Vikings have 3 players in NFL.com top-101 free agent list

The folks over at NFL.com ranked the top 101 free agents of the 2020 offseason.

The Vikings had three players on that list.

Safety Anthony Harris ranks 19th after sneakily becoming one of the league’s best safeties over the last two seasons. It seems like he will be a priority for the Vikings this offseason, but we’ll see.

Defensive end Everson Griffen, who voided his contract, ranks 37th on the list. The Vikings could certainly use Griffen back in 2020 considering there’s no obvious starter opposite Danielle Hunter, but again, this team is cash strapped and a team (maybe the Seahawks?) could end up driving the price up.

And rounding out the list for the Vikings is cornerback Trae Waynes at No. 57. It feels like Waynes will get some sort of prove-it deal this season on a short-term deal, but we’ll see.

You can check out the full list here.

Free agent CB Trae Waynes a fit for Giants?

Waynes has been somewhat of a disappointment through five years in the league .

After five seasons with the Vikings, cornerback Trae Waynes is an unrestricted free agent.

So far, that half-decade has been a bit of a disappointment for the 2015 11th overall pick.

What kind of deal will Waynes get in free agency and where will he land?

Anthony Treash over at Pro Football Focus predicts Waynes will sign a one-year, $7.5 million deal with $6.5 million guaranteed with the Giants this offseason.

Here’s what Treash wrote about the fit:

Trae Waynes is likely going to get a one-year, prove-it deal this free agency. He’s barely cracked the top 50 in grade among those at his position in each of the past two seasons. Waynes really wasn’t a terrible man-corner in 2019, allowing just 71 yards on 134-man coverage snaps. The Giants’ outside corners were the third-lowest graded among the 32 units and are going to need all the help they can get in the new scheme.

It seems unlikely the Vikings will bring Waynes back. A fresh start for both sides is probably necessary.

Last season, Waynes finished with a PFF grade of 67, a mark that ranked 46th among 113 ranked corners. It was a 2.1 decrease from his grade in 2018.

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: NFC North Edition

Chargers Wire lists one pending free agent on each team in the NFC North that the Los Angeles Chargers could target.

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to enter free agency with the most salary cap available since Tom Telesco took over as general manager in 2013.

Even though the franchise has some in-house players that will need to get paid, there’s a great chance that Telesco and company will be aggressive in signing other soon-to-be free agents to bolster an already talented roster, with the hopes of making a quick turnaround after finishing 5-11 in 2019.

With that being said, we are going to list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A. Next up is the NFC North.

Green Bay Packers – OT Bryan Bulaga

Bulaga is a proven right tackle that would give the line a much-needed boost. In each of his full seasons since 2014, Bulaga has ranked among the 10 best right tackles in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade, with three ranking in the top three.

Bulaga, 30, is coming off a five-year, $33 million contract, but his new deal is expected to cost more annually. He could command a little north of $10 million per year, which calculates the market value of his next contract to be three years and about $30.4 million, per Spotrac.

It may seem like a decent amount of money, but given how much of a need it is to fulfill the position, giving one of the league’s best right tackles that type of paycheck could pay huge dividends for the Bolts.

Minnesota Vikings – CB Trae Waynes

Waynes has tallied 42 passes defensed and seven total interceptions in 53 starts for the Vikings. Since he was drafted in 2015, he produced a mixed bag of results in coverage, but his game has progressed every year. Waynes was also one of Minnesota’s top run defenders on the outside, amassing 247 tackles. He’s also been durable, starting 44 of 48 games since he became a starter in 2017. Another plus is that he’s only 27 years old. The former Michigan State product would be the ideal compliment to Casey Hayward on the perimeter.

Detroit Lions – OL Graham Glasgow

Glasgow started at left guard in 2017, center in 2018 and right guard in 2019. The versatility alone should be very intriguing for the Chargers, but his production for Detroit is what should buy Los Angeles in completely. This past season, Glasgow earned a 74.1 overall grade that ranked ninth out of 66 qualified guards. Glasgow, who is more superior in the run-blocking department, is still stout in pass protection. In 2019, he didn’t allow a sack and only committed three penalties.

Chicago Bears – WR Taylor Gabriel

Gabriel spent two seasons in Chicago after signing a four-year deal in 2018, catching 96 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns over the two stints. His 2019 season was short-lived due to two concussions suffered during the year. If Gabriel stays healthy, he has the make-up to be a nice WR3 and much-needed vertical option for the Chargers as he wins with his natural speed and ease of movement to be a home run threat.

Note: Gabriel was released on Friday, so he can sign with teams prior to the free agency period opening up.

PFF predicts Giants sign three big-name defensive backs

Pro Football Focus predicts the New York Giants will sign four top 50 free agents, including three big-name defensive backs.

The New York Giants are expected to enter free agency with roughly $61 million in salary cap space (likely much more after cuts), which means they are theoretically in the market for whoever their heart desires.

And while co-owner John Mara has implied the team will not go on a wild spending spree, Pro Football Focus still believes they are going to make a major splash in free agency.

