2022 NFL free agency – Page 51

2 potential Brandon Scherff replacements in Rams-Buccaneers playoff game

Two potential Brandon Scherff replacements in Sunday’s NFC playoff game between the Rams and Buccaneers.

Brandon Scherff was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Washington Football Team. Seven seasons, five Pro Bowls and two franchise tags later, Scherff will finally hit unrestricted free agency in March.

Multiple times over the past year, Scherff has insisted his goal is to finish his career in Washington and did so earlier this month on locker cleanout day.

Washington general manager Martin Mayhew spoke to the media the day after Scherff in his season-ending press conference and said Washington offered Scherff a contract that would’ve made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history. Mayhew wasn’t attempting to paint Scherff in a bad light but instead wanted fans to know Washington has made efforts to keep Scherff in town long-term.

Therefore, to many fans, Scherff appears disingenuous about his desire to remain in Washington.

Veteran Wes Schweitzer could replace Scherff in the starting lineup. Since coming over to Washington in 2020, Schweitzer has started several games on the interior of the WFT offensive line — and he’s played well. He could handle the role. Or, Washington could turn to 2020 fourth-round pick Saahdiq Charles, who played well in relief of Scherff late in 2021.

If Washington likes Schweitzer in a reserve role and isn’t certain Charles is ready to replace Scherff, perhaps his replacement comes via free agency.

In Sunday’s NFC divisional round playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a pair of soon-to-be free agent guards are in action — Tampa Bay’s Alex Cappa and LA’s Austin Corbett.

Interestingly enough, both also play right guard.

While Cappa and Corbett may remain with their current teams, neither team is in a great cap position. Would the Bucs and Rams prioritize re-signing a guard — even a good guard?

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Cappa, who will turn 27 this week, is in his fourth season out of Humboldt State. He was a third-round draft choice in 2018.

Corbett, 26, was originally a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018. He was traded to the Rams before the 2019 trade deadline, where he’s been a standout.

Washington has the cap space to sign either player if it chooses the free-agent route in replacing Scherff. While neither player is Scherff, they would cost a lot less and offer a quality and reliable replacement.

Looking at 12 veteran wide receivers the Eagles could look to pair with DeVonta Smith

Looking at 12 veteran #NFL wide receivers the #Eagles could look to pair with #DeVontaSmith in 2022

The Eagles are heading into the 2022 NFL offseason with some offensive continuity and a need for an upgrade at the outside wide receiver position.

DeVonta Smith established himself as a true No. 1 wide receiver, while Quez Watkins showed that he can be a valuable complementary piece as a sixth-round pick in 2020. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (2019) and Jalen Reagor (2020) have left a lot to be desired and Philadelphia now has the conundrum of needing to add another playmaker to the position.

If Howie Roseman prefers to not spend a first-round pick on the position for a third straight year, we’ve highlighted 12 veteran wide receivers that the Eagles could pair with DeVonta Smith to really take Jalen Hurts to the next level as a passer.

Alex Anzalone: Should the Lions bring back the free agent LB?

Breaking down Lions LB Alex Anzalone and his chance to return to Detroit for another season as an NFL free agent in 2022

One of the more interesting free agency decisions for the Detroit Lions is what they choose to do with linebacker Alex Anzalone. In his one season in Detroit, the off-ball LB had an up-and-down campaign but added value as a leader and a teacher of coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense and mentality, coming with the DC and head coach Dan Campbell from the New Orleans Saints.

After the Lions parted ways with Jamie Collins following Week 2, Anzalone’s coverage and run defense in space improved. He still struggled in games against teams with good play-action passing games (Cleveland, Denver, Minnesota), but the open-field speed and intensity made him a largely effective off-ball backer in Glenn’s defense.

Could Anzalone return in 2022?

The 27-year-old clearly liked his time in Detroit. In a recent Instagram post, a sincere Anzalone thanked the Lions and his teammates for a fun season, one where he was elected a captain by his new teammates.

“It was a privilege to play for the Lions organization this year. I truly had one of the most fun seasons playing football in my life despite everything. Being chosen as captain by my peers has been an honor that I’ll never forget. As chapter 5 ends, 6 begins…,” Anzalone wrote.

