Curious about where many of the top names in 2018 NFL free agency might end up? Here’s a rundown of each position with ideal landing spots for all.
QUARTERBACKS
Kirk Cousins: Minnesota Vikings
There will be plenty of suitors for Cousins, but the team that makes the most sense in every respect is the Vikings. They have a Super Bowl-ready roster, play in a dome and don’t have any quarterbacks under contract going into 2018. Money won’t be an issue either. It’s a potential match made in heaven between quarterback and team.
Drew Brees: New Orleans Saints
Facts are facts. Drew Brees needs to retire in a Saints uniform. He’s still a stud even approaching his 40th birthday and knows that Sean Payton offense inside and out. There’s no reason for him to demand an exorbitant price in negotiations. He’s already made more than enough to set himself up for retirement. Best for him to stay put.
Teddy Bridgewater: Cleveland Browns
The odds are the Browns will use their #1 overall pick on a quarterback. So why would they sign Bridgewater on top of it? The simple answer is competition. Cleveland can’t afford to put all their eggs in one basket at that position. Bridgewater, presuming he’s healthy, puts a former Pro Bowler on the roster that gives them a higher degree of possibility for success.
Case Keenum: New York Giants
It’s difficult to know for certain what fate awaits Keenum. He’s coming off the best season of his career but the possible job openings outside of Minnesota might be slimmer than some think. In the end he may choose to follow Pat Shurmur to New York where he’ll become a backup to Eli Manning alongside whatever draft pick they’re sure to add.
Sam Bradford: Arizona Cardinals
Few teams will be more desperate for a quarterback solution this off-season than Arizona. Not only do they have nobody on their roster, but their draft position isn’t ideal either. Somebody like Sam Bradford might at least offer them a bridge solution until they’re able to reload the roster and find their man of the future. Mike McCoy is a good offensive coordinator to help with that.
RUNNING BACKS
Le’Veon Bell: Pittsburgh Steelers
The heated contract stuff may make it sound like Bell is more than ready to leave or even retire if necessary. Truth be told this sort of grandstanding by star players is nothing new. The Steelers have seen it before. They have a seasoned, experienced front office to deal with it. They know what Bell does best and how to use him. It’s best for all involved if he stays put.
Carlos Hyde: Washington Redskins
San Francisco may try to keep Hyde but their focus is entirely on keeping Jimmy Garoppolo as their quarterback. This will keep the franchise tag off the table. If Hyde reaches the market, he might fit in perfectly with the Redskins. They’re bound to start running a lot of run-pass option style offense with Alex Smith in town and they need a back who thrives in that style.
Isaiah Crowell: Cleveland Browns
Amazing as it sounds the best thing for Crowell to do at this point is stay in Cleveland. He’s done his best work to date under Hue Jackson with the Browns and seems to fit that offense well. If the team can put a viable passing offense together there’s reason to think Crowell can finally top the 1,000-yard mark he’s sniffed the past couple seasons.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jarvis Landry: New England Patriots
Can anybody honestly say this is all but a foregone conclusion? Landry is one of the premier slot receivers in the NFL. He has an intimate knowledge of the AFC East division and a burning desire to win more games. Everybody knows where to go for that. The Patriots could easily part ways with Danny Amendola or Julian Edelman to secure his services.
Allen Robinson: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville won’t ever admit it but they really missed Robinson in that AFC championship loss to New England. What they needed was a true difference-making receiver who could make that one big catch to turn momentum. They searched for one the entire second half of that game and he never showed. Robinson has that level of capability. They can’t lose him.
Paul Richardson: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks traded Jermaine Kearse this past off-season in order to make room for Richardson to step into a greater role in the lineup. It seems he found one and developed a strong connection with Russell Wilson. Seattle understands the things Richardson does best and how to maximize those strengths. That might not be the case elsewhere.
Marqise Lee: Chicago Bears
With the Jaguars all but certain to focus on Robinson, Lee should become available. The Bears are in desperate need of wide receivers. Lee has the sort of skill set that fits the new offense they’ll install. He’s not overly big or fast but he’s a quick, sharp route runner with good hands who knows who to get himself open against almost any coverage.
Sammy Watkins: Los Angeles Rams
Like it or not the Rams saved Watkins’ career. Many felt he was drifting towards draft disappointment after such a promising start in Buffalo. Injuries wouldn’t leave him alone. His first year in L.A. was strong and he’s still young. Jared Goff is growing and Sean McVay is running the show. It’s hard to find a better setup than that for a wide receiver.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Andrew Norwell: Denver Broncos
Carolina may not be able to meet the price necessary for Norwell, making him a possible sacrifice. This means he’ll be the best offensive line talent on the market after the excellent season he just had. The Denver Broncos have something going with left tackle Garett Bolles. If they can slide Norwell next to him at left guard, that’s the makings of a dominant left side.
