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Top 2017 Free Agents By Position: Defense

February 24th, 2017 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

NFL free agency will get underway on Thursday, March 9th, and while the list of free agents will change between now and then, we do have some idea of who will be available when free agency kicks off. The frenzy is right around the corner and it’s time for us to break down the outlook for each position. After looking at offense, we’ll tackle defense and special teams today.

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each defensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as players who received the franchise tag, aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for 2017:

Edge defender:

The Cardinals have already made it abundantly clear that Chandler Jones will see the franchise tag this offseason, and Melvin Ingram and Jason Pierre-Paul are also candidates to be tagged by the Chargers and Giants, respectively. If the latter two are able to hit the open market unfettered, however, they both figure to break the bank. Ingram, Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 edge defender, could be a fit for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, while JPP will be looking for a long-term commitment after signing consecutive one-year deals.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among the players with youth still on their side, Packers edge defenders Nick Perry and Datone Jones figure to interest different clubs, as Perry is a better match for a 3-4 defense while Jones needs to restart his career as a 4-3 defensive end. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing Andre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. James Harrison and Charles Johnson, meanwhile, look like good bets to return to Steelers and Panthers, respectively, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

Unlike the edge defender market, the 2017 cadre of interior defensive lineman shouldn’t be overly affected by the franchise tender. Head coach Ron Rivera recently confessed the Panthers will “probably” have to use the tag on Kawann Short, but the rest of the defensive tackles listed here should be able to hit the open market. Of the remaining defenders, Campbell is the best overall player, but given that he’s entering his age-31 season, he may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe.

Hankins is only 24 years old, and though the Giants are trying to retain him along with the rest of their defensive core, the 6’3″, 320-pound mauler should represent an attractive option to a number of clubs this offseason. Williams, too, offers a massive presence on the inside, while Poe could intrigue clubs based on his first-round pedigree and athleticism (though his play hasn’t always matched his potential). The Redskins’ Chris Baker is a solid, well-rounded defensive tackle, and could constitute a consolation prize for teams that miss out on their top targets.

The rest of the class offers an interesting mix of nose tackles (Bennie Logan), interior pass rushers (Nick Fairley, Earl Mitchell), and run stoppers (Karl Klug, Alan Branch), so clubs hoping to bolster their defensive line should find no shortage of options. Jared Odrick recently hit free agency after being released by the Jaguars, while Terrell McClain, Lawrence Guy, and Stacy McGee could be underrated finds for the right team. McClain, for what it’s worth, has already been linked to the Falcons.

Linebacker:

As usual, the non-rush linebacker market isn’t exactly overflowing with elite talent, and Dont’a Hightower stands as far-and-away the best player among this group. The Patriots already traded away several of their best defenders, including Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins, an indication that they view Hightower as the best best to stick around long term. Hightower has communicated an openness to the franchise tag, but New England may go in another direction and offer him the transition tender instead.

Coming off a disappointing four-year run with the Titans in 2016, Zach Brown was last year forced to sign a one-year deal with the Bills for less than $1.5MM. That won’t be the case this spring, as Brown finally lived up to his second-round draft status by grading as one of the league’s best ‘backers. Brown especially excelled in pass coverage by using his speed to chase pass-catchers around the field, and in today’s NFL, that’s a skill-set that equals a hefty paycheck.

Kevin Minter has captained the Cardinals defense for the past two seasons, and has indicated he wouldn’t mind following Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to New York. Lawrence Timmons, meanwhile, is talking about a return to the Steelers, but general manager Kevin Colbert admitted an agreement between the two sides could be hard to reach. After years of playing behind Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, A.J. Klein is seeking a starting job, while Mike Morgan and Nick Bellore are more likely to be signed as primary special teamers.

Cornerback:

The Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on A.J. Bouye, a decision which sets up the young corner to be the single-most intriguing player on the 2017 free agent market. Only 25 years old, Bouye came out of nowhere to grade as PFF’s No. 3 corner in 2016. But the former undrafted free agent played on less than 900 defensive snaps over the first three years of his career, so he’s going to get paid on essentially one season of production. Bouye earned less than $3MM total during his time with Houston — his next contract could contain five times that amount…annually.

