Free agency. The usual frenzy occurs (or not) in the pre draft phase where big offers are made, regrets are forged, offers not made on match eligible ones and a malestrom of hope, fear, anguish and the occasional slither of cluelessness are mixed up into roster defining decisions.
What is often neglected are the other phases - especially during the season. Sure, there may not be any real
starters available but upgrading your roster can be possible. For example, last week, I flipped
Juran Bolden for
Ahmed Plummer. Plummer has 87 speed but is 6-0 and has 79 awareness. A better dime corner you'd struggle to find but it is these kinds of mid to low end decisions that can end up helping your team incrementally.
RG Joe Andruzzi was also picked up. The guy is still only 30, only allowed 8 sacks in 3 seasons. Surely a better swing OL you can't get for nothing - no draft picks. Nada.
So it got me a-thinking. I frequently pore over the player database, looking for someone who might be someone else's depth that
may, with investment, become a good starter. So here is my all star free agency team. Hopefully this triggers a few GMs to look at the mid to lower ends of their rosters. The worst that can happen is - you sign one of these guys to a 2-3 year deal and flip them for a draft pick or they become part of a trade down the road. If you have the cap room, it's a good strategy.
To pick our team, the driving premises are:
* Production
* Attributes
Given that these guys are likely free agents
for a reason, production will figure heavily into the decision but functional physical attributes are a must.
The agents are ranked
10 - Could start for a team NOW and could upgrade some teams at the position
8-9 - could start for teams and a be a really great backup / spot starter
6-7 - good backup / depth option
1-5 - meh
OffenseQB Rob JohnsonObviously, at a premium position, pickings is slim. Johnson is a scrambler. Enough said really. Run the ball is what we will do....Free Agent Ranking: 2/10HB Charlie GarnerAfter Garner, there is little but backups. Garner has been a decent performer in his career. At worst, he could be a very good backup.Free Agent Ranking: 7/10WR Oronde GadsenAt 6-2, with decent speed and awareness, Gadsen, despite his age, should make a roster somewhereFree Agent Ranking: 7/10TE Mark BruenerWith good speed - for a lineman - Bruener is a blocking TE but one of the best. Our Free agent team wont throw the ball so he would be an excellent 6th lineman - he's also had a 400+ yard receiving season.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10RT Fred MillerI'm actually surprised Miller is still a free agent. By far and away the best offensive tackle, he would play right tackle (switch from left) in our team. Only 4 sacks allowed past 2 seasons.Free Agent Ranking: 10/10LT Barrett JohnsonAgain, surely a swing lineman for someone - he mans the left tackle spot. Only 5 sacks in 2 seasons and over 100 pancakes. Production.Free Agent Ranking: 8/10RG Kerry JenkinsThere are 3 or 4 decent options at guard. Jenkins allowed 0 sacks last season for Tampa. Free Agent Ranking: 9/10LG Bob WhitfieldYes he is 34. However 1 sack in each of his previous 3 seasons. Mans the RG spot.Free Agent Ranking: 8/10C Andy McCollumBit underpowered but better production than Hartings, with 6 sacks allowed and 43 pancakes last term.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10DefenseLE Kenny HolmesHolmes has never really had a shot at starting but has intriguing attributes and I would wager gets close to 10 sacks. He is one of the few bonafide starters in the teamFree Agent Ranking: 10/10RE Joe JohnsonAgain, a surprise to see cats like Holmes and Johnson in free agency. Decent attributes and 5 sacks from the RE spot? Has to be a decent backup option somewhere?Free Agent Ranking: 8/10DT Brentson BucknerDecent atributes - there are a number of defensive tackles you could argue for - but Buckner has the athletic ability to play in our gap shooting schemeFree Agent Ranking: 7/10DT Tony WilliamsMore explosive than Buckner but slightly underpowered. However, produced for Cincy before riding the pine and had 10 sacks 3 seasons ago.Free Agent Ranking: 8/10OLB Jason GildonA dearth of LBs influenced the choice of scheme and Gildon is by far and away the best. Lost a step but has great smarts and size.Free Agent Ranking: 7/10OLB Curtis HoldenA dearth of LBs influenced the choice of scheme and Holden is on the other end of the scale to Gildon. Rawer than steak but has some very good attributes. Free Agent Ranking: 4/10MLB John HolecekA dearth of LBs influenced the choice of scheme and Holecek was a choice from two.Free Agent Ranking: 4/10CB Dainon SidneyWhen I first conceived this idea, Ahmed Plummer and Michael Westbrook were still FAs and would have been my starting pair. However, they are now gone and best of the rest is Sidney. 6-0 with decent attributes and an interception in every season.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10CB Terrance ShawShaw is also 6-0, with decent awareness but not quite as athletic as Sidney. Awareness is key at this position so we've taken our lumps with the athletic ability.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10SS Jay BellamyHigh awareness, high production strong safety who is on the downside. Again, not very athletic but should be good enough.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10FS Izell Reese6-2 free safety. That's about it really.Free Agent Ranking: 4/10Special TeamsHB Justin WatsonA pretty decent return man - with 2 KR TD's to his name.Free Agent Ranking: 8/10K Wade RicheyYoung kicker who could be developed. Made 17/20 for the Cardinals.Free Agent Ranking: 6/10P Mat McBriarOnly 24 and with very good attributes across the board. A future starter if you can stash him away.Free Agent Ranking: 7/10So there are a few gems to be had but the linebackers, secondary, quarter back are obvious positions where the lack of quality is apparent. Would this team get any wins? Let me know in the comments.
