The one free agent every NFL team should target

With free agency upon us, the season of hope looms in the NFL. Who is a critical target in free agency for each NFL franchise?

Arizona Cardinals: Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers)

(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

The Arizona Cardinals have two needs they can address with the eighth overall selection, but each point to one main goal: Help second-year quarterback Kyler Murray. They could draft one of the top offensive tackles in the upcoming class to address a need at right tackle, or they could look for a true #1 type wide receiver.

Having re-signed left tackle D.J. Humphries to a three-year deal in February, the Cardinals have a bigger need at the right tackle spot. They could fill that need with Tristian Wirfs from Iowa, or perhaps Jedrick Wills Jr. from Alabama, but a wiser move would be to pry Bryan Bulaga away from the Green Bay Packers. Bulaga is a steady veteran with a number of years of experience under his belt, but is coming off two very impressive seasons protecting Aaron Rodgers.

A savvy player, Bulaga is very adept at using his hands to win one-on-one battles against elite edge rushers. Brandon Thorn, who does tremendous work covering the offensive line for outlets such as Establish the Run and The Athletic – Denver, highlighted some of Bulaga’s hand work in this video breaking down his matchup this season against DeMarcus Lawrence:

Pairing Bulaga with Humphries would give the Cardinals two NFL bookend tackles to protect Murray, and enable Arizona to grab perhaps the receiver of their choice with the eighth overall selection in the draft. That would give Murray a lot of help to be sure.

Los Angeles Rams: Joe Thuney, G (New England Patriots)

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

For the New England Patriots’ offensive line, this is one task that matters above all else: Protecting #12.

Critical to accomplishing that goal is protecting the A-Gaps. Those creases on either side of the center that allow the interior defensive linemen an immediate path to the QB. Over his long career, the one thing that frustrates Brady above all else is immediate A-Gap pressure. For a passer of his ilk that relies heavily on timing and getting the ball out of his hand quickly, when he is forced off his spot immediately after the snap Brady can struggle.

That makes what Joe Thuney has done the past few seasons so remarkable. Thuney has been a rock in the interior protecting Brady the past two seasons, and over that period of time has allowed just one sack. During New England’s run to a Super Bowl Title during the 2018-2019 season Thuney did not allow a single sack – including in his matchup against Aaron Donald as featured above – and he has yet to allow a sack in ten post-season starts.

Thuney would immediately give the Rams’ passing game a boost with his ability to protect in the interior, but he would also be a strong presence in the running game. The Patriots relied on Thuney as one of their pullers on a variety of running plays, and that coupled with his footwork and effort in the zone run game would make him an ideal fit with Sean McVay’s running designs.

The Rams do not have a ton of cap space to work with, but if they are going to make it count this off-season, Thuney should be a prime target.

San Francisco 49ers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S (Chicago Bears)

(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

The San Francisco 49ers do not have a lot of holes to address this off-season. They could stand to bolster the cornerback position, but given their cap situation they might be out of the running for some of the premier talent at the position. Finding a way to re-sign safety Jimmie Ward is another priority, but if the organization cannot find a way to get him back into the fold, Clinton-Dix would be an ideal replacement.

Clinton-Dix is a very solid coverage safety for the back half of the secondary, and is coming off two very strong seasons, the most recent with the Chicago Bears. Last season opposing passers had a passer rating of just 69.2 when targeting him in the secondary, and he tallied two interceptions with just eight missed tackles on the season.

Schematically, Clinton-Dix can play a variety of defensive roles. He is probably most suited to play as a single-high free safety, as he allowed just one first down when in such a position last season according to PFF. That would make a potential pairing with Jaquiski Tartt, given his prowess down near the line of scrimmage. But he can also function as a two-high half field safety, or down in the box if necessary. Obviously the team would like to retain Ward as a first option, but if they cannot, Clinton-Dix would be an ideal Plan B.

Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Schreff, G (Washington Redskins)

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

If you tune into any Seattle Seahawks’ game, you will likely see at some point quarterback Russell Wilson running for his life.

Part of this Wilson brings upon himself. Not all pressures (or sacks) are the fault of the offensive line, and there are times when a quarterback can make life tougher for the guys up front. There are times when Wilson is guilty of such an act, by pulling the football down and looking to create outside of the pocket.

But there are also times when Wilson is running for his life because he simply has to. For example, in a late season meeting against the Arizona Cardinals the quarterback was sacked five times and pressured throughout the contest, turning in perhaps his worst performance of the season in a losing effort. During that outing there were many times when he was pressured quickly after the snap, leaving him almost no chance to make plays from the pocket.

While left tackle seems to be locked down, with the presence of Duane Brown, the Seahawks could use a boost along the rest of the offensive line. That is where Schreff potentially comes in. He and Thuney are the premier free agent guards available this free agency period, and Schreff could step in and immediately bolster the interior of the Seattle OL.

He does come with some injury questions, as he missed eight games in 2018 with a torn pectoral muscle and he missed five games in 2019 with elbow and shoulder injuries. When healthy, he is one of the top interior offensive linemen, and if you do not believe me, let Mr. Thorn show you his work:

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