Top Free Agents Available and Good Fits For Them

One of the things that has boggled my mind is how quiet the news around some of the top remaining free agents has been. Every year when Free Agency open it’s a frenzy. I love waking up at like 6:30 in the morning on the usual free agency day and being able to read countless articles of what happened while I was sleeping. This year was no different as players were flying off the board (agreeing to terms) even before the 6 p.m. official open of free agency. However, there are some players I can’t really find any information on, and I wonder who’s snooping around them. I don’t know, but I’ll tell you who I think should.

Antonio Cromartie, NYJ

Cromartie’s an easy punch line for any lack of birth control jokes and sometimes he says crazy things, but the guy is a good player, and more importantly plays a premium position. My guess is that news around him as been quiet because the Jets are bringing him back now that they lost the Nnamdi Asmough sweepstakes. And frankly, I think that’s the best fit for him. He’s not the number one guy in NY and he’s ideally suited to play a lot of bump and run and man to man. Cromartie’ll end up back on the Jets, I think, the league must know about it, which is why news on him has been on the dlow.

Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Raiders

The Raiders would love to bring back Zach Miller, The question is whether or not they can afford to. I haven’t read anything about the Raiders restructuring enough contracts or releasing enough players to make that plausible yet though. I also don’t know Miller’s intentions about staying in Oakland. Perhaps the second best free agent still available, and one of only a few TE that are worth signing as free agents in this market, Miller could be being pursued by a lot of teams.

The New York Giants are working to keep Kevin Boss, but if they don’t he could be a target (maybe too expensive). But there are other teams out there who could use him. He’d be Excellent for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills need to spend money because they have a lot of cap space and haven’t had this kind of tight end play in years and definitely not since I moved to the Rochester area six years ago. Zach Miller would be a great addition to the Bills. He’d shore up perhaps their weakest position on the team as well as give Chan Gailey and Ryan Fitzpatrick another weapon. The Bills have worked hard to fix their defense in the offseason, but Miller could be the icing on the cake. It’d also show Bills fans that Ralph Wilson isn’t too cheap to pay top dollar for good talent. An offense that featured Fred Jackson/C.J. Spiller, Stevie Johnson, and Zach Miller could be good enough to steal a few more games.

Miller would also make an excellent addition to the Ravens or Atlanta Falcons. Though the Ravens seem satisfied with the young tight ends on their roster. He’d also fit everywhere. He’s very good.

Manny Lawson, 49ers

The player I’ve been most trying to find out any news about because I think he’s an underrated player who could be a steal for the right team. I also think he has the ability to be useful for 43 or 34 teams, though he’s spent his career so far in the 34. Lawson has unique coverage ability for a linebacker because of his blazing speed. He’s also an underrated pass rusher. I believe profootballfocus.com (can’t find the article) had him rated as one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league based on attempt at rushing the passer and disruptions caused.

Lawson could be dynamic in B.B. defense with the Patriots. Belichick would be the perfect coach to take advantage of Lawson’s versatility. I also think that Lawson would also instantly upgrade the New York Giants defense, and I’ve read they are interested in Lawson. I don’t see Lawson returning to San Fran. I think they believe his sack production wasn’t good enough and maybe they fear his resigning will leave a bad taste in fans mouths. (Speaking of bad taste, San Fan fans can’t be happy with what’s happening there so far).

Donte Whitner, Bills

He’s not one of the four best remaining free agents, but he’sone that I haven’t been able to find out much about. The Bills P.R. and Whitner have had a bit of a twitter feud going on in the offseason with Whitner saying the Bills won’t bring him back and he’s out of there and the Bills saying we would love Whitner back. Since then, I haven’t heard anything about what Whitner will do. He’s a tackling machine (140 last year) and a solid all around player. He also plays a position of growing importance in the N.F.L.-safety.

If the Jets could afford him he could upgrade their defense in a second, I believe. Another great fit for Whitner could be the Cleveland Browns. It’s a minor splash and another improvement to their secondary.

These are some of the free agents I’m interested in finding out what happens with, how about you guys. Do you have a perfect team/free agent match?

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