The cornerback market stands as one of the best free agent positional groups this offseason, as strong players permeate the list from top-to-bottom. Trumaine Johnson faces an outside shot of being franchise-tagged, but if he hits the open market, he’ll likely be aiming for a contract similar to that of his former Rams teammate Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5MM). Elsewhere among corners, Stephon Gilmore is a more high-profile name than Logan Ryan, but Ryan has simply played better over the last few campaigns, and offers a more dependable output.

Morris Claiborne is a former first-round pick but didn’t play like it until last season. Dre Kirkpatrick is a former first-round pick but has never played like it. The rest of the cornerback list has warts, as well: Prince Amukamara has dealt with injury, Kayvon Webster has only two career starts, Terence Newman is entering his age-39 season, and Sam Shields is coming off multiple concussions. All of these players offer upside, but they are all undoubtedly attached to risk.

Safety:

The Chiefs are working to re-sign Eric Berry, but if the two parties can’t agree to a new deal, Kansas City will likely employ the franchise tag for the second consecutive season. The only problem? Berry is adamant that he won’t play under the tag again, even though it would guarantee him a one-year salary of nearly $13MM. Realistically, Berry won’t have any choice but to sign the tender — given that he’s already 28, he can’t afford to sit out the season and risk hitting the open market at close to 30 years old.

Tony Jefferson, meanwhile, is expected to hit free agency, and could be the second-highest paid safety in this class behind Berry. Jefferson did reach the free agent market in 2016 as a restricted free agent, but he didn’t come with draft compensation attached. Any club could have signed him to an offer sheet, and if the Cardinals declined to match, would have acquired Jefferson scot-free. No team did so, which could be an indication that Jefferson’s 2016 market could be less robust than expected.

Also working against Jefferson is the fact that he plays close to the line of scrimmage, a role that’s relatively easy to fill, as Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus explained on a recent podcast. Duron Harmon, on the other hand, has demonstrated an ability to play deep safety, and thus could be in for a surprisingly high salary. The Cowboys’ Barry Church is “solid at everything, great at nothing,” tweets Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated, while Jonathan Cyprien and T.J. McDonald are primarily run defenders. Darius Butler may be the most fascinating case among this list of safeties, as the former corner should theoretically offer above-average coverage skills.

Kicker:

The Seahawks don’t figure to re-sign Steven Hauschka after bringing in fellow kicker Blair Walsh, but the longtime Seattle placekicker should be able to quickly find a new home in free agency. Nick Novak attempted the second-most field goals in the NFL last season after many Texans’ drives stalled, while Robbie Gould filled in admirably for the Giants after they released Josh Brown, converting of all ten of his field goal attempts.

Nick Folk was released as a cap casualty, and still has the talent to become another club’s kicker, while Mike Nugent — cut by the Bengals at midseason — may be nearing the end of the road after missing six extra points. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phil Dawson come back for a fifth season with the 49ers, but Greg Zuerlein could move on from the Rams after the club threatened to bring in competition last offseason.

Punter:

Jeff Locke, 27, managed to pin opposing clubs inside the 20-yard line 34 times in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Britton Colquitt isn’t quite the punter that his brother, Dustin, is, but he found a new club soon after being cut last season and should do so again in 2017. Now 40 years old, Shane Lechler is a seven-time Pro Bowler, but the Texans lost 12.7 points of field position on punts last season, meaning Houston could go in another direction at punter.

Alan Branch Wins Appeal, Won’t Be Suspended

December 3rd, 2016 at 11:15am CST by Ben Levine

11:15am: How did Branch manage to win his appeal despite testing positive? According to Howe (via Twitter), the positive test “contained traces of pot from a previously failed test.” Therefore, there was “nothing new in Branch’s system.”

10:37am: Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch has won the appeal of his four-game suspension and will no longer be disciplined for violating the league’s drug policy, reports ESPN Field Yates (via Twitter). Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports (via Twitter) that the NFL rescinded the suspension without even hearing Branch’s appeal. The veteran defensive lineman was handed a four-game ban in late November after testing positive for marijuana.

