I chose a handful of players from each position group that fit a couple criteria, one they have not been a full time starter up to this point or was in the past but was not in 2020. These players are also those that are not expected to return to their current franchise before testing the market, naturally we will start with quarterback..
My first break out player is Mitch Trubisky. I truly believe he needs a fresh start in a new city. He stretches my criteria here but was technically benched at times for Foles in 2020. However this is still a player that was drafted 2nd overall in 2017, who is only currently 26 years old yet has appeared in 51 games over 4 seasons. He has despite his expectations been a relatively decent young qb statistics wise. He has hovered at or above 60% completion rate despite attempting nearly 1,600 passes during that stretch for 10,069 yards, or 6.7 yards per attempt, with 64 passing tds, 37 ints, 8 rushing tds, 10 fumbles lost. Really all things considered he is far from terrible but not quite what you expect from a number 2 overall pick who you traded up for. Which is why I believe Trubisky will sign somewhere and wind up being a quality player there. Remove expectations of a top 5 draft pick, and simply gauge him as a regular qb based on his play and suddenly he isn't viewed as a bust, but a young guy that needs more guidance. If I was New England I would target Trubisky depending on the price. Maybe sign Trubisky, trade for Jimmy G, and have an open competition.
Jameis Winston served as the defacto number 2 qb even after the injury to Drew Brees which forced him to miss time, but Winston was ultimately relegated to the bench in favor of Taysom Hill. Winston is of course just 5 years removed from being drafted first overall, but has had some roller coaster performances in recent memory. After a 2019 season that saw him toss 30 tds, and a league leading 30 ints despite topping 5,100 yards for the first time in his career. This is a guy who has 121 passing tds in just 5 seasons as a starter but also had 88 ints. He is a guy who needs to learn to minimize turnovers to be successful. If a coach can break him of this habit he will be a quality starter in the NFL, maybe even for the Saints. Although I'm pretty sure Taysom Hill isn't making $10 million to come off the bench if Brees retires especially after his performances in 2020. I could see Winston as a target in Chicago, Indy, New York, New Orleans, New England, or San Francisco.
My last qb has been a backup for most of his career however he has still managed to play in 19 games over 3 seasons whether it was due to injury or ineffective play by the QB ahead of him. That would be none other than Nick Mullens. Mullens has at times flashed greatness with big games, including 4, 300 plus yard games including over 400 yards against Seattle in 2018 as a rookie. He is a product of the Shanahan offense and he doesn't necessarily need to leave San Francisco to succeed. Right now the only certainty in the QB room is that there is no certainty at this point. Jimmy G is on a short leash if not already on the way to getting cut or traded, Josh Rosen was resigned to a 1 year contract meaning he has a chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp, and Mullens is a restricted free agent, meaning if San Francisco wants him back he will likely be back. However many teams would probably consider signing Mullens depending on how they tender him. Their options are 1st round $4.149 million, 2nd round $2.914, or original round $1.907 million. In the case of Nick Mullens a former undrafted free agent the 49ers would receive no compensation. Which leads me to believe the 49ers will tender him at a 2nd round pick. This prevents some teams from extending offers if they want to keep their second round pick while others might still feel it's worth the pick rather than spend the pick on a player who has no experience.
At running back my first break out candidate is a guy who got his first real opportunity to carry the load for a team in 2020 due to an injury to the previous starter. That player would be Kalen Ballage, the 6 foot 2 232 pound bowling ball who was originally drafted by Miami by Adam Gase. He was later cut and moved onto the Jets, before landing with the Chargers. The Chargers had 3 backs trying to fill the shoes of Austin Eckler none of which were as effective as Ballage. He set career highs with 91 carries, 303 yards, 3 tds adding 29 receptions for 166 yards. He showed he is a legit dual threat back that could be successful in the right offense. I feel like he would be a solid compliment to Chris Carson in Seattle, or in Houston with David Culley who needs a new running back.
Gus Edwards is a guy who has intrigued me since he sprung on the scene years ago as a rookie. He is 6'1 238 lbs and more of a power runner and bellcow type back. He has never been the top running back in Baltimore until injuries occurred. However he has managed 130+ carries in each of his 3 seasons, topping 700 yards each time with a career high 6 touchdowns in 2020. However the Ravens drafted JK Dobbins in the second round just last offseason. Edwards will likely look to find a starting job elsewhere, perhaps with the Jets under defensive minded coach Robert Saleh. Edwards is the type of back I think would be a perennial 1,000 yard runner in the right system. He has never averaged less than 5 yards per carry in a season, and showed his prowess near the goal line in 2020. Give him 250+ carries a year and he could be a poor man's Derrick Henry.
