NFL Roundtable: Who could be a Free Agency steal?

Free agency isn’t all about the big contract.  The best teams are often able to maximize supposed “bargain” deals with lesser-known players and turn them into highly productive starters.  The 2016 crop won’t be any different.  So we asked the Mocks crew in our latest NFL roundtable who they think one of the steals of the off-season will be on the free agent market.

Eric Robinson:

Great question. He doesn’t fit the “nobody knows” category but one guy who I think will be a bargain pickup is RB Lamar Miller. Even with the circumstances he’s encountered (average o-line play, underused, underwhelming coaching staff) he’s averaged at least 4.0 YPC in all four seasons and 19 total TDs the last two seasons. The kid can play. Just put the ball in his hands.

Jeffrey Thomas:

I’ll go with Sammie Lee Hill. Drafted in the 4th round in 2009 by the Lions out of Stillman College. He played an important role in their defensive line rotating and signed with the Titans after his rookie contract was up.

He been playing as their noise tackle for the last few years. He’s been surrounded by mediocroty his entire career and has had no one around him to truely benefit from his talent. He’ll be an instant upgrade in a teams run defense and could emerge as one of the better 4-3 NT’s in the game.

Rodney Stokes:

I’m going to say Marcus Cooper from Kansas City. He had a really great rookie year and then found himself lost in the lineup in 2014 and pretty much non existent in 2015. At 6’2 190 pounds he has good size and has already shown that he can compete in this league. If he can find a scheme that fits him, there’s a chance that he could show what he did his rookie year and be a staple player.

Erik Lambert:

I’ve already written about him a couple times but the more I learn, the more I believe somebody will be very happy when they sign safety David Bruton.  The guy has been buried on the Denver Broncos depth chart for years despite putting up solid numbers every time he gets the opportunity to play.  He managed to produce 41 tackles, two interceptions and a sack despite playing fewer than 500 snaps behind Darius Stewart and T.J. Ward.

He’s got size at 6’2″ and clearly seems able to make plays both in coverage and around the line of scrimmage.  There is no doubt he has paid his dues and is ready to become a starter in the NFL.  All he needs is a team to give him the opportunity.

Sayre Bedinger:

I’ll join with Erik and talk a little about David Bruton Jr. He was the best coverage safety on the Denver Broncos this past season with a group that includes both Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward, who played at a Pro Bowl level in my opinion. He has also been a special teams captain virtually since being drafted in 2009. I think if the Broncos don’t re-sign him, he’s going to be a very good player for another squad.