The appeal was a bit of a risk by Branch. If the suspension had been upheld, the 31-year-old would have been suspended immediately, meaning he would have missed crucial late-season or playoff games. Fortunately for Branch and the Patriots, that won’t be the case, as the defensive tackle will be allowed to continue playing. The lineman has started 11 games for the Patriots this season, compiling 39 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Branch, a 2007 second-round pick, has had a bit of a tumultuous career. Before joining the Patriots, the defensive tackle was cut by the Bills following an arrest for a DUI. Branch subsequently signed with the Patriots, and he played a role in helping the team win the Super Bowl. The team rewarded the lineman with a two-year extension, but he showed up to the following training camp out of shape and overweight. The tackle still managed to have a relatively productive season in 2015, finishing with 35 tackles and one sack. The lineman was also disciplined by the Patriots during this past preseason for violating team rules.

While Branch won his appeal, the initial four-game suspension still implies that the defensive tackle tested positive for marijuana for a fourth time. The veteran is set to be a free agent this offseason, and teams will presumably be cautious of the player’s previous punishments.

With Branch sticking around for the rest of the season, the Patriots could have some interesting roster decisions on their hands. Besides Branch, the Patriots also have defensive tackles Malcom Brown, Vincent Valentine, Woodrow Hamilton, and Darius Kilgo on the roster.

East Notes: Stills, McVay, Vereen

November 27th, 2016 at 12:13pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a quick swing around the league’s east divisions:

The Dolphins will try to retain impending free agent Kenny Stills, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Head coach Adam Gase loves Stills, who has become one of the league’s better deep threats, but depending on how aggressive the bidding on Stills becomes, Jackson writes that Miami could let him seek his fortune elsewhere and try to replace him with Leonte Carroo.
Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch will continue to play as he appeals his recent four-game suspension, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports that the appeal is expected to be heard within the next month. That means that New England could lose Branch very late in the season and into the playoffs, which begs the question of whether it would be better for the team if Branch simply accepts his suspension now so that he is sure to be back for the stretch run. Branch, though, needs to do what is best for him, as the suspension could cost him about $1.13MM and could hurt his market when he reaches free agency this spring.
Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay is not exactly a household name outside of the nation’s capital, but his work with Kirk Cousins and his development of Washington’s proficient offense is garnering attention around the league, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Per La Canfora, the 30-year-old McVay is viewed as a coaching prodigy, and he is expected to get interviews for head coaching gigs at the end of the year if the Redskins’ offense continues performing at a high level.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter passes along another interesting detail about Matt Forte‘s brief flirtation with the Patriots. According to Schefter, Forte flew into New Jersey to meet with the Jets on the first day of free agency, and Gang Green decided to sign him. However, there were some concerns about the condition of Forte’s knee during the physical, and the Jets did not rush to get the paperwork done. That made Forte a bit antsy, and he made plans to board a plane and visit the Patriots. But when New York learned of those plans, the team’s concerns with Forte’s knee suddenly evaporated and Forte was handed his contract.
Giants RB Shane Vereen, currently on IR, could be on his way back to the field. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Giants are optimistic Vereen can return for the club’s December 11 matchup with Dallas.

AFC East Notes: Sheard, Patriots, Jets

November 26th, 2016 at 9:59am CST by Ben Levine

Following a productive 2015 season, many expected Patriots defensive end Jabaal Sheard to get paid this offseason. Instead, the Patriots have continued to reduce the 27-year-old’s playing time, culminating in the former second-rounder being inactive for last weekend’s game against the 49ers.

For what it’s worth, the impending free agent isn’t sweating his reduced role.

“It is what it is,” Sheard told WEEI’s Ryan Hannable. “I can only control what I can control.”

Sheard has compiled 18 tackles and 3.5 sacks this season, and he still has plenty of time to pad those numbers before he reaches free agency. Ultimately, the veteran understands that there’s only so much he can control.

“Just do my job, I think,” Sheard said. “Everything else, leave it up to coach. Just practice hard and when I get the opportunity play hard.”