Mike Davis filled in for Christian McCaffrey this past season as the starter for the Carolina Panthers. He did so, and managed to fill a very similar role to McCaffery who is arguably the most versatile RB in the league, and most valuable pass catching running back. However Davis is no stranger to catching passes. In 2018 with Seattle he stepped in as a part time starter playing in 15 games with 112 carries, 34 receptions, 728 yards, and 5 tds. He was signed by the Bears to be a big part of the rotation until they realized they had Tarik Cohen who was a much better option in the passing game, they decided to cut him allowing him to sign with Carolina. In 2020 he played in 15 games with 165 carries, 59 receptions, and 1,115 yards and 8 tds displaying his viability as a dual threat running back. Maybe he resigns with Carolina but I have this odd feeling that the Giants look long and hard at adding him as a backup to Saquan Barkley.
Josh Reynolds is headed into his 5th year as a receiver for the Rams. However up until 2020 Reynolds despite being a 3rd round pick was relegated to a depth role. The 6'3 196 lb former Texas A&M star had just 61 receptions for 832 yards and 7 tds. Last year in 2020 he managed 52 receptions, 618 yards and 2 tds showing he is more than just a slot receiver and 3rd option in an offense. I think he will be a solid second receiver for an offense. Maybe he looks to Detroit to reunite with his former QB Jared Goff and team with Kenny Golladay. Perhaps a team like the Jaguars brings him in to replace Dede Westbrook.
I have always been a fan of blazing fast players so naturally John Ross is one of my favorite modern day receivers right now because he is literally the fastest timed man on a football field currently. He has had his share of highs and lows since being drafted in the first round back in 2017. He has obviously not found the kind of success the Bengals had hoped despite logging 7 tds in his second season. They declined his 5th year option instead allowing him to hit free agency. However he is one of those players I think could be extremely dangerous with the right coaching. I would like to see him sign with a team like the Giants, or 49ers. The Giants could use another receiver outside of Sterling Sheppard, and Darius Slayton. The 49ers I feel would be the right scenario but they already have a guy in deebo Samuel or Jalen hurd who would take any snaps that Ross might.
David Moore is far from a household name despite coming up big in some key moments for a Seahawks team that has seemingly been trying to replace him for years. Moore is 26 years old a 5th year veteran having spent 4 seasons with Seattle. The 6'0 215 lb receiver is coming off of a 2020 season that saw him play in all 16 games logging career highs in receptions, yards, and tds with 34 receptions, 8 carries, 478 total yards, 6 touchdowns. He displayed an ability to line up outside or in the slot and showed a high catch rate of over 80% even on contested catches. I believe in the right system he could be a star. I honestly believe he is the sort of receiver that would thrive with the Patriots in a mold similar to Troy Brown who was never the most physically gifted receiver but always had a knack for making the catch when they needed him to. Moore could look to the Patriots, Giants, Browns, or Jets to take on a more prominent role.
Dede Westbrook is a receiver for the Jaguars who has flashed at times but never seems to have the kind of consistent production you would like to see. However when you factor in the amount of change he has had to deal with around him is it any surprise the 4th year veteran hasn't found a groove? For instance in 2017 he was targetted 51 times catching 27 passes for 339 yards and 1 td. On one hand his catch rate was abysmal at just 52.9%, but his yards per reception 12.9 was the highest of his 4 year career. The following season 2 years he was targetted 101 times resulting in 66 receptions both times for catch rates of 65.3% however during the 2018 season he averaged nearly a yard more per reception, and scored 5 tds to the 3 tds he would score in 2019. Like I pointed out before though, in these 3 seasons he caught passes from:
Blake Bortles
Cody Kessler
Nick Foles
Gardner Minshew
He also had Nathaniel Hackett as a coordinator for 2017 and 2018, then John Defilippo in 2019, and Jay Gruden in 2020. Could explain the inconsistencies being that his best season came when he had some continuity from one year to the next. Bortles was the QB both years, Hackett the O.C. both years as well resulting in career highs in receptions, yards, tds, and catch rate. If he is fully recovered from his leg injury I believe he should be a hot commodity. The Jets, Titans, Seahawks, Patriots, Giants, and WFT could look his way for a low risk high reward player. Give him a 3 year deal, let him get his body right and stay with a qb in a system for more than 1 year at a time and watch him work.
Tight end is quickly becoming a rather important position due to the mismatches an athletically gifted tight end can create that's why a few of these names are more well known than others. Some of these guys have had brief stretches of solid play only to kind of fade into the background again.
