It’s not realistic to expect a player’s value in free agency to drastically increase or decrease based on one game. However, if there is an opportunity for that future free agent to show the NFL what he’s got, it’s the Super Bowl.
There were plenty of impending free agents for both squads in last night’s game, and several of those players made major contributions. Let’s review how the looming free agents fared in Super Bowl XLIX, with the snap counts and ratings via Pro Football Focus’ advanced statistics (subscription required):
Patriots:
- Shane Vereen, RB: Four rushes, 13 yards/ 11 receptions, 64 yards/ 52 snaps, 0.2 PFF Rating
- James Develin, FB: One reception, six yards/ one kick return, five yards/ 16 snaps, -1.1 PFF Rating
- Daniel Connolly, OG: 76 snaps, 0.9 PFF Rating
- Devin McCourty, S: Five tackles/ 53 snaps, -0.2 PFF Rating
- Akeem Ayers, LB: One QB hit/ 12 snaps, 0.5 PFF Rating
- Alan Branch, DT: Three tackles/ 20 snaps, 0.2 PFF Rating
- Sealver Siliga, DT: Four tackles/ 39 snaps, -0.4 PFF Rating
- Stephen Gostkowski, K: 4/4 extra points/ 1.4 PFF Rating
Active, but didn’t play or compile stats: LB Jonathan Casillas, LB Chris White, LS Danny Aiken
Injured reserve/inactives: RB Stevan Ridley, WR Brian Tyms LB James Morris
Seahawks:
- Jermaine Kearse, WR: Three receptions, 45 yards/ 52 snaps, 0.1 PFF Rating
- Ricardo Lockette, WR: Three receptions, 59 yards/ one tackle/ 30 snaps, 1.4 PFF Rating
- Bryan Walters, WR: Two punt returns, six yards/ six snaps, -0.1 PFF Rating
- Tony Moeaki, TE: Four snaps, 0.2 PFF Rating
- Will Tukuafu, FB: 12 snaps, 2.1 PFF Rating
- James Carpenter, OG: 54 snaps, -3.5 PFF Rating
- Kevin Williams, DT: Three tackles/ 40 snaps, 0.8 PFF Rating
- Landon Cohen, DT: 19 snaps, -0.4 PFF Rating
- Demarcus Dobbs, DE: 33 snaps, 0.1 PFF Rating
- O’Brien Schofield, LB: One QB hit/ 37 snaps, 1.1 PFF Rating
- Byron Maxwell, CB: Five tackles/ 76 snaps, -1.4 PFF Rating
- Jeron Johnson, S: One tackle
- DeShawn Shead, S: Two tackles
- Clint Gresham, LS: -1.0 PFF Rating
Active, but didn’t play or compile stats: QB Tarvaris Jackson, OG Lemuel Jeanpierre, LB Michael Morgan, LB Malcolm Smith
Injured reserve: WR David Gilreath, TE Anthony McCoy, OG Stephen Schilling, LB Heath Farwell, DT D’Anthony Smith, DT Greg Scruggs