Let’s check out some more notes out of the AFC East…

Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com examines what the Patriots could do with all of their cap space this offseason. The writer believes the team will look to retain many of their key free agents, including Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Martellus Bennett. Curran notes that Sheard and defensive tackle Alan Branch “don’t figure to be high-priority guys at this juncture.”
The Jets will likely miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News says it’s time for owner Woody Johnson to “tear it down and set a proper foundation.” The writer believes it’s best to build through the draft, and he cautions that the organization should avoid “the quick fix” signings.
If the Jets finish the season with a 5-11 or 6-10 record, ESPN’s Rich Cimini believes coach Todd Bowles will keep his job. The writer notes that the organization is valuing continuity, and firing Bowles after only two seasons would certainly contradict that strategy.

East Notes: Pats, Jets, Fitzpatrick, Cowboys

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:51am CST by Zachary Links

Alan Branch‘s four-game suspension for marijuana implies that the Patriots defensive tackle has tested positive for pot four separate times, as Ben Volin of The Boston Globe points out (via Twitter links). In total, the suspension will likely cost Branch about $1.13MM and could hurt his market when he reaches free agency this spring. Branch also has a DUI from 2014 on his record, which isn’t a good look in free agency.

Here’s more from the East divisions:

The Jets‘ call to start Ryan Fitzpatrick over Bryce Petty is simply indefensible, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News opines. Now at 3-7, the Jets are out of the playoff running and now is the time to find out what the 25-year-old can do. Still, Mehta writes that Petty has been getting schooled at practice by Fitzpatrick and says that the youngster is making the Harvard product look like “[Johnny] Unitas.”
In an interview on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed reports that Darren McFadden will be activated, as Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News tweets. McFadden will join a crowded backfield headlined by star rookie Ezekiel Elliott and backup Alfred Morris. McFadden could contribute as a pass-catcher, however. He averaged 38 catches per year between 2014 and 2015.
There is skepticism about Morris Claiborne‘s status going forward, but Jones is confident that he will return for the Cowboys this season (Twitter link via Machota). The cornerback has not played since October 30, a disappointment since he was in the midst of shedding his draft bust label this year. Through the first seven games of the year, Claiborne was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ eighth-best cornerback in the NFL. He figures to see a pay raise over his current one-year, $3MM deal this spring, but his market will be limited if he cannot demonstrate that he is healthy, particularly given his injury history.

Patriots DT Alan Branch Suspended Four Games

November 21st, 2016 at 2:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch has been suspended four games for violating the league’s drug policy, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The veteran tested positive for marijuana, and Schefter relays that Branch will appeal the suspension. This is the second time this season that Branch has been suspended, as the lineman was disciplined by the Patriots during the preseason for violating team rules.

The Patriots will certainly miss the 350-pound lineman. Branch has played 420 snaps this season, which leads all Patriots defensive tackles. The 31-year-old was actually having a career-year in 2016, having compiled 33 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. If Branch misses time, the Patriots will lean heavily on second-year defensive tackle Malcom Brown. The team could also turn to a pair of rookies in Vincent Valentine and Woodrow Wilson. NESN.com’s Doug Kyed tweets that the Patriots could also look at free agents to fill the hole, including Terrance Knighton and Markus Kuhn.

Branch, a 2007 second-round pick, has had a bit of a tumultuous career. Before joining the Patriots, the defensive tackle was cut by the Bills following an arrest for a DUI. Branch subsequently signed with the Patriots, and he played a role in helping the team win the Super Bowl. The team rewarded the lineman with a two-year extension, but he showed up to the following training camp out of shape and overweight. The tackle still managed to have a relatively productive season in 2015, finishing with 35 tackles and one sack.

Patriots Reinstate Alan Branch

August 25th, 2016 at 3:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have reinstated Alan Branch, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Branch was suspended last week for an unknown violation of team policy.

In 16 regular season games last season (15 starts), Branch totaled 35 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 pass deflections. Branch graded out as the No. 36 defensive tackle according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), putting him ahead of notables such as Haloti Ngata, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Chris Canty.

Given the team’s rash of injuries in the front seven, they could not afford to be without the defensive tackle for any period of time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Suspend Alan Branch

August 18th, 2016 at 5:55pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

5:55pm: Branch violated team rules in some fashion, but the club doesn’t regard it as a “big deal,” a source informed Howe. Therefore, the writer doesn’t expect it to impact Branch’s standing on the roster.

