21. Shaquil Barrett, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jadeveon Clowney might be the premier pass rushing target this free agency cycle, but by no means is he the only pocket buster potentially available. Shaquil Barrett is coming off the best season of his career, having posted a league-high 19.5 sacks along with 37 quarterback hits and 19 tackles for a loss. Jason Licht will reportedly use the franchise tag on the edge rusher, but if plans change in Tampa Bay teams are going to come calling for a pass rusher with that kind of pressure production. Teams may wonder what took so long for Barrett to put things together, as he tallied just 14 sacks over his five years in Denver with the Broncos, but his production last season — coupled with his Pass Rush Win Rate of 25% — makes him very appealing.
22.Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill’s magical 2019 season likely makes Marcus Mariota, the former second-overall selection, the odd man out in the Tennessee Titans’ quarterback room. While he was forced to the bench due to ineffective play, teams that are looking for a solid veteran option either as a starter or a backup would be wise to bring Mariota into the fold. In the right offensive system Mariota can still be an effective quarterback, and in today’s NFL, where athleticism is a valued asset at the QB position, Mariota is a viable option due to his ability to create with his legs and contribute as a runner.
23. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
And we get to our first running back…
Derrick Henry was a massive weapon for the Tennessee Titans’ offense a season ago, posting career-high numbers in carries (303), yards (1,540), touchdowns (16) and yards per game (102.7). When the Titans pulled off successive road upsets over the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens – two very stout defenses – Henry posted very impressive outings. He racked up 182 yards against the Patriots (averaging 5.35 yards per attempt) and 195 yards against the Ravens (averaging a whopping 6.50 yards per attempt). But despite these numbers, the value of a running back in the modern NFL remains questionable, given the wear and tear on the player and the evidence that the passing game is still more valuable on an expected points basis. The Titans likely find a way to bring him back – and their decision to release fellow RB Dion Lewis points to such a move – but Henry would still be attractive to some teams if he hits the market.
24. Robby Anderson, WR, New York Jets
While Amari Cooper and A.J. Green might be more established wide receivers, over the past few years Robby Anderson has shown the ability to be a very dangerous weapon in the vertical passing game. Since 2016 Anderson has seen 112 targets on throws of more than 20 yards downfield, and only Julio Jones, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown have seen more. But despite his well-earned reputation as a downfield threat, he has become a more well-rounded receiver the past few years. According to data from Pro Football Focus, 40% of his receiving yards during the 2018 season came on passes 10-19 yards downfield, and 39% of his receiving yards last year came on such throws. That is a huge increase from his 2016 (18%) and 2017 (20%) numbers. Teams looking to inject talent into their wide receiver rooms that miss out on either Cooper/Green or premier rookies would be wise to target Anderson.
25. Brandon Scherff, G, Washington Redskins
We round out the list with Brandon Scherff, who has been a main cog in the interior of the Washington Redskins’ offensive line the past few seasons. Between him and Joe Thuney, teams looking for help on the inside will have two very solid options, but teams inquiring about Scherff will likely have some questions to raise during the free agency process. Scherff has a bit of a checkered injury history, and has given up 13 sacks over 65 regular season games as opposed to the seven surrendered by Thuney over 64 regular season games. (Of course, elite quarterback play might play a role in those numbers). But provided a team is satisfied with Scherff from a medical perspective, he is a very good option on the interior OL.
After ten years of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area, Mark Schofield now dedicates his time to his first love: The game of football. The former college quarterback’s work has been featured a number of places, including The Washington Post, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Pro Football Weekly and the Matt Waldman Rookie Scouting Portfolio.