Browns: 5 Under-the-radar targets on the market in NFL free agency

The Browns have made a pretty big dent in free agency, but there is still talent at needed positions on the market

While the Cleveland Browns have already made quite a dent in their team needs throughout the first month of NFL free agency, there are still talented players on the roster. With the 2023 NFL Draft just three weeks away, they get an opportunity to add young talent there as well. However, there are still sleepers on the market in free agency for the Browns to consider.

Here are five names of players who may not be at the top of wishlists, but can come in and compete for depth spots on the roster, or even sneak into a starting role if they find their way to Cleveland.

1 free agent the Saints could target from each AFC South team

Even teams like the Texans and Colts have something to offer. 1 free agent New Orleans Saints could target from each AFC South team:

Even teams like the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts have something to offer in free agency this year. And the New Orleans Saints will be looking for upgrades once they eventually reach salary cap compliance. Whether they’re looking for pass catchers, pass rushers, or maybe a new starter in the slot, the AFC South has some players soon becoming available.

We’ve already taken a look at options from the NFC East, AFC West, and NFC North. Here is the list of free agents the Saints could target from each AFC South team as we continue our tour:

Tennessee Titans’ top-five interceptions of the 2022 season

The Titans picked their top-five interceptions from the 2022 campaign, and you can probably guess which one is No. 1.

In what was a surprise to no one, Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard once again led the team in interceptions in 2022.

With his four interceptions, Byard has now led the team in picks in each of the last two seasons, and in five out of the last six since becoming a full-time starter in 2017.

Coming in second was linebacker David Long, who notched a career-high two. After he and Byard, no other Titans player had multiple interceptions, with eight different players tallying one.

Tennessee’s 14 total picks ranked tied for 12th in the NFL but were two less than the team finished with in 2021. In terms of total takeaways, the Titans recorded 20, tied for 20th.

The Titans have been releasing their top plays of the year recently, with the latest installment being the team’s top interceptions, hence, why you’re here.

Thankfully, the team got it right and listed Joshua Kalu’s pick against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 at No. 1, which was 100 percent because of Roger McCreary’s incredible heads-up play.

Check out the entire list below.

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Titans’ Roger McCreary talks incredible heads-up play vs. Chargers

Joshua Kalu also weighed-in on what was one of the most incredible heads-up plays you will ever see.

One of the few bright spots for the Tennessee Titans in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers was the incredible heads-up play by rookie cornerback, Roger McCreary.

With the Chargers driving down the field late in the first half, quarterback Justin Herbert took a shot at the end zone on a pass to wide receiver Mike Williams.

The pass was off the mark and was going out of bounds until McCreary made one of the best heads-up plays you will ever see. All while in mid-air, he caught the pass and tossed it to teammate Joshua Kalu, who was inbounds.

Kalu then completed the interception with an impressive toe drag, thwarting the Chargers’ attempt to score points before the half.

There aren’t assists in the NFL, but if there were, McCreary would have certainly gotten one there.

“That play, I always wanted to do something like that,” McCreary said. “I knew I wasn’t going to catch it inbounds, but I saw my partner Kalu over there. I passed it to him, and it worked out good.”

Kalu, who was the beneficiary of McCreary’s incredible play and notched his first career interception, was just as impressed as the rest of us.

“Man, I think it was a genius play,” Kalu said. “He made an incredible play, rookie or not… I was so happy about my first pick that I forgot to celebrate with him for a second but I came back and told him how genius and how incredible the play was… I get the ball but I’m going to give him all he credit.”

As a rookie, McCreary has no doubt had his ups and downs this year, but the good has outweighed the bad. A brilliant play like this only gives us more hope for the future.

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Titans’ Roger McCreary, Joshua Kalu combined for the NFL’s coolest interception of the year

This was BONKERS.

Joshua Kalu officially got credit for this second-quarter interception for the Tennessee Titans, but Roger McCreary should get a well-deserved assist on it too.

On Sunday — as Ryan Tannehill checked on the action from the medical tent — the Titans and Chargers were deadlocked at 7-7, with Los Angeles driving down the field looking for a score before halftime. On second and 10 from the Titans 26-yard line, Justin Herbert lobbed a pass into the end zone, intended for Mike Williams. Instead, the ball ended up in McCreary’s hands, who nabbed it in the air but out of bounds.

In a flash of quick thinking, McCreary shunted it over to Kalu, who got his toes down in the end zone for the interception.

What a play from McCreary to catch the ball and then toss it to Kalu, all while in the air! And yes, the play was legal, as McCreary’s feet didn’t touch the ground until after he let go of the ball.

This is definitely the best interception we’ve seen this year in the NFL, bar none. The creativity on display here is truly marvelous.

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Titans’ Roger McCreary, Joshua Kalu combine for incredible heads-up INT

Roger McCreary made one of the better heads-up plays you will ever see, and Joshua Kalu finished it off with the toe drag.

