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DAILY CLIPS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
LOCAL NEWS: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Pioneer Press
Vikings defense has three new bosses, and one old one
By John Shipley
https://www.twincities.com/2020/02/12/vikings-defense-has-three-new-bosses-and-one-old-one/
SKOR North
Could Dom Capers’ presence mean good things for Anthony Barr?
By Matthew Coller
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2020/02/could-dom-capers-presence-mean-good-things-for-anthony-barr/
The Athletic
State of the Vikings, WR/TE Edition: Talent at the top, issues with depth
By Chad Graff
https://theathletic.com/1602627/2020/02/12/state-of-the-vikings-wr-te-edition-talent-at-the-top-issues-with-depth/
The top 100 pending unrestricted NFL free agents
By Sheil Kapadia
https://theathletic.com/1589487/2020/02/12/the-top-100-pending-unrestricted-nfl-free-agents/
NATIONAL NEWS: Thursday, February 13, 2020
ESPN
Five 2020 offseason moves for NFC teams: Bill Barnwell predicts trades, free agency, cuts
By Bill Barnwell
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28648779/five-2020-offseason-moves-nfc-teams-bill-barnwell-predicts-trades-
free-agency-cuts
NFL.com
NFC North rookie grades: Pack got a stud on each side of the ball
By Gennaro Filice
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001101595/article/nfc-north-rookie-grades-pack-got-a-stud-on-each-side-of-
the-ball
Maven Media
Four Free Agents the Vikings Should Prioritize Re-Signing
By Will Ragatz
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-free-agency-primer-prioritize-signing
MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Vikings All-Decade Team: Wide Receivers
By Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/vikings-all-decade-team-wide-receivers
VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Lunchbreak: NFL.com Evaluates Vikings 2019 Rookie Class
By Eric Smith
https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-nfl-com-evaluates-vikings-2019-rookie-classJanocko to Take Lessons from Coaching O-Line to Vikings Receivers Room By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/janocko-to-take-lessons-from-coaching-o-line-to-vikings-receivers-room Panel & Fans Vote on Vikings Best WR from 2010-19 By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/minnesota-vikings-all-decade-best-wide-receivers-from-2010-19
PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 2/13/20 Vikings defense has three new bosses, and one old one By John Shipley If two heads are better than one, as the adage goes, the Vikings defense should be in great shape next season when a gang of three top assistants will work with head coach Mike Zimmer to improve a defense that underperformed by recent standards last season. After replacing defensive coordinator George Edwards with co-coordinators — linebackers coach, and son, Adam Zimmer and defensive line coach Andre Patterson — Zimmer added two-time head coach and former Green Bay coordinator Dom Capers as a senior assistant. Add the fact that Zimmer has never ceded defensive play-calling in his six seasons as the Vikings’ coach and you have the potential for a classic too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen scenario. When Patterson, Capers and Adam Zimmer were made available to reporters on Tuesday, none knew exactly how the brain trust would operate. Asked what he expects his role to be, Capers said, “I think it will evolve.” Hiring a senior consultant worked for the offense last season, when Gary Kubiak came in as a senior assistant and helped the Vikings improve their ground game from 30th in the NFL in 2018 to sixth in 2019. He is now the offensive coordinator. Zimmer’s defenses have been typically strong, whether as a coordinator in Dallas and Cincinnati or as the Vikings’ head coach. However, while Minnesota finished sixth in scoring defense with an average of 18.9 points a game and won a playoff game, the defense took a step backward in general, especially in passing (15th in the NFL at 233.6 yards a game) and total yards (14th with 341.6). Despite missing the postseason with an 8-7-1 record, the 2018 team finished fourth in total defense (309.7) and third in pass defense (196.2). For further context, Minnesota’s defense finished first in total yards (275.9), passing (192.4) and rushing (83.6) in 2017, when they won 14 games and advanced to the NFC championship game with virtually the same cast of characters. “I had written down toward the end of the season that I’d kind of like to get another defensive guy in there that has a background in a lot of different things,” Zimmer said. “There’s some things that (Capers) has done that intrigue me, that I’d like to know more about. “It’s more about just having another set of eyes in there, you see things, and also being able to say, ‘Hey, we used to run this pressure, what do you think about this?’ Or as we’re putting the defensive package together, being able to discuss different things and go from there.” Zimmer seemed particularly interested in what Capers, 69, can do with the team’s pass rush. “I know he’s always had really good ideas in the pressure game, defensively,” he said. The Vikings tied with NFC champion San Francisco for fifth in sacks last season with 48. The previous season, Minnesota was third with 50. While clearly open to new ideas from elsewhere, whether Zimmer, 63, gives up play calling remains uncertain, although it is early: Coaches have been in town for only two weeks and mostly have been assessing players on video. RELATED ARTICLES St. Thomas, St. John’s get grand venue for last MIAC meeting Target apologizes after putting ‘Minnesota Badgers’ onesies up for sale
Gary Kubiak looking for just one change with Vikings offense: better results Bus service could roll into Viking Lakes this year. Development is growing rapidly. Vikings hire Dom Capers, 69, as defensive assistant “We’re still in the process with all that. We’ll figure all that out as it goes,” Zimmer said. “I can always call the plays. We’ll just see how it goes in the spring. We’ve got a plan that we’ll stick to, and we’ll just see how it goes. If I feel like the best thing for the team is for me to call the defenses, I will, and if I feel like it’s not, then I won’t.” That’s fine with Patterson, who has been coaching with Zimmer on and off since the two met at Weber State. So is sharing coordinator duties with Adam Zimmer, 36. Each will retain their previous duties as position coaches, as well. “Adam and I have had great communication in the six years that we’ve been together,” said Patterson, 59. “When Mike called us both in and asked if we would consider doing this, Adam and I got together and talked a lot of things through, and I think it’s going to be a great thing for our players, for our defense, and for the Minnesota Vikings. I have no concerns about it whatsoever.”
PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 2/13/20 Could Dom Capers’ presence mean good things for Anthony Barr? By Matthew Coller EAGAN — For the second offseason in a row the Minnesota Vikings added a well-traveled former head coach and coordinator to their staff. Last year head coach Mike Zimmer was thrilled about the contributions of Gary Kubiak, calling his hire one of the best things that happened during his career. This time around Zimmer will have help on the defensive side from Dom Capers, who was either a D-coordinator or head coach from 1992 until 2017 and then spent time on Jacksonville’s staff as an adviser last year. On a conference call Tuesday, Zimmer explained the thinking behind the Capers hire. “I had written down toward the end of the season that I’d kind of like to get a another defensive guy in there that has a background in a lot of different things,” Zimmer said. “There’s some things that he’s done that intrigue me that I’d like to know more about. It’s more about just having another set of eyes in there, you see things, and also being able to say ‘hey, we used to run this pressure, what do you think about this?’ or as we’re putting the defensive package together, being able to discuss different things and go from there.” Capers largely ran a 3-4 defense during his lengthy career, which is different from Zimmer’s history with a 4-3 scheme. He masterminded seven top-10 defenses in his first nine years as a DC or HC with his superstars often being pass rushing outside linebackers like Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd and Lamar Lathon. In 1996 with the Panthers Greene and Lathon each posted more than 13 sacks. Even late into Capers’ career in Green Bay he found success with outside linebackers rushing, including 25 sacks in three seasons Julius Peppers in three years while playing the OLB position for the first time in his career at ages 34- 36. “The biggest thing in this league is figuring out who your best players are and then adapting what you’re doing to fit the players,” Capers said on Tuesday. The player who naturally fits comparisons to Capers’s stars of the past is Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr, who has said that he would like to rush the passer more often. That hasn’t come to fruition, however, even after he agreed to a long-term contract last offseason. Here’s Barr’s pass-rush rates and pressure success each year he’s been in the league. Year Pass snaps Rushes Rush % Pressures Pressure % 2019* 660 120 18.2% 22 18.3% 2018 478 103 21.5% 23 22.3% 2017* 667 116 17.4% 14 12.1% 2016 634 121 19.1% 19 15.7% 2015* 537 110 20.5% 27 24.5% 2014 455 115 25.3% 20 17.4% *includes postseason As you can see, Barr has been consistent in his ability to create pressure when given the opportunity. Early in his career Barr was used in double-A gap blitzes that put the linebackers up at the line of scrimmage but opponents found blocking solutions so Zimmer switched to more zone blitzing in recent years. Why didn’t he rush Barr more often? It may have been difficult for Zimmer to find snaps to rush his former first-round pick because edge rushers Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter were getting the job done without any extra help. The Vikings’ ability to reach the quarterback with four rushers has been one of the reasons behind the defense’s long-term success. But with Griffen’s future uncertain, the Vikings may need to get more creative. And Capers said he appreciates that Zimmer is always willing to make changes.
“This league is such a copycat league that when somebody does something and does it well, you’re going to see other people study that, and there normally aren’t a lot of secrets because we study each other so much,” Capers said. “Mike’s always been ahead of the game and does a lot of things that are very innovative.” Since Barr’s breakout season in 2015 he has been more along the lines of a solid linebacker rather than a game- changer. Zimmer would argue that Barr’s mix of unique size and high intelligence is hard to replace but he has graded by PFF as strong against the run and in pass rushing but average at best in coverage. He has ranked in the top 10 in pressures each year except 2017 and top 20 in run defense in ’18 and 26th of 59 in ’19 but last year he finished 36th of 57 in coverage. From ’19 to ’20, Barr’s cap hit will jump from $5.6 to $12.7 million, which makes it even more pressing to get the most out of him. With Eric Wilson developing as a solid pass rusher and coverage linebacker, the Vikings may consider more fronts that include three defensive linemen and three linebackers. While Capers may be known for the 3-4 defense, in recent years with the Packers it was most often 3-3-5 (nickel) because of opponents’ commitment to three-receiver sets. The depth of talent at linebacker and defensive line from players who have been developed under Zimmer and his new Co-DCs Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer gives the Vikings all sorts of options, especially surrounding Barr. And now they have a New Ideas coach in Capers to help them maximize their talent.
PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 2/13/20 State of the Vikings, WR/TE Edition: Talent at the top, issues with depth By Chad Graff Editor’s note: Even if the NFL’s new league year doesn’t begin until March, focus moves to the 2020 season with the start of the scouting combine later this month. With that in mind, Vikings writers Chad Graff and Arif Hasan are teaming for a seven-part series leading to the combine that looks at every aspect of the roster. Today: Wide receivers and tight ends. Coming Friday: Offensive line. Previously: Quarterbacks and running backs. Wide receivers and tight ends Season in review A year after having two wide receivers reach 1,000 receiving yards, the Vikings only had one with more than 500 yards in 2019. That, though, reflects the team’s change in offense coupled with Adam Thielen’s injury that kept him out for nearly half the season. In many ways, it was a fine but not great campaign for the team’s wide receivers and tight ends. Beginning with the former, the group lacked depth after the Vikings surprisingly ignored the position in free agency and the first six rounds of the draft. That meant there was a significant dropoff after Stefon Diggs and Thielen, one coaches hoped to mitigate by rarely using formations with three wide receivers, but a plan that was at least somewhat spoiled by Thielen’s injury. Bisi Johnson proved a capable No. 3 wide receiver, but probably wasn’t ready for the added role that arrived when Thielen missed six games. Despite a slow start that led to Diggs skipping two straight practices (and being fined handsomely for it), the 26-year- old delivered perhaps the best season of his five-year career. For starters, it was his first completely-healthy campaign even if he sat out the finale along with other starters since the game didn’t have playoff significance. Diggs finished with a career-high 1,130 receiving yards and added six touchdowns. But more impressive was his 17.9 yards per reception and 12 yards per target, both easily career highs. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen When healthy, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are still one of the best WR duos in the NFL. But the Vikings will need to look to add help behind them. (Jeffrey Becker / USA Today) It was a more frustrating season for Thielen, who dealt with the first significant injury of his NFL career after playing in all 16 games of his first five seasons. Thielen was still quite productive when he was healthy, and his play against the New Orleans Saints was a big reason the Vikings won a playoff game. But he’ll surely be looking for a more productive (and healthy) season in 2020. Johnson was the lone pleasant surprise among the receivers while fellow rookies struggled to even get off the practice squad. He finished with 31 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns. There’s a chance that he’s the team’s for-sure No. 3 wide receiver next season, but they definitely need help behind him. It didn’t help that Chad Beebe suffered a season-ending injury three weeks in, but the Vikings needed (and will again need) more depth. For all of the talk and concern about tight end this time a year ago, the position yielded some impressive contributions, most notably, of course, Kyle Rudolph’s game-winning touchdown reception in New Orleans. After restructuring his contract, Rudolph, 30, remained a red zone threat even if his receptions (39) and yards (367) dropped to their lowest levels since 2014, a season in which he played only nine games. He still boasts some of the best hands on the team and caught 81 percent of the passes thrown his way. Irv Smith Jr. had an impressive rookie campaign especially for a position where first-year players tend to struggle given the vast responsibilities tight ends handle. He caught 36 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Without David Morgan, Tyler Conklin emerged as a decent No. 3 tight end. — CG Biggest question