5:06pm: Branch’s suspension will only be for “a few days,” a source told Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). It doesn’t appear to be a particularly serious issue, then. However, it’s nonetheless another off-field check against Branch.

4:27pm: Patriots defensive lineman Alan Branch has informed his teammates that he has received a suspension, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link). Both the cause and length of the suspension are unknown at this time, but Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com tweets that the Patriots, not the NFL, are disciplining Branch. Notably, Branch’s previous employer – Buffalo – cut him in August 2014 after DUI arrest.

On the heels of his release from the Bills, Branch joined the AFC East rival Pats, though his tenure in New England hadn’t gone that smoothly even before the news of a suspension. Branch skipped the Patriots’ offseason workout program and arrived to training camp overweight and out of shape a year ago. That came after the Patriots awarded a two-year, $6MM deal to Branch, who served as a depth piece for the then-reigning Super Bowl champions.

In Branch’s second year with the Patriots, he took on a bigger role in starting 15 of their 16 regular-season games and appearing in 39.4 percent of the club’s defensive snaps. The 31-year-old logged 31 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack in the process, also ranking an impressive 36th in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 123 qualified interior D-linemen (subscription required). New England then picked up Branch’s $400K bonus for 2016 with the intention of keeping him.

In the event the team decides to move on from Branch, cutting him would save $2.4MM against its cap. Along with Branch, Malcom Brown and Terrance Knighton currently headline the Pats’ group of interior D-linemen (depth chart).

A 2007 second-round pick out of Michigan, Branch previously spent time with the Cardinals and Seahawks before heading to the AFC East in 2013. The 350-pounder has registered 118 appearances (64 starts), 218 tackles, nine sacks and four forced fumbles during his nine-year career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots To Keep Alan Branch For 2016

March 8th, 2016 at 3:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have informed defensive tackle Alan Branch that they will pick up his $400K bonus due on Wednesday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Branch is now locked in for the 2016 season.

Now that he’s been retained, the 31-year-old Branch is due to count $2.75MM against New England’s cap. The Patriots signed Branch to a two-year deal worth as much as $6.6MM last offseason. In the past, Branch has had some question marks about his work ethic and conditioning and those issues contributed to an up-and-down year with New England.

In 16 regular season games (15 starts), Branch totaled 35 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 pass deflections. Branch graded out as the No. 36 defensive tackle according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), putting him ahead of notables such as Haloti Ngata, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Chris Canty.

Patriots Notes: Jones, Hightower, Ebner, Hogan

February 28th, 2016 at 2:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots have filled the vacancy created when Bob Quinn left for the Lions, as Dave Ziegler has been promoted to director of pro personnel, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Ziegler, 38, had spent the past three year’s as Quinn’s No. 2, and previously worked for the Broncos under current New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Here’s a bit more on the Patriots…

New England has an impressive crop of players entering the final year of their contracts, as Chandler Jones, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, and Malcolm Butler — among others — will be free agents after the 2016 season. But the club hadn’t initiated extension talks with any of those players as of Friday, reports Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The Patriots might begin contract conversations after free agency concludes, per Volin, but Hightower, for his part, appears likely to play out the season on his fifth-year option without coming to a long-term agreement.
Receivers Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell are both potential cap casualties, but the Patriots haven’t “tipped their hand” about their plans for the pass-catchers, writes Volin. Additionally, offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon, also though to be on the roster bubble, aren’t sure of their status.
The Patriots want to retain free agent defensive back Nate Ebner — a special-teams ace — but the team is playing “hardball” at the moment, and hopes that it can re-sign Ebner for the veteran’s minimum.
Defensive tackle Alan Branch‘s $400K option bonus is due on the third day of the new league year, according to Reiss. If he’s retained, the 31-year-old Branch is due to count $2.75MM against New England’s cap.
The Patriots have a history of targeting restricted free agents — both those who are tendered by their clubs and those who aren’t — and one such player who might interest New England this offseason is Bills receiver Chris Hogan, per Reiss, who notes that Buffalo may not tender Hogan due to its salary cap restraints.