Tennessee Titans rookie cornerback Roger McCreary made one of the best heads-up plays you will ever see during the Week 15 game versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

With the Chargers threatening to score late in the second quarter with the game tied at seven, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert took a shot at the end zone to wide receiver Mike Williams.

The pass was off the mark and out of bounds, but McCreary made an incredible play when he caught and passed the ball to defensive back Joshua Kalu in mid-air, who picked it off.

But not only did Kalu pick it off, he did an incredible job to get his feet down to complete the play.

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What a way for Kalu to record his first career interception. Making this play more improbable, McCreary also had to tip the ball backwards or else it wouldn’t have stood.

For the Titans, it was their first takeaway since Week 10, and it was a big one at that, as it kept the Chargers from taking a lead into the half with possession to start the third quarter.

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Huskers in the NFL: Week 7

Two former Huskers made their NFL debuts!

Week 7 of the NFL season saw various ups and downs for former Husker football players. Rookies Cam Taylor-Britt (Cincinnati) and Samori Toure  (Green Bay) made their NFL debut, with the former playing a large role on defense.

On the flip side, a handful of Huskers were either held out of the game, sidelined with an ailment or suffered an injury in this past weekend’s slate of games.

Although Taylor-Britt came off the Bengals’ injured reserve last week, Randy Gregory, Matt Farniok and Nick Gates are sidelined with injuries. JoJo Domann, Jack Stoll, Cam Jurgens and Lamar Jackson didn’t see action.

Leading the way for the Huskers, perhaps to little surprise, was Lavonte David and Brett Maher, both of whom have had stellar seasons to this point.

Below are all the former Huskers’ notes and stats from Week 7 in the NFL:

Huskers in the NFL: Week 3

The NFL season is now officially in full swing after three weeks and this most recent slate of games delivered on drama (or not if you’re a fan of watching a scoring shootout in prime time). With the Nebraska Cornhuskers on bye in Week 4 of the college football season, Husker fans got to enjoy seeing some former stars in the red and white play at the next level. 

The NFL season is now officially in full swing after three weeks and this most recent slate of games delivered on drama (or not if you’re a fan of watching a scoring shootout in prime time). With the Nebraska Cornhuskers on bye in Week 4 of the college football season, Husker fans got to enjoy seeing some former stars in the red and white play at the next level.

15 players who spent their college career at Nebraska saw action in the NFL this week. 5 additional former Huskers are on practice squads (Ben Stille, Carlos Davis, Devine Ozigbo, Austin Allen and Khalil Davis) and two more have yet to play in the 2022-23 season due to injury. Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is on Cincinnati’s IR and offensive lineman Nick Gates is on the New York Giants’ Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Lavonte David and Randy Gregory led the way with big defensive performances but read below to see how all the former Huskers fared in Week 3 of the NFL season:

Huskers in the NFL: Week 1

Lavonte David led the way for a number of former Huskers in Week 1 of the NFL season, which also saw the debuts of Cam Jurgens and JoJo Domann.

Sep 11, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) reacts during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Nineteen former Cornhuskers made their way onto opening day NFL rosters, including rookies Cam Taylor-Britt, Samori Toure, JoJo Domann and Cam Jurgens. A number of former Nebraska stars will play pivotal roles as seasoned veterans this year, such as Houston’s Rex Burkhead, Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David and Denver’s Randy Gregory.

Taylor-Britt and New York Giants’ offensive lineman Nick Gates were the only former Huskers to sit out Week 1 with injuries.

Burkhead, an ever-present receiving threat out of the backfield, has a slight lead on the Texans’ No. 1 running back position over rookie Dameon Pierce. David, a Super Bowl winner, is in his team-leading 11th year in Tampa and lines up with Shaquille Barrett and Devin White to make an imposing combination of linebackers. Week 1 marked Gregory’s first game with the Denver Broncos after spending seven years with the Dallas Cowboys.

While the aforementioned trio will likely make the most noise in the 2022 NFL season, the rest of the fraternity of former Huskers will contribute as well.

Read below to see how previous Nebraska players fared in Week 1 of the NFL season:

Titans Sign Former Nebraska DB Joshua Kalu

The Tennessee Titans signed a former Nebraska Cornhuskers DB.

On July 23, the Tennessee Titans signed former Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Joshua Kalu. The team officially announced the move on Twitter.

Kalu played four seasons for the Cornhuskers (2014-2017). At Nebraska, Kalu played both cornerback and safety. During his college career, he recorded 215 total tackles, 27 passes defended, seven interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

The Titans actually signed Kalu as an undrafted free agent in 2018. From 2018 to 2020, Kalu appeared in 28 games for the Titans, but he was primarily a special teams contributor. In three seasons with the Titans, he only played 130 total defensive snaps, and he played a whopping 493 total special teams snaps.

Kalu signed with the New York Giants last offseason. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury during the preseason.

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