Can the Vikings get the tight ends more involved next season? The team has invested too much (guaranteed money to Rudolph and a second-round pick on Smith) to not get more out of their tight ends. Yes, it’s a concern that the Vikings don’t have a trustworthy fourth wide receiver, and that’s something they’ll have to address in the offseason. But the Vikings’ offense is built to utilize multiple tight ends on the field at the same time. Given that, can the Vikings do more to get the best out of the position? Part of that would mean simply throwing to Rudolph more. While his base statistics dipped quite a bit this season, he did register 7.6 yards per target, only 0.1 lower than his career-high. When given the chance, Rudolph can still help move the chains. And perhaps more importantly, can the Vikings help Smith become the playmaker they thought he’d be when they drafted him? Smith is still very young — he turned 21 during training camp — but the team envisioned using him in the backfield and split out wide, two aspects we could see more of in 2020. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of wrinkles Gary Kubiak can scheme to get the ball in Smith’s hands next season. — CG Offseason plan The Vikings might have reason to be confident in Johnson becoming their WR3, especially entering a second season where he can continue to develop as a player. But they should still provide insurance and competition for the role. They have two potential outcomes in that case — that Johnson may or may not rise to the challenge and play at a higher level, and that a middling investment in another receiver produces a player capable of a WR3 role. The best- case scenario is that both can play at that level and the Vikings turn from thin at the position to deep. The worst-case scenario, naturally, is that neither can play that well. Most likely one of them will take hold of the role and it would, I think, justify the investment — even if the new player is the one who falls to the wayside. To that end, the Vikings have a number of options. This is one of the richest receiver drafts in memory, and could end up producing better receiver talent than the storied 2014 draft, which produced Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks, Davante Adams, Allen Robinson, Jarvis Landry and Sammy Watkins. Kyle Rudolph Kyle Rudolph was a red-zone force in 2019 and made the biggest catch of the year. The team will hope for continued progress out of his cohort, Irv Smith Jr., in 2020. (Chuck Cook / USA Today) The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said as much in his Combine preview for the position. That means a fourth-round pick at wide receiver might be similar to a third- or even second-round pick in a typical year. The Vikings would be able to pursue one of those players, which at the moment includes eight different players picked between 65th and 100th on average across the database of mock drafts that Benjamin Robinson gathered at Grinding the Mocks, including Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson. In free agency, Pro Football Focus has engaged in studies on receiver usage and strengths to seek the best fits for free agents and found that slot receiver Danny Amendola would be a good target for the Vikings. His cost might be a good fit as well; he’s unlikely to command any more than $4 million and could command substantially less. Aside from him, they could take a shot at Randall Cobb or throw some darts at younger developmental free agents who might need a new environment to thrive — players like Tajae Sharpe, Cody Core, Rashard Higgins or Geronimo Allison. At tight end, Chad, you’re correct that the challenge revolves around involvement more than acquisition. If Morgan proves to be healthy, then there’s not much they need to do here. Maybe find a late-round draft pick to compete with Conklin — who the Vikings have a lot of reason to be confident about — or even just an undrafted free agent to think about stashing on the practice squad to compete with Brandon Dillon. If Morgan’s outlook is poor, however, the Vikings should make moves to deal with the eventual loss of Rudolph, which seems fairly likely in 2021 given how his contract is structured. That again means a draft pick at tight end, though perhaps in an earlier round. It’s not a spectacular class at tight end, but it has reasonable depth and the Vikings could dip into it to round out their corps. — AH 2020 outlook Thus far, I’ve been grading every position group as “good,” and I know that can get boring — but I think that grade is appropriate here. They certainly aren’t excellent as they have two stars and then a significant dropoff among the receiving positions, but they’re definitely better than average with better high-end talent than most teams. Rudolph
produces better than most tight ends in the red zone, but he doesn’t have much value between the 20s. Smith has a positive trajectory but hasn’t proved much yet. That seems like a good situation to be in. — AH
PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 2/13/20 The top 100 pending unrestricted NFL free agents By Sheil Kapadia At 4 p.m. ET on March 18, the NFL will begin a new year, and free agents will be allowed to officially sign with new teams. To preview this year’s class, here is a look at the top 100 pending unrestricted free agents. We will provide updated rankings in the weeks ahead as franchise and transition tags are assigned and players re-sign with their current teams. Factors taken into account: age, positional value, the market, production and injury history. All stats are courtesy of SportRadar unless otherwise noted. The number in parentheses is the player’s age at the start of next season. 1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys (27) One way or another, Prescott is expected to be back with the Cowboys. He’s coming off a season in which he completed 65.1% of his passes, averaged 8.2 YPA and threw 30 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Prescott ranked sixth in adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A) and fourth in QBR. He’s never missed a game due to injury. Given his age, track record and position, Prescott should be looking to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. If the Cowboys don’t want to pay that hefty price, they can use the franchise tag to keep him in Dallas for at least one more year. 2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (41) It’s wait-and-see mode for Brees and the Saints. He could retire or he could return to New Orleans and give it another shot. Brees missed five games last year with a thumb injury. But statistically, there hasn’t been much of a dropoff in his play. He completed 74.3% of his attempts, averaged 7.9 YPA and threw 27 touchdowns to four interceptions. Brees finished third in both ANY/A and QBR last season. The most likely scenario is that he’s back in New Orleans as the starter. 3. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (43) Brady is probably the most intriguing player on this list. Barring something unforeseen, he is going to play in 2020. It’s just a matter of where. The most likely scenario is that he returns to New England, but that’s not a certainty. Other teams courting Brady should be cautious. We’re reaching uncharted territory with his age. Only one quarterback — Vinny Testaverde in 2007 — has attempted at least 100 passes in a season at age 43 or older. At this stage of his career, Brady needs a top-tier offensive line and great weapons to succeed. He didn’t have either last season and finished 17th in ANY/A and QBR. 4. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (38) Given his age and his up and down 2019 season, this ranking will surprise some. But the guess here is that there will be at least a couple of teams (Tampa? Indianapolis?) convinced they can squeeze one or two more years out of Rivers now that he and the Chargers have officially parted ways. He threw 20 interceptions last season, finished 15th in ANY/A and 22nd in QBR. Given his age and lack of mobility, the key for Rivers will be finding a team with a strong offensive line. 5. Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys (26) He’s been fantastic since joining the Cowboys during the 2018 season. Last year, Cooper finished eighth in the NFL with 1,189 receiving yards. Michael Thomas got a new deal from the Saints in July that pays him $19.25 million per year. Julio Jones got a new deal from the Falcons in September that pays him $22 million per year. Cooper will likely be seeking a deal in the $20 million per year range, and he has leverage, given how well he’s played, how young he is and the fact that the Cowboys gave up a first-round pick to land him. The franchise or transition tag also could be an option.
6. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (26) His 31 sacks over the last three seasons are tied for 10th most. And as Jones showed in the Super Bowl, he can be disruptive even when he’s not producing sacks. Jones doesn’t turn 26 until July, has missed three games in four seasons and has developed into one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL. Trey Flowers’ five-year, $90 million deal with the Lions last offseason could be a good comp for what Jones is looking for. He’s a candidate for the franchise tag. 7. Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE, Jaguars (25) He’s a highly productive player who has missed just one game in four seasons and should be entering his prime. Ngakoue can line up at either right or left defensive end and does a great job bending the edge. He has a second gear and consistently makes opposing quarterbacks feel his presence. Ngakoue’s 37.5 sacks over the last four seasons rank 12th. His 85 QB hits rank eighth. And his 14 forced fumbles rank fourth. Frank Clark, who received $20.8 million per year from the Chiefs last offseason, could be a good comp. The Jaguars could use the franchise tag to keep Ngakoue in Jacksonville. 8. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Seahawks (27) He battled through a core-muscle injury last season and put up modest numbers (three sacks, 13 QB hits and seven tackles for loss). Clowney is not a prototypical edge rusher. He’s at his best when he can line up in different spots, cut loose and create chaos like we saw him do during the Seahawks’ Week 10 win over the 49ers. The Seahawks are expected to make a strong push to re-sign Clowney. As part of the preseason trade, the Seahawks agreed to not use the franchise tag on him. So he’ll either re-sign in Seattle or hit the open market. 9. Byron Jones, CB, Cowboys (27) He played mostly right corner for the Cowboys last season but has experience previously playing safety and can line up in different spots. Jones is an elite athlete and effective in both man and zone. He can match up with outside receivers and can also take on dynamic tight ends. It would be no surprise to see Jones become the highest-paid corner in the NFL at $16 million or $17 million per season. The Cowboys could use the franchise or transition tag on Jones, but he seems well behind Prescott and Cooper on their priority list. 10. Justin Simmons, S, Broncos (26) Simmons is not a prototypical free or strong safety. But he’s a versatile playmaker who can line up in different spots and impact the game. Simmons had 15 passes defended (ninth league-wide) last year to go along with four interceptions. He was a ball magnet but could also fire downhill against the run. Simmons played every defensive snap for the Broncos the past two seasons and was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. The majority of his snaps last year came in Denver’s two-high looks, so he’ll be a bit of a projection for teams that play predominantly single-high coverages. But based on the film he put out last season, Simmons should be effective in any scheme. Eddie Jackson and Kevin Byard have set the safety market at over $14 million per year. That’s likely the range Simmons will fall into if the Broncos don’t tag him. Tannehill became the second player during the Super Bowl era — Joe Montana was the first — to complete over 70% of his passes and average over 9.0 YPA in a season. (Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports) 11. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans (32) There’s no downplaying just how good he was for Tennessee last year. Tannehill became the second player during the Super Bowl era — Joe Montana was the first — to complete over 70% of his passes and average over 9.0 YPA in a season. By some advanced metrics like completion percentage above expectation, he was the most accurate QB in the NFL. But teams — whether it’s the Titans or someone else — should be wary about putting too much stock into a 10-game sample. The Titans seem unlikely to let Tannehill walk, but they also probably shouldn’t commit big money to him long-term. The franchise tag may make the most sense here. 12. Shaquil Barrett, EDGE, Buccaneers (27) A savvy edge rusher who probably earned as much money as anybody on this list with his 2019 performance, Barrett left Denver for Tampa last year and bet on himself with a one-year, $4 million deal. He led the NFL with 19.5 sacks, was tied for first with 37 QB hits and was third with six forced fumbles. Barrett produced a sack or QB hit on 11.1% of
his pass-rush chances, the fourth-best mark among the 172 players who had at least 200 pass-rush opportunities. If Barrett were a former high draft pick or had a bigger profile, he would’ve received a lot more buzz for Defensive Player of the Year last season. The risk with Barrett is that he served mostly a backup role in Denver for five seasons and has just one year of big production. The Bucs are likely to either tag Barrett or sign him to a lucrative extension. 13. Matt Judon, EDGE, Ravens (28) He was productive in 2017 and 2018 (totaling 15 sacks in the two seasons), saw a bump in playing time and became the Ravens’ best pass rusher in 2019. Judon finished with 9.5 sacks, and his 33 QB hits ranked fourth. He produced a sack or QB hit on 11.3% of his pass-rush opportunities last season, which ranked second among the 172 players who had at least 200 pass-rush snaps. Judon can line up in multiple spots, has strong hands and destroys tight ends. His profile is somewhat similar to Za’Darius Smith, who left the Ravens in free agency last year to sign with the Packers for $16.5 million per season. Judon may be one of the better defensive players to actually hit the market. 14. James Bradberry, CB, Panthers (27) He’s started 60 games in four seasons since Carolina drafted him in the second round in 2016. Bradberry’s been durable, having played over 90% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps in each of the past three seasons. All options would appear to be in play with Matt Rhule taking over in Carolina. The Panthers could sign Bradberry to a long-term extension, use the franchise tag or let him walk. If he hits the open market, he’ll be one of the top corners available. Perhaps a reunion with Ron Rivera in Washington would make sense. 15. Cory Littleton, LB, Rams (26) Versatile, athletic three-down linebacker whose skill set really fits the 2020 version of the NFL. Littleton can match up with tight ends, cover and tackle in space. He has five interceptions, 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Littleton has never missed a game due to injury, and only five players have more tackles than him over the past two seasons. Given his age and durability, Littleton is looking at a big payday. He’s the top off-ball linebacker in this group. 