2023 NFL free agency – Page 88

Texans should consider bringing back DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo regardless of new defensive scheme

The Houston Texans should consider bringing back DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, even if they go with a new coach who doesn’t run the Tampa 2.

The Houston Texans’ coaching search represents another opportunity to move on from the Tampa 2, which the club has run since 2021.

The Texans were running the 3-4 defense from 2011-20. After the firing of Bill O’Brien as coach and general manager, Houston hired David Culley as coach, and Lovie Smith was hired as defensive coordinator.

Houston signed former Los Angeles Rams 2018 fifth-round pick Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in 2022 free agency to provide the Texans effective rushmen in Smith’s scheme. The former Alief Taylor High School product delivered with 44 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 17 games, eight of which he started.

According to Pro Football Focus, among the Texans’ upcoming free agents, Okoronkwo ranks as their best with a 75.1 grade for the 2022 campaign.

Some players can’t translate between schemes. However, Okoronkwo started out as an outside linebacker in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme with the Rams. If the Texans were to go back to a 3-4, or incorporate any stand-up pass rush elements, Okoronkwo would be able to fit in.

Another trait that Okoronkwo brings to the defensive line is “pure energy,” according to Texans defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire.

“He’s energy, pure energy,” Cesaire said on Dec. 15. “If you look at him, he’s always got a smile on his face. He loves the game. You can tell he really loves the game. The way he rushes, the way he attacks the line of scrimmage. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he’s got the biggest heart. He’s a guy that you trust and rely on each play.”

The Texans signed Okoronkwo to a one-year, $3.25 million contract in the offseason. The 6-1, 253-pound edge defender make his opportunity count.

“Anytime we put Ogbo (Okoronkwo) in there, he made it count,” said Cesaire. “That consistency developed into him becoming a starter, and you’re seeing that consistency now from him.”

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PFF names two free-agent targets for the Commanders in 2023

These two players would be upgrades for the Commanders in 2023.

The end of the 2022 NFL season is here for 28 NFL teams. That means those teams are either filling out coaching staffs or looking ahead to free agency and the 2023 NFL draft.

The Washington Commanders season ended two weeks ago. Washington promptly fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner and immediately turned to offseason preparation.

Regardless of any coaching staff changes, the Commanders have some holes to fill on the roster in 2023. Washington has some notable free agents in defensive tackle Daron Payne, quarterback Taylor Heinicke and linebacker Cole Holcomb. The Commanders are expected to apply the franchise tag to Payne if the two sides do not agree to a deal over the next several weeks.

Outside of the obvious need at quarterback, Washington has needs on the offensive line, cornerback and linebacker. The most pressing need is the offensive line. The Commanders struggled in pass protection last season, and they are specifically weak at guard.

Pro Football Focus has begun looking ahead to free agency. In doing so, they named one offensive and defensive free agent that all 32 NFL teams should pursue in March.

No surprise, PFF went with an offensive lineman for the Commanders in Nate Davis of Tennessee.

The 6-foot-3, 316-pound Davis was a third-round pick out of Charlotte by the Tennessee Titans in 2019. Since his entry into the NFL, the 26-year-old Davis has played in 55 games through four seasons, with 54 starts. Davis became a starter in Week 4 of his rookie season and never looked back.

He has missed 11 career games due to injury. Something of note, Davis is a native of Ashburn, Va., where the Commanders’ headquarters are located, and was a high-school teammate of star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

Davis is coming off the best season of his career, with his 70.6 overall grade his top mark through four seasons and his 66.8 pass-blocking grade in 2022 almost a 15-point upgrade over his previous high. Davis finished the 2022 season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury but is expected to make a full recovery.

Veteran right guard Trai Turner struggled in 2022, with his 53.0 grade ranking 64th out of 78 qualifying guards. The Commanders would benefit from an injection of youth to their aging and injury-battered interior offensive line, no matter who the quarterback ultimately is in 2023.

The Titans have the type of running game Washington wants to emulate, and signing their reliable right guard would be a smart move for the Commanders.

Defensively, PFF has the Commanders looking at linebacker T.J. Edwards.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Edwards as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 2019. He took over as the permanent starter at one of the linebacker spots and has remained there since. In four seasons, Edwards has appeared in 61 games, making 47 starts.

