16. Joe Thuney, G, New England Patriots
In a somewhat limited market for offensive guards, Joe Thuney might be atop the list of available players. For the past few seasons Thuney has been a rock in the interior of the New England Patriots’ offensive line, and during his time in the AFC East he has appeared in ten post-season games without allowing a single sack. That includes a very memorable battle with Aaron Donald on the inside during Super Bowl LIII. There are other guards available on the open market, such as Washington’s Brandon Scherff, but Thuney’s steady play, clean bill of health, positional flexibility (he saw time at right tackle early in the 2019 season when Marcus Cannon left New England’s Week 1 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers) and time under notable offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia make Thuney very appealing to teams.
17. Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Yannick Ngakoue has put together a very impressive resume over his time in the league, and with the Jacksonville Jaguars looking to rebuild what was once a feared defense, Ngakoue could be looking at life in a new uniform in the next few days. Talks between the edge rusher and Jacksonville have broken down, and the franchise may be forced to use the franchise tag on him as part of a trade deal. On the field, Ngakoue generates consistent pressure on opposing passers, demonstrated by the 231 pressures he has posted since entering the league. In addition, his 54 quarterback hits over the past four years is second-most in the league over that stretch of time. Whether he hits free agency, or is part of a trade deal, Ngakoue is sure to generate a lot of attention over the next few days.
18. Cory Littleton, LB, Los Angeles Rams
Coming out of the University of Washington, Cory Littleton was considered an undersized prospect at the linebacker position, and as such he began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. He worked his way from special teams into the starting lineup, and over the past few seasons he has been a critical cog in the middle of the Rams’ defense. Over the past two seasons, his first two as a starter, he has tallied 259 total tackles, and his 134 combined tackles in 2019 was ninth-most in the league. But what might make Littleton the most attractive on the open market is what he can do against the pass. Again, take Pro Football Focus grades with a grain of salt, but according to their film study, his 90.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons ranks third in the NFL behind only Lavonte David and Luke Kuechly.
19. Hunter Henry, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Tight end Hunter Henry might benefit from the opposite effect that impacts the free agency market at the wide receiver position. In contract to the high expectations for the incoming rookie WR class, NFL scouts and evaluators have diminished hopes for the upcoming TE group. That might make Henry and fellow tight end Austin Hooper enticing players when free agency opens. Henry certainly has a spotty injury history, but when healthy he can be the kind of mismatch at the tight end position that offensive coordinators covet. Henry is also coming off perhaps his best season as a pro. Despite missing four games to start the season, he posted career highs in targets, receptions, yards and yards per game.
20. Jack Conklin, RT, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans declined to pick up the fifth-year option on right tackle Jack Conklin prior to the start of the 2019 season, giving him the chance to test the free agency market when the tampering period opens in a few days. While Conklin missed seven games during the 2018 season due to two different knee injuries as well as a concussion, he appeared in every game for the Titans this past year and turned in a very impressive season. According to ESPN’s Pass Block Win Rate Conklin won 92% of his pass blocking assignments last year, placing him eighth in the league among tackles. While there is a great level of excitement surrounding the incoming class of rookie offensive tackles, Conklin presents as a very solid veteran option who should generate a lot of attention.