The 2015 free agency got off to one of the craziest starts in off-season history when not one, but two big trades happened in the space of minutes. It set a new standard for excitement when actual games aren’t being played, and leaves some to wonder if 2016 NFL free agency can match or exceed it. So the Mocks crew conducted a roundtable to discuss possible players who might be involved in such activities with the market set to open soon.
Brady Lunt:
Chip Kelly was one of those involved in a blockbuster trade to start 2015 and while he may not be handling personnel decisions in SF, I could see him persuading the 49ers’ brass to make a move. This makes Colin Kaepernick an easy target. Teams like the Texans and Rams are desperate for a starting QB and could find interest in Kap. If they do, we could see a blockbuster trade go down to start things off this year.
David Holmes:
Despite his production during his time as a Bear, it is clear the Bears front office and coaching staff do not view Martellus Bennett as a key piece to their offense moving forward. Don’t be surprised to see Bennett included in a trade to free up more cap space in the event the Bears are forced to use the franchise tag on Alshon Jeffery.
Sayre Bedinger:
I will take a shot in the dark and say someone like Calvin Johnson. That might seem obvious, but with his threatened retirement, I think the Lions could look to deal him. Whether or not some team would be willing to take on that contract remains to be seen, but there are plenty of teams around the league with substantial cap space.
Erik Lambert:
No team has a bigger salary cap issue than the Buffalo Bills. The biggest trade of last season was when the New Orleans Saints, who were also in a cap bind, unloaded Jimmy Graham to Seattle. Buffalo may adopt a similar plan, though theirs will be on a small scale. Defensive end Mario Williams is clearly not fitting in on Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense. It shouldn’t be a surprise since he failed to do the same thing in Houston.
He’s a purebred edge rusher who likes having his hand in the dirt just goes forward. At age 31 he is at the tail end of his prime but there is a strong chance he has at least two good years left in him if he can land on a team that used the 4-3 scheme he loves. There are options out there and the Bills are smart about it they should be able to find one that is willing to put together a reasonable package to get the veteran pass rusher.