16. Arik Armstead, DL, 49ers (26) The 2015 first-round pick chose the perfect time to break out. He set career highs with 10 sacks, 18 QB hits and 11 tackles for loss. He can rush the passer both from defensive end and defensive tackle and can win with power and quickness. Teams will have to decide whether Armstead is a late bloomer with upside or a one-year wonder who benefited from playing with other talented players on the defensive line. Armstead produced just nine sacks in 46 games during his first four seasons in the NFL. 17. Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers (26) He hits free agency at a bad time. On the one hand, Winston’s only 26 and threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. On the other hand, Winston had the worst interception rate (30 picks total) in the league and also had 12 fumbles (sixth most). How many teams are going to be willing to pay more than $25 million per year for such a mistake-prone QB? It only takes one, but Winston’s market will be fascinating to monitor. 18. Brandon Scherff, OG, Washington (28) Brandon Brooks’ four-year, $56.3 million deal with the Eagles could provide a blueprint for what Scherff, a three-time Pro Bowler, is looking for. Washington could extend him, use the franchise tag or let Scherff hit the open market. Scherff has missed 13 games over the past two seasons and didn’t look his best in 2019. The Athletic’s Mark Bullock breaks down Washington film and had this to say: “He has strength to maul defensive tackles and linebackers up front in a gap or power scheme but is agile enough to zone block effectively too. In fact, his athleticism makes him one of 10 best offensive linemen in the league at pulling to the edge on sweeps and crack tosses, or even in the screen game. …If he can stay healthy, he’s one of the premier guards in the NFL.” 19. Anthony Harris, S, Vikings (29) He’s been excellent as the starter at free safety for the Vikings over the past two seasons. Harris had a Pro Bowl- caliber 2019 campaign, tying for the league lead with six interceptions to go along with 11 passes defended. He’s
performed well in Mike Zimmer’s scheme, and it would make sense for the two sides to continue doing business together. 20. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals (32) He’s had a great career, but Green didn’t play a snap in 2019 and missed 13 games from 2016 to 2018. Signs out of Cincinnati indicate the Bengals are looking to hold on to him — whether that means a contract extension or the franchise tag. 21. Dante Fowler, EDGE, Rams (26) He signed a one-year, $12 million deal last offseason to stay with the Rams and will now get to test free agency after turning in a career year. Fowler set career highs with 11.5 sacks, 16 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss last season. He produced a sack or QB hit on 5.9% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked 57th out of 172 qualifying players. Fowler is young and plays a premium position, which means there will be a market. But his production prior to 2019 was underwhelming. 22. Bud Dupree, EDGE, Steelers (27) A versatile outside linebacker best suited for a 3-4 scheme, Dupree set career highs with 11.5 sacks, 17 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss last season. When Dupree gets to opposing quarterbacks, it’s almost always by beating offensive tackles to the high side. He is not a prototypical difference-making pass rusher but can fill multiple roles for a scheme that takes advantage of his versatility and athleticism. 23. Joe Thuney, OG, Patriots (27) He’s started 64 straight games for the Patriots, and according to STATS, has given up just one sack in his last 32 games. Thuney should draw interest from teams looking for a durable guard who excels in pass protection. 24. Derrick Henry, RB, Titans (26) He was phenomenal in 2019, finishing first in rushing yards (1,540), tied for first in rushing touchdowns (16) and first in runs of 10-plus yards (42). But paying up for running backs has not worked out for teams in recent years (see Todd Gurley, David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell). Henry is mostly a non-factor in the passing game, and his 409 touches (playoffs included) last season were 179 more than he’d had in any year previously. Having said all that, it’s difficult to see a scenario where the Titans let Henry hit free agency, considering he helped lead them to the AFC title game. The most likely scenario is probably that Henry gets tagged. 25. Jack Conklin, RT, Titans (26) He bounced back from an injury-riddled 2018 to start every game in 2019. Conklin has been a 16-game starter in three of his first four NFL seasons. He is best suited for a run-heavy offense (say like, the Titans?). 26. Robby Anderson, WR, Jets (27) He’s not a top-tier vertical threat, but for teams hoping to fill their need for speed in free agency, Anderson could present the best option. He’s averaged 14.8 YPR over the last four seasons, which ranks 27th among players with at least 100 targets. Anderson’s 50 catches of 20-plus yards during that stretch rank 19th. He’s an outside receiver who can stack defensive backs and also make contested catches. Last year, Tyrell Williams offered a somewhat similar profile and landed a four-year, $44 million deal. That could be a good comp for Anderson. 27. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, 49ers (33) Age is working against him, but Sanders did a good job for the 49ers after a midseason trade from Denver. In San Francisco, he caught 36 passes for 502 yards on 53 targets. He played through a rib injury but made a difference for their offense. On the season, Sanders averaged 9.0 yards per target — 32nd among 155 qualifying players. Given his age and injury history (missed eight games from 2017 to 2018), Sanders won’t be attractive to every team looking for receiver help. But he can still be a nice fit for a team ready to win now. 28. Javon Hargrave, DT, Steelers (27)
