Every NFL Team’s Biggest Free Agent They Must Keep
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Officially the 2014 NFL season is over and now we football fans have to toil through this dull period before any actual offseason action happens. Now it’s all just rumors, whispers and slight hints as to what teams might do in the months leading up to the 2015 season. Well, as we wait, here’s every NFL team’s biggest free agent they must re-sign.
Arizona Cardinals: DT Dan Williams
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Arizona Cardinals: DT Dan Williams
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The Cardinals are in a goodish situation heading into the offseason; they don’t have too many big free agents to sign, but they’re also severely low on spending money. While Antonio Cromartie is a big name free agent, Williams was the center of the Cardinals’ defense and his size and skill in the middle of the line is a must have for the Cards. Plus Cromartie will probably be asking for more than the Cards can offer.
Atlanta Falcons: K Matt Bryant
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Atlanta Falcons: K Matt Bryant
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I guess the good news is that the Falcons don’t have any super big time free agents they just have to re-sign. Obviously the Falcons’ biggest issue heading into this offseason is their pass rush, and while Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora are free agents, they both weren’t so good at their job they can’t be let go. Bryant has been with the Falcons for a while now and is still a very good kicker.
Baltimore Ravens: RB Justin Forsett
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Baltimore Ravens: RB Justin Forsett
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The Ravens do have a few big name players heading into free agency, but after the season Forsett had running the ball for them, I’d have a hard time imagining they’ll be letting the back walk. Yes he is starting to get old and yes this last season was probably a fluke, but even just bringing him back on a one-year deal gives the Ravens confidence in their running back situation.
Buffalo Bills: DE Jerry Hughes
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Buffalo Bills: DE Jerry Hughes
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After struggling with Indianapolis, Hughes has been nothing short of a revelation since moving up north in 2013. He’s recorded 10 sacks over the two seasons he’s been with the Bills, and his pass rushing would certainly be missed if he left in free agency. With Rex Ryan now the head coach and obviously in charge of the defense, you’d have to think he’ll be doing all he can to keep the pass rusher around.
Carolina Panthers: DE Greg Hardy
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Carolina Panthers: DE Greg Hardy
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From a talent perspective, Hardy is obviously the top choice for the Panthers. In 2013 he had 15 sacks and became one of the best pass rushers in the league. However, he missed all this past season due to domestic violence charges, and the Panthers might let him go to make a statement.
Chicago Bears: CB Charles Tillman
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Chicago Bears: CB Charles Tillman
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This re-signing might be less about on the field play -- though I do think Tillman still does have a bit left in the tank -- and more about what Tillman does for the Bears’ locker room. The Bears are very much in the midst of a team crisis with turnover upstairs and questions revolving around Jay Cutler. Bringing back Tillman to control the locker room could help the team get back on the right track.
Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham
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Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham
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It’s very apparent in this NFL that offenses need all the weapons they can get. Gresham is coming off a strong year for the Bengals, and the team needs to keep him around to build around Andy Dalton. Gresham with A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu and young Tyler Eifert is a very strong receiving corps for the Bengals.
Cleveland Browns: QB Brian Hoyer
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Cleveland Browns: QB Brian Hoyer
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I understand that Jordan Cameron is a free agent this year and that he’s a huge part of the Browns’ offense, but you know what’s a bigger part of an offense? A quarterback who isn’t currently in rehab. If Manziel was ready to take over the Browns, then Hoyer can be cast to the pools of free agency; but the Browns need a quarterback and Hoyer has had success with the team.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant
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Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant
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Obviously, DeMarco Murray did have an amazing season and he’s 1b to Bryant’s 1a. But this is a passing league, and Murray has had injury issues. The Cowboys will need to pick a star to sign and that’s going to be Bryant. This one doesn’t need much explanation.
Denver Broncos: WR Demaryius Thomas
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Denver Broncos: WR Demaryius Thomas
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The Broncos have a ton of free agents who could all go on this list as must-signs, but it’s hard to say no to Demaryius Thomas. The receiver is Peyton Manning’s favorite weapon, and if Manning is still contemplating retirement, a lack of Thomas would make his decision a lot easier. The Broncos can’t afford to lose Thomas to free agency.