In fact, PFF predicts that the Giants will sign four big-named free agents, including three who play in the secondary.

First up? Re-signing defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

34. DI LEONARD WILLIAMS – NEW YORK GIANTS

Projected contract: 5 years, $15 million per year ($43 million guaranteed)

The Giants don’t have to pay Leonard Williams, but with the way some double down on their mistakes, it seems likely that they’ll continue riding the investment made on him. They gave up a third- and fifth-round pick for him midseason, and he finished off the year just 36th in PFF grade among those at his position. He’s always been a strong run-defender and a below-average pass-rusher. Williams had just a 66.2 pass-rush grade in 2019, which ranked 33rd among those at his position.

PFF believes Williams will get that $15 million per season after all. We shall see. Either way, we’ve beaten the whole Williams story like a dead horse, so let’s move on…

Next up, PFF has the Giants addressing the safety position.

23. S DEVIN MCCOURTY – NEW YORK GIANTS

Projected contract: 2 years, $10 million per year ($10 million guaranteed)

New head coach Joe Judge reportedly isn’t afraid to poach free agents from his previous team in the New England Patriots, and given their need for receiving weapons, the Giants might be in the hands of the guys they aren’t able to pay, such as Devin McCourty. He’ll turn 33 this year and is on the last leg of his football career, but he can be temporary help for a Giants team hindered by their secondary. McCourty has been one of the 10 most valuable safeties in each of the past two seasons, rarely allowing explosive plays and exemplifying great tackling.

McCourty seems like the obvious go-to at the position, not just because the Giants have had interest in him previously, but because there is a connection to head coach Joe Judge. And given his age (32), a two-year deal for McCourty would be ideal.

Still, at $10 million per season, that accounts for $25 million of the team’s available cap space between McCourty and Williams.

From here, PFF has the Giants addressing the cornerback position by signing not one, but two veterans.

43. CB LOGAN RYAN – NEW YORK GIANTS

Projected contract: 3 years, $10.5 million per year ($12.5 million guaranteed)

Bringing back Logan Ryan with Tannehill, Conklin and Henry seems to be a pipe dream. Ryan is by no means an elite slot corner — in fact, he surrendered over 1,000 yards in coverage in 2019 and was constantly picked on. That being said, he’s still an average player at the position — he was the 48th most valuable corner in 2019. His projected contact might be a bit steep, but Ryan could be a big improvement for a team that had a liability defending the slot for them in 2019, such as the Giants. Ryan spent the first four years of his career on the same team as Giants coach Joe Judge and could reunite in New York.

Can’t say we’re loving this projection at all. $10.5 million a year for a slot corner who surrendered 80 receptions (worst in the NFL) and over 1,000 yards in coverage in 2019?

Ryan may be a big-name free agent based on his previous resume, but the last thing the Giants need right now is another corner who struggles in coverage. And that contract on top of it? Hard pass.

But they didn’t stop there… Another questionable cornerback signing coming up…

45. CB TRAE WAYNES – NEW YORK GIANTS

Projected contract: 1 year, $7.5 million ($6.5 million guaranteed)

Trae Waynes is likely going to get a one-year, prove-it deal this free agency. He’s barely cracked the top 50 in grade among those at his position in each of the past two seasons. Waynes really wasn’t a terrible man-corner in 2019, allowing just 71 yards on 134-man coverage snaps. The Giants’ outside corners were the third-lowest graded among the 32 units and are going to need all the help they can get in the new scheme.

Waynes (outside) played better than Ryan (inside) based on many metrics, but he also played nearly 300 fewer snaps in two fewer games. And with a contract that is projected to be almost fully guaranteed? That’s a tough sell.

The experts clearly believe the Giants are going to invest heavily in the cornerback position despite their many draft picks in recent years, but Ryan and Waynes for a combined $39 million? We don’t see it.

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Would CB Byron Jones be a fit for Vikings in free agency?

Last season with Dallas, Jones was Pro Football Focus’ 14th-ranked cornerback.

Nick Shook over at NFL.com is pairing each NFC team with a free agent that makes the most sense.

For the Minnesota Vikings, Shook has the Vikings matching up with former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones.

Here’s what Shook wrote about the match:

Minnesota suddenly has a big need at the position. Xavier Rhodes noticeably declined last season (ignore his Pro Bowl selection), while Trae Waynes is ticketed for free agency, so the Vikingswill need to find at least one corner to fill the void. Hope remains for 2018 first-rounder Mike Hughes, who needs to stay healthy in order to contribute, but it’s time for Minnesota to make a change for the better at cornerback.

Jones ranked as Pro Football Focus‘ 14th-ranked cornerback last season. The top corner on Minnesota ranked 46th(!) and that was Trae Waynes, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent.

The question is how much money Jones will ask for. The Vikings currently have less than $0, which isn’t ideal.

6 cornerbacks the Jets should target in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at six cornerbacks Joe Douglas and company should target in free agency.

The Jets struggled at multiple positions in 2019, but no unit was worse than New York’s cornerbacks.