Disruptive nose tackle who has missed just one game since entering the league in 2016. Hargrave has 10.5 sacks in the past two seasons. Last year, he had 52 tackles against the run, which ranked tied for 12th among all defensive linemen. 29. Anthony Castonzo, LT, Colts (32) As of this writing, Castonzo is still mulling retirement, per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer. If he decides to keep playing, it will likely be for the Colts. He’s started 132 games over nine seasons for Indy and was on the field for 100% of the team’s offensive snaps last season. 30. Bryan Bulaga, RT, Packers (31) Green Bay is expected to make a push to bring Bulaga back. He’s started 30 of 32 games over the past two seasons and 111 overall during his 10-year career with the Packers. The Athletic’s Bob McGinn had Bulaga down for four sacks allowed last season and described him as a solid starter. Chris Harris turns 31 in June, and his play wasn’t as consistent last season. (Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) 31. Chris Harris Jr., CB, Broncos (31) He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and has been highly productive during his nine-year career, but Harris turns 31 in June, and his play wasn’t as consistent last season. Harris has previously had a lot of success as a slot corner, but he lined up on the outside in 2019. Signing cornerbacks who are over 30 comes with risk. Whichever team adds Harris will be banking on him being an exception. 32. D.J. Humphries, OT, Cardinals (26) Humphries is one of the few available starting-caliber left tackle options under the age of 30, and so he’s one of the players who should really benefit from the market. The good news is he’s only 26, improved in pass protection and didn’t miss a snap last season. The bad news is he was whistled for 13 penalties, and 2019 was the first time in his career he started all 16 games. Humphries has upside but is far from a sure thing. 33. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots (33) Age is working against him, but McCourty is still one of the best safeties in the league. He’s started 155 games in 10 seasons under Bill Belichick. 34. Trae Waynes, CB, Vikings (28) Drafted 11th overall in 2015, Waynes has started 53 games in five seasons. Waynes is not a true shutdown corner, but he’s a physical player and a quality starter. He’s probably a number two corner who will be looking for number one corner money. 35. Bradley Roby, CB, Texans (28) Roby was a free agent last offseason and opted for a one-year, $10 million deal with the Texans, hoping to cash in on a prove-it deal. On one hand, he has the versatility to play both inside and outside, and Roby performed well for Houston in 2019. On the other, he missed six games due to a hamstring injury. It’ll be interesting to see whether Roby finds the market he’s looking for this time around. 36. D.J. Reader, DT, Texans (26) He’s a player whom opposing coaches often identify as underrated because of the challenges Reader poses as a run-disrupting nose tackle. As a pass rusher, he has just 6.5 sacks in 61 career games, but Reader set a career-high with 13 QB hits last season. The market for run-stuffing nose tackles can be tricky, but Reader will be just 26 at the start of next season. The four-year, $42 million extension that Eddie Goldman signed with the Bears in 2018 could be Reader’s best-case scenario. 37. Jason Pierre-Paul, EDGE, Buccaneers (31)
He missed six games with a neck injury, but when Pierre-Paul returned he was his usual productive pass-rushing self. He finished the season with 8.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 10 games. In 2018, Pierre-Paul had 12.5 sacks. He presents a solid option for teams looking for short-term pass-rush help. 38. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Saints (27) The Saints went 5-0 with Bridgewater as the starter last season. Did he light it up? No. But he completed 67.9% of his passes, averaged 7.1 YPA and threw nine touchdowns with two interceptions. Bridgewater was a free agent last offseason and settled for a one-year, $7.25 million deal to return to New Orleans. He could be an intriguing option for an organization that wants a quarterback with great intangibles who can manage the game and won’t make a lot of mistakes. 39. Robert Quinn, EDGE, Cowboys (30) The Cowboys made a shrewd move, acquiring Quinn for a sixth-round pick before last season. He produced 11.5 sacks and 22 QB hits. Quinn had a sack or QB hit on 9.6% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked 10th among 172 qualifying players. Quinn most often lined up at right defensive end and won with speed turning the corner. He is no longer in his prime, and age will be working against him, but Quinn will be a solid option for teams looking for a veteran pass rusher. 40. Joe Schobert, LB, Browns (26) There’s a lot to like about Schobert. He’s young, durable (has missed three games in four seasons) and has been productive. Over the past three seasons, only three players (Martinez, Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly) have produced more tackles than Schobert (378). He has six interceptions and seven forced fumbles during that stretch. Schobert is a nice option for a defense in need of a three-down linebacker who can cover. 41. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers (25) Durability has been an issue as Henry has played in just 41 games over four NFL seasons. When he’s on the field, he’s a highly efficient pass-catching tight end who can line up in multiple spots and be effective. Henry caught 55 passes for 652 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season. He’s posted an impressive 71.2% catch rate in four seasons. 42. Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons (25) Highly efficient pass-catching tight end who had a career year in 2019 with 75 catches for 787 yards and six touchdowns. Hooper’s 77.3% catch rate over the last four years is tops among the 52 tight ends who have had at least 100 targets. He’s a good route-runner with reliable hands who can make tough catches in traffic. He’ll be attractive to pass-heavy teams looking for tight end help. 43. Andrus Peat, OG, Saints (26) He was drafted as a tackle in the first round of the 2015 draft but has played guard for the Saints. Peat’s made two Pro Bowls but was up and down in 2019 and has missed nine games over the past two seasons. Still, given his age and upside, along with the league-wide need for quality offensive linemen, Peat should find an attractive market. 44. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks (27) He had a monster year in 2018 with 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, but that may have been an outlier. Reed has a total of five sacks and 20 QB hits in his other 40 games. There’s also an off-field concern. Reed was suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He’s a starting-caliber defensive tackle with upside, but counting on Reed to be a difference-making pass rusher is risky. 45. Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans (26) It’s tough to imagine his contract year having gone much worse. Mariota completed just 59.4% of his passes, was sacked on 13.5% of his pass plays and got benched for Ryan Tannehill after the Titans got off to a 2-4 start. Tannehill then helped lead Tennessee to the AFC title game. It’ll be fascinating to see what Mariota’s market looks like. He’s still young, and there will be coaches who see talent and convince themselves they can get something out of him.