The biggest question mark on the Commanders defense heading into 2022 was who would play middle linebacker alongside 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis, which remains the biggest question mark on the defense heading into 2023. With potential big money extensions on the way for interior defender Daron Payne and edge defender Montez Sweat, not to mention Chase Young, it may be tough for Washington to spend on a premier off-ball linebacker free agent, but Edwards would be a huge addition for this Commanders defense.

Edwards was finally trusted with a true three-down role starting in Week 8 of 2021, and since then, his 88.5 grade is the top mark among off-ball linebackers. Edwards was one of just four linebackers in 2022 to earn grades above 75.0 in both run defense and coverage, and the former undrafted free agent in 2019 may still not have a super strong market this offseason with just 1.5 seasons as an every-down starter. All evidence we have thus far indicates he can continue to play at an extremely high level going forward, and he deserves a strong multi-year deal that reflects that.

Edwards playing inside with Davis on the outside would give the Commanders a pair of athletic linebackers behind their outstanding defensive line. For Washington, it would be all about the cost. With the Eagles needing to pay quarterback Jalen Hurts, it remains to be seen how big of a priority Edwards will be in the offseason.

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Keeping free agent WR DJ Chark in Detroit will not be easy

DJ Chark is a pending free agent and it will be difficult for the Lions to bring back the wide receiver

Wide receiver DJ Chark is one of the most prominent pending free agents for the Detroit Lions entering the 2023 offseason. The Lions and Chark each face a difficult decision about progressing with the relationship beyond one season.

Chark was the Lions’ primary deep threat in 2022. When he was healthy, No. 4 was very good in that role, too. Chark was on the receiving end of the final Lions pass of the season, sealing the victory in Green Bay in Week 18 on a critical fourth-down route.

Yet for the strong finish to his first season in Detroit, Chark did not have a great year. The Lions paid him $10 million for 30 receptions, 502 receiving yards and three TDs in 11 games. Technically Chark came to Detroit on a three-year deal, but the final two seasons are automatically voided.

Chark will have suitors outside Detroit. No doubt about that. He would walk into the No. 1 WR role in Chicago or Houston and be an upgrade at No. 2 in Cleveland, New Orleans or Dallas (to name a few). He’s not the only free agent wideout who meets those qualifications, of course, but Chark will be one of the more coveted receivers on the market.

Therein lies an issue for Detroit, which would like to keep Chark. Even if his durability concerns lower his market value — a very real possibility given Chark has missed at least three games in four of his five NFL seasons — the price tag for Detroit might be cost-prohibitive.

Another $10 million per season for Chark seems completely unaffordable for Detroit, particularly given the presence of Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond already on the roster through 2023. Williams tantalized with his game-breaking speed late in his rookie season, while Raymond quietly topped Chark in both receptions (47) and yards (616) for under $2 million.

If Chark wants to return, he’ll need to accept a lower deal than what other teams can, and almost certainly will offer.

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5 potential Lions free agency targets to watch on divisional round Sunday

Some pending free agents who should intrigue the Lions from the DAL/SF and CIN/BUF games

We’ve hit the final day of the divisional round of the postseason, and what a day of football it promises to be! The two games on Sunday pit the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC and the Cincinnati Bengals against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC.

There are a slew of pending free agents on all the teams who are going to attract attention once the season is over. Here are five who would make smart additions in Detroit — for the right price.

Houston Texans free agency: Player to consider from each NFL divisional playoff team

The Houston Texans should take a look at these upcoming free agents from the 2022 NFL divisional round.

The NFL divisional playoffs are here.

The last time the Houston Texans were in the divisional round was 2019, and that is about all the detail that Clutch City sports fans want with regards to that fact.

As the Texans add to their roster in 2023, they will need to look to free agency, not just to fill holes, but to find players who can make an impact.

Not every team in the divisional round will have an impact player about to hit free agency; some will have hold-the-fort guys. Even so, their addition to the roster is helpful.

Here is an upcoming free agent per team in the divisional round the Texans should consider in March. All salary cap figures are via Spotrac.