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He’s an unrestricted free agent who finished the season on the injured reserve list, and rookie Derrick Barnes played decently (outside of two drives in the Week 18 matchup with the Packers) in his absence. Anzalone has battled a lot of injuries going back to his college days at Florida, where he was a running mate of former Lions first-rounder Jarrad Davis.

Anzalone earned $1.75 million for his one-year deal in Detroit in 2021. A similar deal would likely lure him back. The demand for a limited backer with an injury history and his dreadful Pro Football Focus grade (34.1 overall) isn’t apt to be through the roof.

Bringing him back for a similar deal with the understanding that Anzalone is intended to serve as the No. 3 LB in a system that plays two LBs makes a lot of sense for all parties. If he wants more money, or if the Lions see him playing a more integral role, it’s not a good fit. Remember, Jalen Reeves-Maybin is also a free agent and should be a more priority option than Anzalone if the Lions are looking to keep some continuity at the LB spot.

Texans shoulder consider signing LB Foyesade Oluokun in free agency

Pro Football Focus says the Houston Texans should sign Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun in free agency.

The Houston Texans will have massive turnover on their roster — such is the case when a team signs almost two-thirds of its roster to one-year contracts.

The Texans got tremendous production out of linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, who led Houston with 108 combined tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Whether the Texans decide to move on from Grugier-Hill or complement him with another tackling machine, there is a free agent Houston should consider.

According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, the one free agent the Texans should target in the offseason is Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foyesade Oluokun.

Oluokun set an NFL record with 192 combined tackles in 2021, and even with a 17th regular-season game helping his cause, averaging over 11 tackles/assisted tackles per contest is a remarkable feat of consistency and durability. He can also get after the opposing quarterback on the occasional pass-rush snap, with 36 pressures over the past two seasons. The former Yale Bulldog can be an every-down leader on this defense and wear the green dot — perhaps with general manager Nick Caserio calling the plays directly into his headset.

Part of the process for Caserio is to determine who among their current free agents will be able to stay in 2022.

“We have 31, 32 players that will be free agents so there will be a lot of new players that are going to be on the team next year,” Caserio told reporters on Jan. 14. “Some players that aren’t under contract for next year that played here last season that we’re going to have conversations with, with the hope of trying to bring them back into our program and help us moving forward.”

The Texans play the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 at AT&T Stadium. Oluokun has a penchant for causing fellow St. Louis John Burroughs High School alumnus Ezekiel Elliott to put the ball on the carpet.

Through his 64 games with the Falcons, Oluokun, a 2018 sixth-round pick, collected 462 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.

Ranking 9 free agent EDGE rushers who can help the Seahawks pass rush most

Here are nine of the top edge rushers who are about to hit the market that could help boost the Seahawks’ pass rush most.

The Seahawks are expected to fire defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. as well as defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis.

As a whole, Seattle defended the run extremely well this season and generally played tight coverage on the back end. However, one big reason why this group struggled to get off the field so much and gave up so many yards was the lack of a pass rush. The team finished the year with just 34 sacks and ranked No. 30 in PFF’s pass rush grade. Getting a more creative defensive playcaller who likes to dial up pressures might help, but this unit still needs more firepower in the trenches to get their sack numbers up.

Fortunately, this year’s free agent class is extremely deep along the edge. Here are nine of the top edge rushers who are about to hit the market that could help boost the Seahawks’ pass rush most.

4 comparable contracts for a potential Braxton Berrios deal

Jets WR/KR Braxton Berrios could earn a big payday this offseason. Here are four contracts that could help determine Berrios’ market.

Braxton Berrios’ impending free agency will be one of the Jets’ bigger storylines this offseason.

Berrios was arguably the Jets’ third-most important skill position player in 2021 behind Elijah Moore and Michael Carter, and he was certainly their most important scoring threat over the final three games. Berrios affected the game on the ground, through the air, and on special teams. He finished the season with 471 offensive scrimmage yards, four offensive touchdowns, 852 kick return yards and one kick return touchdown.

So, what could the Jets offer Berrios if they want to keep him around? What could another team offer in free agency?