46. Kendall Fuller, CB, Chiefs (25) Started 15 games in 2018 but was a rotational player in 2019, logging 45% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps. Fuller is still young and can play outside or in the slot. 47. Germain Ifedi, RT, Seahawks (26) The 2016 first-round pick has started 60 games in four seasons with the Seahawks, but Seattle declined to pick up his fifth-year option. Penalties (12 last year) have been an issue, but Ifedi is a starting-caliber right tackle. His best fit would be with a run-first offense. The Ja’Wuan James deal with the Broncos last season (four years, $51 million) could be a good comp for Ifedi. 48. Blake Martinez, LB, Packers (26) He’s been a tackling machine. Martinez’s 441 tackles over the last three seasons are tops in the NFL. During that time, he’s also registered nine sacks. There’s no doubt that Martinez is a starting-caliber off-ball linebacker, but the film doesn’t always match the numbers. The Athletic’s Ben Fennell took a close look at Martinez during last season and observed that the Packers’ scheme freed him up to make plays against the run. But Fennell noted that Martinez struggles to fight off blocks, is not an explosive athlete and is not much of a playmaker. If a team wants a reliable three-down linebacker, Martinez is a nice option. He hasn’t missed a game in three seasons. But his game has limitations. 49. Leonard Williams, DT, Giants (26) Before the deadline, the Giants made the baffling decision to send a pair of draft picks (including a third-round selection in 2020) to the Jets in exchange for eight games of Williams. Now the former first-round pick can test free agency. Williams is a starting-caliber defensive tackle, but he had 0.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble last year. He produced a sack or QB hit on 4.1% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked 101st out of 172 qualifying players. Given that the Giants are loaded with cap space, Williams may be positioned to land a big payday to remain in New York. Eli Apple doesn’t turn 25 until August, but he might be looking at his third team in five years.(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) 50. Eli Apple, CB, Saints (25) The change of scenery from New York to New Orleans seemed to do him well. The Giants traded Apple to the Saints in the middle of the 2018 season, and he helped their defense. He started 15 games in 2019 before suffering an ankle injury. The good news is Apple doesn’t turn 25 until August. The bad news is he might be looking at his third team in five years. 51. Logan Ryan, CB, Titans (29) A smart, instinctive hybrid defensive back who is coming off a career year. Ryan played different roles in the Titans defense as a slot corner, safety and savvy blitzer. His 18 passes defended were third most in the league. Ryan also added 4.5 sacks, eight QB hits, 113 tackles and four interceptions. He’s not a fit for teams looking for an every-down outside corner and can struggle against speedy vertical threats. But Ryan can be an effective playmaker in the right role and may be able to transition to safety down the road. 52. Breshad Perriman, WR, Buccaneers (27) The former Ravens first-round pick signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Tampa last offseason and will now get to hit the market again. He caught 36 balls for 645 yards and six touchdowns last season. Among players with at least 50 targets, Perriman ranked sixth in YPR (17.9). He saw a bump in playing time down the stretch after Mike Evans got injured. From Weeks 13 to 17, Perriman’s 506 receiving yards were third most in the NFL. He is a legit vertical threat, shows impressive body control and can make contested catches. If Perriman can stay healthy, he could prove to be a nice find for a team looking to add speed. 53. Jimmie Ward, S, 49ers (29)
He signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal to return to San Francisco last offseason and will now look to cash in. Ward lined up at free safety in the 49ers’ predominantly single-high scheme and played well. The question with Ward will be durability. He’s missed 32 games in six seasons, and last year was the first time he played more than 70% of the team’s defensive snaps. 54. Vonn Bell, S, Saints (25) He’s started 45 games in four seasons with the Saints. Bell’s strength is playing in the box. He’s best suited for a scheme that has defined free and strong safeties or one that uses a lot of two-deep safety looks. 55. Maliek Collins, DT, Cowboys (25) He started 55 games in four seasons with the Cowboys and finished 2019 with four sacks, 10 QB hits and six tackles for loss. Collins is still young, so the possibility exists that he’ll put it all together and make a leap in the next few years. But at this point he should be viewed as a solid, starting-caliber 4-3 defensive tackle. 56. Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OT, Eagles (27) He started 20 games in four seasons for the Eagles, playing both left and right tackle and even seeing some time at guard. During the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2017, Vaitai was their starting left tackle for 10 regular-season games and three more playoff games. Vaitai has looked like a different player when he’s had a chance to prepare as opposed to when he’s had to enter the game on the fly after a starter suffers an injury. He has shown he can be a competent, starting-caliber left tackle. Given his age and the market, that should get Vaitai paid. 57. Danny Shelton, DT, Patriots (27) He’s one of many run-stuffing nose tackles set to hit the market. Shelton played 49% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps last season and set career highs with 61 tackles and three sacks. His 56 tackles against the run last year were tied for fifth most among defensive linemen. 58. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Bucccaneers (33) In 2018, he signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Rams. Last year, he signed a one-year, $9.25 million deal with Tampa. Now Suh will hit free agency for the third straight offseason. He’s not the player he used to be but has been remarkably durable, having started 158 out of a possible 160 games during his 10-year career. Suh had 2.5 sacks and 14 QB hits last season. 59. Graham Glasgow, G/C, Lions (28) As The Athletic’s Chris Burke details, Glasgow did not miss a snap in 2017 and 2018, but the Lions forced him into a bizarre rotation in 2019. Per STATS, Glasgow did not allow a single sack last season. 60. Eric Ebron, TE, Colts (27) Per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer, Ebron’s decision to go on injured reserve in November with ankle issues caught the Colts by surprise, and he won’t be back in Indy. Ebron had a monster 2018 campaign with 66 catches for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns, but the change at quarterback in 2019 did Ebron no favors. He’s lined up in the slot on 48.7% of his snaps over the past two seasons — the second-highest rate for any tight end. Ebron has had issues with drops and isn’t much of a blocker, but he can help a pass-heavy team in need of TE help. 61. Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers (27) He held out at the start of last season and took some time to get going once he returned. Gordon’s play improved as the season went on, but he averaged just 3.8 YPC on 162 carries and 7.0 YPR on 42 receptions. He’s averaged under 4.0 YPC in four of five NFL seasons. Gordon can be a solid, three-down starting back, but given what we’ve seen with the running back market, he’s unlikely to find the lucrative offer he’s seeking. 62. Ronald Darby, CB, Eagles (26) Darby was coming off a season-ending injury last offseason and had to settle for a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Eagles. He suffered a hip flexor injury and missed five games in 2019. In all, Darby has missed 20 games over
