2018 NFL Free Agency: Best Fits For Biggest Names Still Available
By Erik Lambert
The 2018 NFL free agency period has entered the closing months in terms of the off-season. Almost all of the notable names are long since gone.
However, in a rare occurrence, several players who seem like they should’ve been scooped up ages ago remain out there on the market. When or where they sign remains a big mystery. People are sure what the holdups could be. Some think it’s money-related, others claim it has to do more with personality concerns regarding each of them, both on and off the field.
Still, the demand for talent in the NFL is insatiable. Sooner or later it feels like most of these guys will be employed. It’s all about finding circumstances where they can be of use and their drawbacks tolerated. Here is each of the five biggest names left available and the team they’d likely have their best chance at success with.
Dez Bryant: Arizona Cardinals
Drafting Christian Kirk alleviated a lot of the issues that faced the Cardinals at wide receiver. He’ll take some of the heat off Larry Fitzgerald. Even so, the team still looks light on playmakers for Josh Rosen. Now Bryant might not be the ideal personality to drop on a rookie quarterback, but he can still be effective playing the #2 or #3 role. Fitzgerald should be able to keep him under control and Steve Wilks is no stranger to dealing with enigmatic personalities, having done so in Carolina for years.
Eric Reid: Chicago Bears
If he hadn’t knelt for the national anthem, Reid would’ve been one of the free agents locked up before the market even opened. He’s a former Pro Bowler and just 26-years old. The guy can play. Yet he continues to wait because teams fear the backlash from hardliners over the protests. If there is any string for him to pull, it would be contacting former coach Vic Fangio in Chicago. Reid had his best seasons as a pro in San Francisco under the current Bears defensive coordinator. Chicago could use more competition at safety too.
Kenny Vaccaro: New York Giants
He’s not a traditional safety. People need to stop projecting Vaccaro in that way. He instead is much more the linebacker-safety hybrid type that has grown in popularity. He’s at his best playing in the box like a linebacker but is still athletic enough to play coverage without being a complete liability. The problem with that is not all defensive systems feature that type of player. Hence why he’s struggling to find a job. The New York Giants currently employ James Bettcher as their new DC. He used it extensively with Deone Bucannon in Arizona.
Bashaud Breeland: Indianapolis Colts
It was rather surprising that despite their rich cap space and draft haul that Indianapolis didn’t be more aggressive at cornerback given how bad their pass defense was in 2017. They did manage to upgrade their rush, which is good. They still need guys who can cover though. Bashaud Breeland had medical concerns two months ago but he should be closer to healed by now. He’s not a star but has proven a capable starter in years past. He won’t save them but he can help.
Next: 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Firing the First Salvo
Johnathan Hankins: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers had the second-worst run defense in 2017. They took a step in the right direction by adding Derwin James at safety but it feels like they didn’t do enough up front to correct the problem. Johnathan Hankins does only one thing but does it well. He’s a big, strong run stopper. He did it in New York and did it in Indianapolis. He’s not a three-down guy but if the Chargers are looking for someone to correct their biggest problem on defense, he’s the ideal choice.