Detroit Lions: DT Nick Fairley
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Detroit Lions: DT Nick Fairley
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At this point I’m assuming Ndamukong Suh will not be a Lion next year. His stomping and dirty antics just seem too much to overcome for a franchise that is trying its darnedest to be taken seriously. If Suh is gone, then Fairley is the obvious replacement. The Lions will need to make sure they can lock up the defensive tackle in order to help keep their excellent defense together.
Green Bay Packers: WR Randall Cobb
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Green Bay Packers: WR Randall Cobb
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Like I said with the Bengals, teams need as many weapons as they can possibly have on offense. We all know what Aaron Rodgers can do with this offense when he has the likes of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb with him. Plus the emergence of Davante Adams makes the Packers a lethal passing attack. Green Bay can’t let that leave with a Cobb departure.
Houston Texans: QB Ryan Mallett
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Houston Texans: QB Ryan Mallett
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It’s a bummer Mallett got injured so early in his starting role, but the Texans have to see what the kid can do. It would be silly for them to trade for the quarterback, see him play only a few games and then let him leave in free agency. It also helps that the Texans don’t have any other pressing free agents to sign so they can take the risk on Mallett.
Indianapolis Colts: WR Reggie Wayne
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Indianapolis Colts: WR Reggie Wayne
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I guess? The Colts have issues that none of their current free agents will really solve so there’s no one player the Colts need to get back. Of all the free agents they have, Wayne would of course be the best to get back given his role in the offense. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if his time in Indianapolis is over.
Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Cecil Shorts
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Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Cecil Shorts
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The running theme is you always need more weapons on offense. While Shorts wasn’t a point scorer, he was a vital part of the Jaguars' passing attack, and not re-signing him could set the offense back heading into next year. Linebacker Geno Hayes is another candidate for this coveted “must-sign” award.
Kansas City Chiefs: LB Justin Houston
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Kansas City Chiefs: LB Justin Houston
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I’m not sure there is a team this free agency that needs a player more than the Chiefs need Houston. And you can bet Houston knows that and is going to make a pretty penny this offseason. Houston was a sack away from breaking the single-season sack record and ended the 2014 season about as well as any player could. He’s young and brimming with talent, and the Chiefs must lock him up.
Miami Dolphins: TE Charles Clay
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Miami Dolphins: TE Charles Clay
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The biggest named free agent the Dolphins have is probably Knowshon Moreno, but with Lamar Miller filling in pretty well in Moreno’s absence, I don’t think he’s in such high demand. Charles Clay can do a little bit of everything for the Dolphins, from playing tight end to occasionally lining up in the backfield and playing fullback.
Minnesota Vikings: RB Matt Asiata
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Minnesota Vikings: RB Matt Asiata
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Adrian Peterson is still technically on the Vikings, but I’m not sure that’s going to be true for much longer. While Asiata didn’t rack up the yardage, he did rack up the touchdowns, scoring nine on the season. He’s a big, goal-line back and would be a great re-sign for the Vikings as they’ll likely turn to a running back committee once Peterson is released.
New England Patriots: FS Devin McCourty
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New England Patriots: FS Devin McCourty
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Surprise! The Patriots’ biggest free agent they must re-sign isn’t named Darrelle Revis (though he falls into the 1b category with DeMarco Murray). McCourty is one of the best free safeties in the league right now, and he does so much for the Patriots' defense. Their top priority has to be locking up the young star long term.
New Orleans Saints: RB Mark Ingram
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New Orleans Saints: RB Mark Ingram
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Finally Mark Ingram showed that he can be a dominant running back in the NFL; it took him long enough. While the Saints are notorious for being a pass-first offense, it seems the team can’t rely on the arm of Drew Brees anymore. Keeping Ingram in the backfield would help this Saints’ offense mightily.
New York Giants: DE Jason Pierre-Paul
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New York Giants: DE Jason Pierre-Paul
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JPP has had his injury troubles in the past, but he still is a gifted pass rusher. After all he did rack up 16.5 sacks just a few years ago. The Giants would be silly to just let Pierre-Paul go, especially when they need to build a strong pass rush. It’s pretty straight forward what the Giants have to do heading into free agency.