Gerald Everett of the Rams is my first candidate to break out with a new team. At 6'3 240 lbs he is more of a move tight end whose athletic profile lends itself to being a great receiving threat. Having run a 4.62 40 yard dash he is honestly just a bigger slightly slower wide receiver and can be used as such. He is likely a solid option for a team like Arizona, Houston, or Seattle where they don't seem to spend a ton of money at the position but always look for value. Everett has gradually gotten more and more involved on offense resulting in career highs in receptions and yards in 2020 with 41 for 417, he also can at times be used as a fullback with 5 carries for 31 yards and 1 td. In the right scheme Everett could be a chess piece moved around from an inline tight end, to slot receiver, to in the backfield. I would really like to see him in Arizona's offense.
Mo Allie-Cox is a guy who may not sign with a different team and still have a break out season. He plays for the Indianapolis Colts currently and was part of a 3 headed monster at tight end along with Jack Doyle, and Trey Burton. Cox caught a career high 31 receptions for 394 yards and 2 tds which actually meant he was the leading receiver in the tight end room for Indy. Something that should help him land consideration with other teams as a potential starter. I look back to his 5 reception 111 yard performance in week 2 and think that this is a guy who could be dangerous in the right system. Maybe Kansas City looks to add even more talent to their offense and brings him in as the number 2 tight end, or maybe he heads to Houston under former WR coach David Culley.
Dan Arnold is a lesser known name among the free agent pool. However he has reason to be considered an up and coming player in the league. In 16 games he had 2 games in which he didn't log any statistics but still managed 31 receptions, 438 yards, and 4 tds but converted 24 1st downs on 31 touches. Arnold started his career as a Saint, under Sean Payton before signing with the Kliff Kingsbury led Cardinals both guys are regarded as offensive geniuses. Arnold is a 6'5 220 lb player classified as a tight end, although he started his career as a wide receiver. Dan Campbell oversaw the transition to tight end when he was with the Saints. This guy is hyper athletic for a tight end, running a 4.62 40 yard dash at the combine. Although he is undersized to play inline every game the former track star is the perfect candidate to be a move tight end. Ironically Arnold might wind up back with New Orleans, due to their cap situation and the fact that Jared Cook might be a cap casualty. Other teams that might look at him would be New England, Denver, or Seattle.
Darrell Daniels is a guy I think whose special teams prowess will result in him staying on a roster and develop a role on offense as well. Daniels is a four year veteran who has played for the Colts, and Cardinals. During that time he has 8 tackles and 2 forced fumbles, 1 kick return for 9 yards, and 12 receptions for 122 yards, and 1 td. He is the type of team first do anything player who rounds out roster. He is also still 6'3 256 lbs, and was a combine stand out, running 4.55 in the 40 yard dash, putting up 17 reps on the bench press, 32 inch vertical, 116 broad jump, 7.09 3 cone drill, and 4.47 20 yard shuttle. His results didn't "shock the world" like he had hoped in his quest to beat the combine record for 40 yard dash 4.38 run by Vernon Davis, but they still put him on the map. Daniels is still an incredible athlete and former wide receiver who can be used in multiple ways. He strikes me as a receiver who just needs a chance to be a starter in order to show what he can do.
Admittedly it is difficult to find offensive linemen that are unknown commodities or lesser known players but my first guy on this list is Elijah Wilkinson. I would like to start this by saying there is a very real possibility he doesn't hit free agency, is resigned and starts for Denver. During his time in Denver he has lined up as a LT, RT, and RG. He has logged played in 45 games and logged 19 starts at tackle, and 7 starts at guard. His versatility and experience despite only being 26 years old. I believe he us the perfect guy to sign for teams looking at low cost upgrades over current starters. Maybe he lands in Miami, or with the Giants.
Forrest Lamp is a guy who once one of the highest graded offensive linemen in his respective draft. He originally began his college career as a redshirt freshman who would become a starter at right guard before shifting to left tackle and ultimately staying there for the rest of his stay in college. He would enter the draft with 51 starts in college. Naturally a guy who is graded highly as a Left Tackle in college will likely hear his name called early in the draft and Lamp was no exception. He was drafted in the second round by the Chargers. However before playing a snap in the NFL the Chargers determined the former stand out tackle would be better suited to play guard at the next level due to his arm length. I believe this has actually stunted his career, and might have even helped contribute to injuries suffered in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Lamp finally started 16 games in 2020 but did so as a guard once again. I believe Lamp was wrongly suited to play guard and needs a chance as a tackle even if his chande begins by signing as a swing tackle somewhere.
Joey Hunt is a center, who just completed his 4th season in the NFL. Originally drafted in the 6th round by Seattle, Hunt played 4 years there before signing with the Colts for the 2020 season. Although he was active for just 1 game he has appeared in 35 during his career meaning he is a young, experienced center just asking for a chance to be a starter.
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