Five NFL free agents who could come at a bargain Dan Benton, Larry Brown Sports 9 hrs ago
The NFL’s free-agency period begins Monday, which means several of the league’s top players are about to be paid the big bucks. After that first tier of free agents are gone and the second tier is picked through, general managers from across the league will be tasked with finding diamonds in the rough — the bargains, if you will.
© Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports Former Chicago Bears inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski earned a 72.6 Pro Football Focus grade last season.
Here’s a look at five players who have substantial upside but are likely to come at a discounted price over the next month or so.
5. Nick Kwiatkoski, linebacker
When pouring over the list of available free-agent linebackers, some outside of Chicago may simply skip over the name Nick Kwiatkoski, who earned a 72.6 Pro Football Focus grade in 2019. His statistics from a season ago aren’t going to blow the doors off of you, and unless someone cuts the film, it’s easy to overlook the 26-year-old former fourth-round pick.
But beyond the box score, there’s a lot to like about Kwiatkoski’s game. He’s a solid run defender and holds his own in pass coverage, but will likely garner less attention than his counterparts Joe Schobert, Blake Martinez and Cory Littleton. That’s good news for a team looking to add a quality inside linebacker at a team-friendly price in the aftermath of the initial free-agency feeding frenzy.
© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Isaiah Crowell was 12th in yards from scrimmage (4,725) from 2014-18 with the Browns and Jets.
4. Isaiah Crowell, running back
Isaiah Crowell was expected to take on a substantial role for the Raiders in 2019, but a torn Achilles cost him the entire season and his first true opportunity to serve as a lead back. Now headed into free agency, Crowell shouldn’t be forgotten or labeled as injury-prone. Prior to 2019, he had missed just three games over his first five seasons. Assuming he bounces back from the Achilles injury, he should have relatively fresh legs for a 27-year-old player.
A talented all-around back, Crowell was 12th in yards from scrimmage (4,725) from 2014-18 with the Browns and Jets, despite having the second-fewest touches (997) among backs who topped that list. Making that all the more impressive? Crowell put up those numbers despite playing behind offensive lines that ranked 28th or worst in three of his first five seasons. With the value of today’s running back fading, some team is going to steal Crowell and then laugh all the way to the bank.
© Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Wide receiver Breshad Perriman had 25 receptions for 506 yards and five TDs in five games to close out last season for Tampa Bay.
3. Breshad Perriman, wide receiver
Largely considered a first-round bust entering 2019, Breshad Perriman found an opportunity when the Buccaneers lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin late last season. After being unexpectedly thrust into the No. 1 role, Perriman erupted for 25 receptions for 506 yards and five touchdowns in five games to close out the year. Over that span, he averaged 20.2 yards per reception and was one of just four players with five or more touchdown receptions.
In total, Perriman posted career highs in targets (69), receptions (36), yards (645) and touchdowns (six). While it may not be enough to earn Perriman a massive free-agent contract, his 2019 performance will be enough to keep him on the radar of wide receiver-needy teams and may earn him a larger opportunity in 2020.
© Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Former first-round pick Ereck Flowers has seen marked improvement since moving from tackle to guard.
2. Ereck Flowers, guard
We'll be the first to admit we may have gotten it wrong when it came to Flowers’ transition from tackle to guard. I didn’t think he would improve to any significant degree simply because there were footwork flaws to his game that seemed resistant to coaching. But his time in Washington resulted in marked improvement, and that’s good news for the former first-round pick.
Washington has made it clear they’d like to bring back Flowers in 2020, but he may still hit free agency having just reset the clock on his career. Flowers, 25, finished 2019 with a 64.2 Pro Football Focus grade, which is a major step up for him, having surrendered just two sacks over 16 starts. The more time he sees at guard, the more he will improve and that’s good news for whatever team ultimately ends up signing him.
© Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports When healthy, Kevin Johnson looks like a quality defensive back.
1. Kevin Johnson, cornerback
With players such as James Bradberry, Byron Jones and Chris Harris Jr. slated to command most of the attention among cornerbacks, Kevin Johnson is going to fly under the radar and prove to be a steal. He took on a somewhat limited role for the Bills in 2019, spending time outside and some in the slot, ultimately finishing the season with 402 defensive snaps. That alone was encouraging for Johnson, who dealt with seemingly relentless injuries in Houston.
But beyond that, Johnson surrendered just 19 receptions a season ago, while posting a 73.6 coverage grade (73.2 overall grade) — all of which represented career highs. The former first-round pick is just 27 years old, so there may be a lot of quality play left from him. There is some risk involved, given Johnson’s injury history, but that’s why he’ll likely come at a bargain.