I am sure that UFAs as a topic have been mentioned time and time again. I want to offer a little more insight to what might also be around the corner.
The deadline for Restricted Free Agent (RFA) tenders is 3/15, this is also important because some of these players may not get tendered at all and add to the FA pool.
There are a few options:
First round tender
Second round tender
Original round tender
Right of first refusal tender
Each carries their own specific cost, but with the higher cost, the more deterring it is for another team as they would have to offer a higher draft pick. Right of first refusal does not offer a draft pick in return but is the lowest tender and the team can always choose to match an offer.
Some interesting RFA:
James Robinson RB Jets (not going to be tendered)
Jalen Guyton WR Chargers
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine WR Titans
Krys Barnes ILB Packers
Dane Jackson CB Bills
Mitchell Wilcox TE Bengals (not going to be tendered)
Bryce Huff Edge Jets
Terence Steele OL Cowboys
Teair Tart IDL Titans
Geno Stone S Ravens
Darius Harris WLB Chiefs
Jeff Smith WR Jets
Sam Mustipher C Bears
Donald Parham TE Chargers
Jeremy Reaves S/ST Commanders
Yosh Nijman OL Packers
Ryan Neal S Seahawks
Marquez Callaway WR Saints
Marquise Copeland IDL Rams
Obviously not all of these players are going to be tendered, but most of them have a fair amount of experience yet are still young. Guys I definitely am interested in are Guyton, Huff, Barnes, Tart, Stone, Parham, Copeland, Neal and Mustipher.
Deadline for being cap compliant is also the same time and date. Street or released Free agents (SFAs) are popping up on the daily, but we still have 7 teams that are not cap compliant.
This list includes:
Ravens
Buccaneers
Vikings
Rams
Browns
Bills
Saints
Most are relatively close aside from the Browns, Bills, Saints all about 15 mil over. Nonetheless, players get released/traded near the deadline frequently so maybe expect a couple more. Of the current SFA's here are some of interest:
Leonard Floyd Edge
Frank Clark Edge
William Jackson CB
Shaquill Griffin CB
Bobby Wagner ILB
Eric Kendricks ILB
Chase Edmonds RB
Cameron Dantzler CB
Ben Jones C
Graham Glasgow IOL
Braxton Berrios WR
Slim pickings here with a lot of reason to stay away and I would love to make a case for any of these CBs, but the two players that very glaringly make sense is Berrios. Wandale will not be ready for the season, Berrios would have a role not only as a slot but we are in dire need of a return man.
Overall I brought this topic up because RFAs are being pretty much ignored as potential UFAs. Additionally the benefit of signing a SFA to not only fill a position of need but to avoid contributing to the comp pick formula is very advantageous with the Giants having likely 20 UFA's.
$2.7M just for first refusal; $4.3 for second round comp; $6M for first round. That’s why these days few players get tagged. As you said most teams are scrambling to just get under the cap by the deadline.
I worry about concussions, he had issues last year and a lot of wear and tear.. But, if he passes physical and we can get a cheaper deal, might be worth considering.
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From what I’ve read he’s an above average center
I worry about concussions, he had issues last year and a lot of wear and tear.. But, if he passes physical and we can get a cheaper deal, might be worth considering.
Yeah, I'd stay away from guys with concussions - they are cumulative.