With most free agents snapped up quickly in March, it’s rare to see a Pro Bowler available in June. Players like DeSean Jackson and Chris Johnson were cut later in the offseason, making the free agent market a little more interesting in the spring, but it has been a while since a player of Brandon Flowers‘ caliber became available.
Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) suggest 2013 was a down year for Flowers as he struggled to fit in new Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme, ranking as just the 87th-best CB in the league among 110 qualified players. However, PFF rated Flowers as a top-seven corner in both 2011 and 2012, and the ex-Chief is still only 28 years old, making him an intriguing option for teams in need of help in the secondary.
So far, the market for Flowers has been hard to nail down. The former second-round pick paid a visit to San Diego this week, so we count the Chargers among his potential suitors. Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Flowers has at least one more visit on his schedule, though it’s unclear which club he’s meeting with next.
While the Falcons and Redskins were initially identified as possible favorites to land Flowers, their interest has been downplayed over the last week. The Jets could use cornerback help after losing Antonio Cromartie and missing out on a few free agents, but the club reportedly hasn’t reached out to Flowers. The Vikings inquired, but are believed to be a long shot, with the cornerback not currently planning a visit to Minnesota. The Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, and Lions are among the other teams that have some level of interest in Flowers and may still be in the mix.
With a decision expected soon, we may see a frontrunner emerge for Flowers this weekend, if not today. For now though, it appears to be a wide open field. What do you think? Where will the Pro Bowl cornerback eventually sign?