster

Foster has had a brilliant career derailed by injury. He's rushed for 1,200-plus yards four times, but has played in all 16 games in a season just twice. In 2014, he played in 13 games and managed 1,246 yards and a 4.8 yards per carry average, but he followed that up with just 163 yards in four games last season. Foster is still recovering from injury and is looking for a new team for the first time in his career. But when healthy, he can still run ... if healthy is even a thing that Foster can be at this point.

Other notable RBs: Ahmad Bradshaw, Joique Bell, Bryce Brown

WR Anquan Boldin

There was little reported interest for Boldin, who has defied age and looked like a threat for the entirety of his career, even when playing for a very bad San Francisco 49ers team. Boldin had 789 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games last season and should be able to come on and be a legitimate possession receiver threat for a receiver-needy team.

Other notable WRs: Marques Colston, Roddy White, James Jones

Other notable offensive players: TE Scott Chandler, TE Owen Daniels, OT Will Beatty, OT Jake Long, OG Jahri Evans, OG Louis Vasquez

DE Dwight Freeney

Freeney was the case study for late free agent additions last year. He didn't sign until October 2015 when the Cardinals took a chance on the 35-year-old veteran to beef up their pass rush. It worked. In 11 games as a part-time player, Freeney had a team-leading eight sacks, and he added another one in Arizona's win over Green Bay in the divisional round of the playoffs. Freeney wants to play again this season at age 36, and should get a shot ... at some point.

Other notable DEs: Jason Jones, Jeremy Mincey

CB Leon Hall

Hall has slowed down in recent years, but he can start on many teams in the league and at the very least can be a nickel corner for most teams. He's a veteran who shouldn't get more than a one- or two-year deal, but he's a legitimate starter-level cornerback and he's the only one on the market. Hall had a pair of interceptions and nine pass deflections while playing in 14 games with the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Other notable CBs: Antonio Cromartie, Chris Culliver, Cortez Allen

DB Walter Thurmond

There was reported interest in Thurmond early in the free agency period, and then there were rumors that Thurmond was considering retiring rather than taking another short contract. Still, he's a solid corner and an above-average safety at this stage of his career and it's hard to imagine a team won't give him a worthy one- to two-year deal. Thurmond played in 16 games last season, putting up three interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles, seven pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

Other notable DBs: Donte Whitner, Will Hill, Bacarri Rambo

Other notable defensive players: LB Mike Neal, DT Henry Melton, DT Sammie Lee Hill
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