Colts’ Bobby Okereke among PFF’s top-50 free agents

Colts LB Bobby Okereke was listed among the top-50 free agents by Pro Football Focus.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke was listed by Pro Football Focus among the top-50 free agents heading into the 2023 offseason.

Okereke is probably the biggest name hitting the free-agent market from the Colts’ building this offseason. The former third-round pick has been a full-time starter for the last two seasons at the MIKE position.

Okereke is the sixth linebacker ranked on the list. Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say:

“Okereke stepped up in a major way in the absence of fellow off-ball linebacker Shaquille Leonard, with his 72.9 grade ranking 23rd at the position. Okereke was particularly stout against the run, with his 13 defensive stops against the run tied for the 13th most. Okereke is now coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 100 tackles and 50 defensive stops.

The former third overall pick still has room to grow as a coverage player, but at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, he moves well enough in space to not be a liability in coverage.”

While fellow linebacker Zaire Franklin had a breakout campaign, setting the single-season franchise record for tackles (164), Okereke has been a steady force in the middle of the defense.

In 17 starts, Okereke had 151 tackles (99 solo), six tackles for loss, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Considering the money they already have tied up in the position between Shaquille Leonard and the aforementioned Franklin, it may be difficult to re-sign Okereke.

We’ll see what happens with that situation over the course of the next two months, but he would have a strong market if he does hit free agency.

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Falcons 2023 free-agent profile: DL Dalvin Tomlinson

2023 Free-Agent Profiles: DT Dalvin Tomlinson could help upgrade the #Falcons defensive line

The Atlanta Falcons finished the 2022 season with a 7-10 record, but things could be looking up in 2023. With a top-10 pick and over $70 million in projected salary cap space, the Falcons have a chance to add a few quality players this offseason.

Since there’s some time to kill before the new league year begins on March 15, we will be breaking down different potential free-agent targets for the team in 2023.

Free-Agent Profile: DT Dalvin Tomlinson

Age: 28
Height: 6-3
Weight: 325 lbs
NFL Experience: 93 starts

Tomlinson has been a productive starter since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2017. The 28-year-old rarely misses games and his versatility on the interior should be an attractive asset to a team like the Falcons, who desperately need to get Grady Jarrett some help up front.

In 2022, Tomlinson recorded 29 pressures, three sacks, and a Pro Football Focus grade of 77.1 (79.1 pass-rushing grade). The veteran lineman signed a two-year, $21 million contract with the Vikings in 2021 and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Tomlinson would likely command upward of $10 million a year.

Highlights: Tomlinson strip-sacks Saints QB

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14 free agents the Colts should watch during wild-card playoffs

Here are 14 pending free agents the Colts should watch during wild-card weekend.

The Indianapolis Colts will be watching the playoffs unfold from their couch this offseason, and it begins Saturday with the start of the wild-card games.

While the Colts won’t be leading the NFL in salary-cap space like we’ve been used to seeing, they should be a bit more active than they have been in the past.

We shouldn’t expect general manager Chris Ballard to completely change his ways regarding free agency, but it’s reasonable to believe he may be a bit more aggressive when it comes to adding depth, especially to the offensive line.

We’re taking the list of unrestricted free agents, according to Spotrac, for the teams playing in the wild-card games. So there won’t be any Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles players on this list. We’ll save that for next week.

As wild-card weekend gets underway, here are 14 pending free agents the Colts should keep an eye on:

Lions mock offseason v1.0: Kicking off the offseason options

Lions 2023 mock offseason v1.0: The first of many possible Detroit offseason paths covering free agency, roster cuts and the 2023 NFL draft projections

Back for another year, it’s time to kick off the Lions mock offseason series for 2023.

The mock offseason covers not just a mock draft, but also personnel decisions on existing Lions free agents, potential roster cuts, outside free agent signings and (of course) the draft.

Here’s an example of one of the mock offseason scenarios from last year, one that wound up nailing both Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams to the Lions in the first round:

Lions mock offseason 4.0: Pre-combine edition

As with last year’s series, each mock offseason represents a potential path Lions GM Brad Holmes and the team can follow, not a recommendation or endorsement of any course of action. It’s not a prediction either, just a look at how the Lions might approach the offseason.