Justin Pugh: San Francisco 49ers
The Giants made a mistake moving Pugh to right tackle this past season. It’s become clear he was much more suited to play guard in the NFL. As it turns out the 49ers are on the hunt for offensive line help and the Kyle Shanahan offense has a need for athletic guards who can run his zone blocking scheme. Pugh would make an excellent fit for that.
Nate Solder: New York Giants
The Giants desperately need renovations to their offensive line. Adding a young Pro Bowler is of course ideal but almost never possible. The best thing for them to do at this point is simply to find an upgrade over what they have, even if it’s temporary. Nate Solder is a solid tackle who’s had lots of success in New England. He may not be a star but he knows his job and does it well.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Demarcus Lawrence: Dallas Cowboys
Rod Marinelli may be getting old but he continues to prove that when it comes to developing defensive linemen, few in the NFL are better than him. Demarcus Lawrence is his latest project to bear fruit. He broke out in a big way with 14.5 sacks this year. It’s clear he fits their scheme perfectly and the odds of him even reaching the market were remote to begin with.
Ezekiel Ansah: Cincinnati Bengals
Ansah may have a hard time hitting the open market. Next to Darius Slay, he’s the best player the Lions have on defense. They can’t afford to lose him. That said he may not be the ideal fit of what Matt Patricia has preferred in the past. Besides, Ansah did his best work under Teryl Austin who is now the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. Getting to play with Geno Atkins? Yes please.
Dontari Poe: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are positively desperate for ways to improve their 31st ranked run defense which bedeviled them throughout 2017. Poe has always been a great fit at nose tackle and he was a huge help to the Falcons run defense this past year, taking them from 17th to 9th. He should be able to man the middle in L.A. and slow opponents down.
Adrian Clayborn: Atlanta Falcons
Dan Quinn is a former defensive line coach so it’s not hard to see why Adrian Clayborn had the best season of his career in Atlanta. Quinn just knows how to find good ones and help them reach their potential as he’s done for years. Clayborn would be foolish to leave. Clearly after 10 sacks in 2017, by far his career high, it’s where he belongs.
LINEBACKERS
Demario Davis: New York Jets
Returning to the Jets was the right move for Davis in 2017. After years of decent play at inside linebacker, he finally broke through with an outstanding season. He had 135 tackles and led the team with five sacks. The Jets defense is assembling some young and promising talent. Sticking around may be in his best interests while the team already knows how to use him best.
Preston Brown: Philadelphia Eagles
Jim Schwartz was the man who ushered Brown into the league back in 2014 as defensive coordinator for the Bills. Now the Philadelphia Eagles are champions and may be seeking help at linebacker. Given where the two rosters sit Brown may be more inclined to join Schwartz in Philly rather than continue his course with the QB-needy Bills.
Zach Brown: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have relied heavily on the talents of Derrick Johnson for years. However, he’s into his mid-30s now and is starting to show signs of slowing down. They need to find more help at inside linebacker to start the process of moving away from him. Zach Brown fits the 3-4 system well and provides a lot of quality support in the run game.
SECONDARY
Tre Boston: Los Angeles Chargers
Leaving Carolina to join the Chargers was a great career decision for Boston. He responded with career highs in tackles (79) and interceptions (5). Gus Bradley has gotten a lot out of him, which isn’t a surprise given his ability to coach up defensive backs. It would be foolish for Boston to leave now after such a strong performance in his first year in a new scheme.
LaMarcus Joyner: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have two major defensive backs set to become free agents. They’ll have to choose which one they wish to focus on. LaMarcus Joyner has shown excellent versatility this past season, capable of playing a hybrid role of safety and corner. He’s also the younger of the two. It would be better for the team to keep him on board and he fits the Wade Phillips defense well.
Kyle Fuller: Chicago Bears
His two interceptions and 22 passes defended proved that Fuller had finally begun to unveil the potential he had as a 1st round pick in 2014. Considering it was Vic Fangio who got it from him and the Bears managed to retain the veteran coordinator, it might be in Fuller’s best interests to stay put. He should get a solid payday.
Malcolm Butler: New York Jets
Rest assured that Butler was not happy about what happened in the Super Bowl. Almost everybody including himself felt he should’ve played in that game regardless of his difficult week beforehand. He’s a Pro Bowler who helped them win two championships. Being disrespected like that sticks with a man. So much that he’ll sign on with a rival to get revenge.
Next: Nick Foles: Trade Destinations He’d Probably Fit Best
Trumaine Johnson: Cleveland Browns
Staying under Wade Phillips wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. However, Johnson’s been chasing a long-term deal for a while and the Rams may not be able to provide it. The Browns are flush with cash, have a need at cornerback but also one other advantage. They employ Gregg Williams who was the defensive coordinator for the Rams when Johnson had his best season.