the past three seasons. He has above-average cover skills but is not a good tackler, lacks adequate ball skills and gives up too many big plays. Given his age and natural talent, Darby should still get a chance to start on the outside somewhere. 63. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Chiefs (28) He’s been on three teams in three seasons but was a 15-game starter on the outside for the Chiefs last year and could benefit from their Super Bowl run. There’s always a market for competent corners. 64. Jordan Phillips, DT, Bills (27) He settled for a one-year deal to return to Buffalo last offseason and will now get to test the market again. Phillips’ numbers last year (9.5 sacks, 16 QB hits) should be taken with a grain of salt. He had just 5.5 sacks and 17 QB hits in his first four NFL seasons. Phillips is an athletic, powerful defensive tackle who is scheme-versatile and should get a chance to start somewhere. 65. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Vikings (26) Versatile defensive back who played well as the Vikings’ slot corner last season, logging 49% of the team’s defensive snaps. May want a chance to prove himself as an outside CB. 66. Shelby Harris, DT, Broncos (29) Became a full-time starter last season and performed well, producing a career-high six sacks. Harris showed an amazing knack for getting his hands up at the right time and led the NFL with nine passes batted at the line of scrimmage. 67. Vic Beasley, EDGE, Falcons (28) He’s best suited for a role that allows him to get after the quarterback and not worry about anything else. Beasley hasn’t come close to matching his 2016 sack total (15.5), but he finished strong last season and ended the year with eight sacks and 12 QB hits. 68. Shaq Lawson, DE, Bills (26) He’s started 17 games in four seasons and has mostly been used as a rotational pass rusher. Lawson is coming off a season in which he set career highs with 6.5 sacks and 18 QB hits. He produced a sack or QB hit on 9.9% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked eighth among 172 qualifying players. But the film shows he benefited from matchups against tight ends and botched blocking assignments from opposing teams. Teams will have to decide whether they see Lawson as a sub-package player or a starter. 69. Markus Golden, EDGE, Giants (29) He had 12.5 sacks in 2016 but battled through injuries the next two years. Last offseason, Golden signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Giants and produced an impressive season with 10 sacks and 17 QB hits. Golden had a sack or QB hit on 8.3% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked 18th out of 172 qualifying players. Golden does a good job on stunts and plays with great effort. He should have a better market this time around. 70. Mario Addison, EDGE, Panthers (33) Only 10 players have more sacks than Addison over the past four seasons. Addison is a high-effort player who lined up mostly on the edge but also saw snaps as an interior pass rusher. He’s not going to be a long-term fix but can help a team looking for immediate pass-rush help. Collins started 15 games and played 81% of the snaps on the top-ranked defense in the NFL. (Winslow Townson- USA TODAY Sports) 71. Jamie Collins, LB, Patriots (30) His return to New England was a success. Collins started 15 games and played 81% of the snaps on the top-ranked defense in the NFL. His versatility and athleticism allowed Collins to wear a number of different hats for Belichick.
Collins set a career-high with seven sacks to go along with 10 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss. Interested teams should be cautious before assuming he’d put up those same numbers in a different scheme. 72. Kyle Van Noy, LB/EDGE, Patriots (29) Belichick decided that Van Noy’s best role was as a pass rusher in 2019. He went after the quarterback on 394 snaps, according to Sportradar, and finished with 6.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Van Noy is a versatile, athletic linebacker who can fill multiple roles in the right scheme. 73. A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Lions (25) Another run-stuffing defensive tackle in a free-agent class that is loaded with them. Robinson has started 37 games in four seasons with the Lions and can be an effective early-down player. But he has just five sacks and 14 QB hits in 58 career games. 74. Kenyan Drake, RB, Cardinals (26) He flourished in Arizona after a midseason trade from the Dolphins. In eight games with the Cardinals, Drake ran for 643 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.2 YPC. 75. Rodney McLeod, S, Eagles (30) Bounced back from injury to start all 16 games and performed well in 2019. McLeod is a prototypical free safety who can play the deep middle of the field in single-high schemes and also fire downhill against the run. Age is a factor, but he should interest teams in need of a short-term starter. 76. Jimmy Smith, CB, Ravens (32) Because of his age and injury history, signing Smith would carry risk. He started five games last year and played well but has been on the field for fewer than 60% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps in each of the past four seasons (Smith was suspended for four games in 2018 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy). He could be an option for a team looking for a short-term fix at outside corner. 77. Carl Nassib, EDGE, Buccaneers (27) He’s not flashy, but Nassib has been productive with 12.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits over the past two seasons. 78. De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Falcons (27) He’s started 54 games in four seasons for a Falcons defense that has struggled to find consistency under Dan Quinn. Campbell is a versatile, athletic WILL linebacker who had a career-high 129 tackles last year. 79. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Bears (27) He entered free agency last offseason and had to settle for a one-year, $3 million deal from the Bears. Now Clinton- Dix will try again, but it seems unlikely that his market will be drastically different. Clinton-Dix is a starting-caliber free safety. He has never missed a game and can make plays on the ball but is not a reliable tackler and lacks versatility. 80. Gerald McCoy, DT, Panthers (32) He signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Panthers last year and could be looking for another one-year deal for 2020. McCoy’s best days are behind him, but he can still contribute as a starting 4-3 DT and would be a nice locker- room addition for teams ready to compete for a title. McCoy started all 16 games last season and had five sacks to go along with 13 QB hits. 81. Derek Wolfe, DT, Broncos (30) A gap-penetrating defensive tackle who can offer some interior pass rush, Wolfe finished last season with a career- high seven sacks to go along with 12 QB hits. He produced a sack or QB hit on 7.5% of his pass-rush opportunities last season; that ranked 26th out of 172 qualifying players.
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