Michael Badgley and the Lions decision to make at kicker this offseason

The Detroit Lions have a difficult decision to make at K this offseason on keeping pending FA Michael Badgley, the draft and free agency

For the third offseason in a row, the Detroit Lions face uncertainty at kicker. Ever since Matt Prater chose greener pastures in Arizona after the 2020 season, the Lions have cycled through potential replacements.

It has not gone well.

Austin Seibert. Riley Patterson. Zane Gonzalez. Aldrick Rosas. Ryan Santoso. Dominik Eberle. All had their chances — some more than one — and they all quickly fizzled away.

The last replacement attempt has been the most successful thus far. Michael Badgley joined the Lions in Week 7 and quickly proved capable. He was perfect on placekicks in his first five games.

Alas, Badgley’s hot streak came to an end. He finished the season making 20 of his 24 field goal attempts for the Lions. Most painful was the 29-yarder Badgley yanked wide in the 3-point loss to the Bills on Thanksgiving, his first miss for Detroit.

Badgley is one of the Lions’ pending free agents this offseason. The 27-year-old is good enough to bring back, but also not so good that Lions GM Brad Holmes couldn’t find a better kicker.

Badgley finished the season ranked 18th in the NFL in field goal percentage at 24-for-28 (he was 4-for-4 with Chicago before joining the Lions). He tied for 18th with Patterson, who became the full-time kicker for the Jaguars. On long field goals, Badgley was 2-for-3 from beyond 50 yards with a long of 53. The “Money Badger” was perfect on extra points, one of just three kickers league-wide to hit all conversions.

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One knock against Badgley is that he typically does not handle kickoffs. In five NFL seasons, Badgley has just 27 kickoffs to his credit, including eight with the Lions. His career touchback percentage on kickoffs is 25.9, a very low figure that helps explain why his teams have typically had the punter handle kickoffs. That’s not a dealbreaker for Detroit; punter Jack Fox ranked 10th in the league (min. 10 attempts) in touchback percentage at 71.4.

Badgley stacks up pretty well against the rest of the free agent class in 2023. The top names include Green Bay’s Mason Crosby, Robbie Gould from the 49ers, Greg Zuerlein of the Jets, Prater from Arizona, Minnesota’s Greg Joseph and Eddy Piniero from Carolina.

Age all but rules out Crosby (38), Gould (40), Zuerlein (35) and even Prater (38), who was the NFL’s least-accurate continuously employed kicker over the last three seasons when combining FGs and XPs; Zuerlein is 2nd on that list. Joseph was 4-for-10 from beyond 50 yards but missed a league-high six extra points. Piniero, 27, is coming off the best year of his three-year career and will probably be judged the top option in free agency. Washington’s Joey Slye and Chase McLaughlin of the Colts are also worth mentioning as options.

In short, there is very little certainty that any of the experienced kickers would be upgrades over Badgley unless the Lions decide they don’t want Fox to handle kickoff duties any longer, which is a real possibility.

Drafting kickers is inherently perilous, though the payoff can be quite nice.

There was one kicker taken in the 2022 NFL draft, Cade York, in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns. He made just 75 percent of his field goals in an erratic rookie season, lower than his freshman year percentage at LSU.

But a year earlier, Cincinnati selected Evan McPherson from Florida in the fifth round. McPherson has made 84 percent of his FG attempts over two seasons with the Bengals, including several clutch and game-winning field goals. He’s 14-for-16 from beyond 50 yards.

This year’s draft class at kicker is highlighted by three names at the top. Two of them have won the Lou Groza Award in their career, though neither did that in 2022. Jake Moody of Michigan (2021) and Andre Szmyt (2018) from Syracuse have had some tremendous success but also rough years after their great ones. Moody and Szmyt each missed six FGs in 2022, one below the most in college football.

The top kicker is likely Missouri’s Harrison Mevis, who has the longest successful FG of any draft-eligible kicker at 56 yards — and he hit that in two different college seasons.

This is a case where Holmes and the Lions will need to weigh relative stability and success with Badgley against the chance to potentially get a little better — or worse — with either a veteran free agent or a rookie. It’s not likely to be an easy decision for Detroit.

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