It’s a hard question to answer given Berrios’ unique usage. While he’s an All-Pro kick returner, those types of players rarely break the bank. His receiving and rushing numbers haven’t been otherworldly throughout his career, either. Altogether, however, Berrios brings a ton to the table, and he could do even more as a starting slot receiver. The Jets’ incumbent, Jamison Crowder, will also be a free agent.

All that creates a wide spectrum for Berrios’ next contract. He could earn as much as Cole Beasley because of his speed and slot skills, or as low as some of the best return specialists in the league.

Let’s look at a few existing contracts that could help determine Berrios’ market.

28 Dolphins that are set to hit free agency in 2022

These Dolphins could find new homes in 2022.

The Miami Dolphins have finished their 2021 season. Now, they’ll begin preparing for an important offseason.

In 2022, the Dolphins are set to have 28 free agents, including 20 unrestricted free agents (UFA), six restricted free agents (RFA), and two exclusive rights free agents (ERFA), according to Over the Cap.

It’s no guarantee that all of these players will become free agents because a few of these guys are candidates to re-sign in Miami and some could be considered for the franchise tag. However, a fair number of players could have played their last snap with the team.

Here are the Dolphins that are set to reach the open market in free agency:

Tracy Walker wants to stay with Lions but ‘that’s not up to me’

Walker will be one of the top free agent safeties on the market

Tracy Walker picked a beneficial time to win his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor of his four-year career in Detroit. Set to hit free agency this offseason, Walker proved he can make the kind of impact plays that add figures to his next paycheck.

The Lions would like to keep Walker, especially considering the importance of the safety in Aaron Glenn’s defense and the lack of talent around Walker at the position. Only Will Harris returns under contract and he played better at cornerback. But it’s going to cost them, something Walker made clear.

In his final media appearance after the 2021 season, Walker balanced a tone between his desire to be back in Detroit and his desire to cash in on the open market.

“Like I said, I want to be a part of this tradition that’s been started here, but at the end of the day, that’s not up to me, honestly,” he said. “I’m here just to do what I do best and do my job. That’s for the upstairs and for my agents to decide, so as far as that, I let them handle that and I control what I control and that’s by making plays on the field.”

He appreciates the culture change and the new coaching in Detroit under Dan Campbell in 2021. Walker was one of the players whose game and psyche suffered the most under former coach Matt Patricia. He bounced back with a strong 2021, leading the Lions in tackles and establishing himself as one of the team’s leaders. It’s a very real draw for Walker to remain with the Lions.

“I feel like with these coaches, they believe in the players,” Walker said. “They understand what it’s like to be a player first off and so they’re open ears. Sometimes we might not always be right as players, but they’re still open to hear it and that’s the biggest thing for me. Like I said, that was the biggest difference, honestly, and so I respect these coaches for that, like I said, giving me a voice. And allowing me to voice my opinions and hearing me out regardless of if I’m right or wrong. And that’s the difference between these coaches and that’s why I respect them the way I do.”

But Walker could likely find that respect elsewhere too, and his agents will field plenty of offers. It’s a deep free agent class at safety, but the 26-year-old Walker will be one of the top ones on the market.

3 pending free agents to watch in wild card weekend

3 pending free agents to watch in wild card weekend with an eye for the Detroit Lions, from @maxgerbs

The Detroit Lions’ 2021 campaign may be over, but there is still plenty of football left to watch.

With six playoff games occurring over wild card weekend, Lions fans, media, and front office staff alike have the chance to watch teams and players that they may not have been able to catch throughout the season.

The Lions have several holes on the roster that need to be filled, and there are a handful of soon-to-be free agents playing in games this weekend that the Lions should consider.

10 non-impending free agents who may have played their last game with Jets

Whether it be to save money or get rid of an unproductive player, the Jets might part ways with these 10 non-impending free agents:

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The Jets’ season is over and there is a good chance that many of the players that took part in their season finale against the Bills are not back with the team next season.

New York has nearly 30 players set to hit the open market. Some will be retained, while Joe Douglas won’t bother to keep others around. There are also plenty of players who are not impending free agents who may have already played their last games with the Jets — for one reason or another.

Here’s a look at 10 notable names whose time with New York might come to a premature end this offseason even though they’re not impending free agents.