Aside from Brian Poole, who is set to hit free agency, the Jets got little to no production out of their corners throughout the season. Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts were downright awful. Bless Austin showed some flashes of potential in his rookie year, but found himself benched by season’s end. Arthur Maulet and Maurice Canady had their moments, but are not exactly proven starters that New York can rely on entering 2020.

Fortunately for Joe Douglas and the Jets, there are plenty of solid free agent cornerbacks available this offseason. Which ones should New York target? Let’s take a look.

Chris Harris

Although he is getting up there in age, Harris remains one of football’s upper echelon cornerbacks. Opposing quarterbacks seldom threw at the 31-year-old in 2019 as Harris anchored a Broncos secondary that ranked just outside the top 20 in passing yards allowed per game.

Harris is by far the best cornerback on this year’s free agent market. However, he is on the wrong side of 30 and will be worth around $11 million per year, according to Spotrac. The Jets have been burned handing out large contracts to aging corners in recent years, which could give the front office pause on pursuing the four-time Pro Bowler.

Will Douglas and company go all-in and take a shot at bringing Harris to the Big Apple? If New York deems the veteran worth his price tag, it will be firmly in the race for his services.

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8 free agents the Eagles should target regardless of position

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2020 NFL offseason with a need for dynamic playmakers on offense as Howie Roseman and company look to upgrade the defense at several pertinent positions also.

With the Eagles needing playmakers and upgrades on both sides of the ball and at reduced prices, here are 8 free agents Philadelphia should target regardless of position.

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

1. Vernon Hargreaves

A former first-round pick of the Buccaneers and recently released by the Texans, Hargreaves had 21 tackles and one tackle for loss in six games with Houston last season. Before landing with the Texans, Hargreaves started all nine games for the Bucs and has the first-round talent despite not living up to the expectations.

Hargreaves could be a high-value option in free agency for the Eagles on the low.

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5 free agents the Detroit Lions need to avoid signing in 2020

Finding value on the market and avoiding bad contracts is as important as hitting on a great signing

Free agency offers Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia the chance to patch some holes on the roster with proven veterans. It’s a great way to radically improve the team, and the Lions have considerable salary cap room to make some serious moves.

Not every free agent is worth the contract investment, however. Avoiding the high-priced free agent misses (Trumaine Johnson and Le’Veon Bell spring to mind) is just as important as scoring a smart signing to a good contract (Glover Quin and Marvin Jones).

Here are some big names and presumably big contracts the Lions need to avoid on the free agent market later this winter when the signing period opens:

Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney’s name carries cache as a former No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Texans. The Seahawks EDGE is a schematic fit and still young, turning just 27 on Valentine’s Day. But he’s a player Quinn and Patricia desperately need to avoid bidding on in free agency.

Remember how disgusted, how defeated you felt as a Lions fan reading Ziggy Ansah’s name on the injury list every week? Clowney has done that to the fans in both Houston and Seattle over the past few seasons. He has played all 16 games just once in his NFL career (2017). And believe it or not, he’s been less productive while on the field than Ansah was in Detroit.

Clowney has never hit double-digits in sacks. Last year in Seattle, Clowney bagged three sacks and seven TFLs in 13 games. That is not premium production and it doesn’t merit premium pay.

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PFF says Vikings’ biggest offseason need is at CB

In no surprise, the Vikings’ biggest need was at the cornerback position, where the team struggled big time in 2019.

With the offseason here for all but two teams in the NFL, the folks over at Pro Football Focus put together the top offseason need for each team.

In no surprise, the Vikings’ biggest need was at the cornerback position, where the team struggled big time in 2019.

Here’s what PFF wrote about the Vikings and the cornerback position:

The cornerback position undid a lot of that good, however, with how porous it was throughout the season. Xavier Rhodes is a prime candidate to be released after allowing 84% of the passes into his coverage to be completed. No cornerback on the team finished with a coverage grade above 65.0. Fixing that will be the top priority.

There’s a pretty good chance that the only familiar face playing regular snaps for the Vikings at cornerback in 2020 will be Mike Hughes. Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes are both free agents, while Rhodes is likely to be a cap casualty.

This will, and should, be a huge focus point for Vikings GM Rick Spielman this offseason.

Vikings have 2 free agents in PFF’s top-50

The Vikings have some decisions to make in their secondary this offseason.

The folks over at Pro Football Focus released their top-50 free agents as we head into the 2020 offseason.

The Vikings had two players on the list.

Cornerback Trae Waynes ranks 38th overall, while safety Anthony Harris ranks third.

Waynes was the 11th-overall pick in the 2015 draft, but has never turned into the player the Vikings were probably hoping for.

However, he’s still a starting-caliber player. Given the Vikings cap situation, though, it seems like Waynes is probably on his way out.

As for Harris, he’s been one of the best safeties in the NFL over the last two seasons and you get the feeling that Vikings GM Rick Spielman and Co. will do whatever they need to in order to keep Harris, 28, for what will probably be the rest of his career.

Harris’ six interceptions last season were tied for the NFL lead.

You can check out PFF’s top-50 list here.