New York Jets: LB David Harris
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New York Jets: LB David Harris
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Harris is coming off an excellent season for the Jets, and despite getting older, he still has plenty in the tank. The linebacker is the heart of the Jets’ defense, and new head coach Todd Bowles would be silly to let Harris leave and likely head up to Buffalo to play with old head coach Rex Ryan. The Jets need to make sure they keep Harris around.
Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden
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Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden
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The Raiders already locked up Charles Woodson next year, and he was going to be my pick here. Like the Raiders team itself, there’s no one here really the Raiders need to keep around. McFadden is a talented running back, but he has had injury problems in the past. But despite only running for 534 yards, he did stay healthy all year long so that’s a good sign moving forward.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin
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Philadelphia Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin
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The Eagles would be pretty silly to let Maclin go, especially if rumors of a departing LeSean McCoy are real. Maclin is coming off a career season in which he caught 85 balls for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’ll cost the Eagles a lot of money, but letting him go would be a huge step back for this offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Jason Worilds
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Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Jason Worilds
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The Steelers need to fix their defense. That’s their top priority heading into this offseason. A good start would be re-signing Worilds. The linebacker had 59 tackles on the season along with 7.5 sacks and an interception. Worilds is still a younger player who the Steelers can build around moving forward on defense.
St. Louis Rams: G Davin Joseph
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St. Louis Rams: G Davin Joseph
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The biggest offseason move by the Rams (other than moving to L.A., possibly) will be cutting Sam Bradford. Sadly his two injury-plagued seasons have made him expendable, especially when he comes with a $ 16.6 million cap hit. Re-signing Joseph gives the Rams stability along the offensive line for whichever quarterback comes next.
San Diego Chargers: WR Eddie Royal
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San Diego Chargers: WR Eddie Royal
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Royal enjoyed an extremely productive 2014 season with 62 catches, 778 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with Keenan Allen, Royal gives Philip Rivers an explosive receiving duo. The Chargers do have other big name free agents, like Ryan Mathews and cornerback Brandon Flowers, but Royal was a fixture on offense last year and letting him go would spell trouble for the Chargers.
San Fransisco 49ers: G Mike Iupati
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San Fransisco 49ers: G Mike Iupati
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I wanted to put Frank Gore here just because of all that he has done and meant to the 49ers organization, but Iupati is too good of a lineman (and in his prime) to let walk. It also doesn’t help that the Niners seem to trust Kaepernick’s arm more than Gore’s legs this past season, so there’s a very real chance Gore has run his last game with the Niners.
Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson
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Seattle Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson
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Now this is kind of cheating since Wilson isn’t technically a free agent until next year, but the Seahawks have to re-sign him to a long-term deal now for two reasons. One, they can try and front load the contract to use the large cap space they have this season, and two, the Super Bowl loss might have lowered Wilson’s asking price just a teeny tiny bit. Not by much, but every penny counts.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Adrian Clayborn
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Adrian Clayborn
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Really I just didn’t want to pick anyone since the Bucs don’t have a good team and should just clean house to start again. But that would be cheating, and I already used my one cheat for the Seahawks. Clayborn has either been really good for the Bucs or been injured. Luckily it seems to be every other year that he’s a six-plus sack defensive end, and next year is scheduled to be his on-year.
Tennessee Titans: WR Nate Washington
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Tennessee Titans: WR Nate Washington
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It seems to me that the Titans are not going to re-sign Jake Locker. He’s injured too often, and Zach Mettenberger did show some flashes of being a decent quarterback; plus they have the No. 2 pick in the draft, so maybe they’ll draft a QB. Whoever’s behind center, Washington will give them a strong, reliable receiver who knows the system.
Washington Redskins: LB Brian Orakpo
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Washington Redskins: LB Brian Orakpo
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Obviously Washington has to first figure out what exactly their quarterback situation is, but their next big issue is their lack of pass rush this past season. So it would only make sense for the team to re-sign their best pass rusher. Orakpo was injured for most of last season, but he is still a beast off the edge. Rejoining a healthy Orakpo with Ryan Kerrigan will restore Washington’s pass rush.
Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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