The time has finally come – NFL Free Agency is officially here and all of our questions about who will land where will finally be answered this week.
PFF has provided you with our top 100 free agent rankings over the last few weeks and we will continue to do so all throughout the coming days by updating the list after every single signing made. That being said, using our one-of-a-kind free agency database that you can get access to, let’s dive into the best available players on the open market:
[Editor's Note: All of PFF's EDGE and ELITE subscribers can access season-by-season grades and PFF WAR via PFF's Free Agent Rankings. New to PFF? Sign up today using promo code “NFL2020” to save 25% on any of PFF's subscriptions.]
2020 NFL Free Agency Rankings
2020 NFL Free Agency: Grades for all 32 teams
2020 NFL Free Agency: PFF Improvement Index for all 32 teams
1. QB Cam Newton
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Panthers are expected to release Newton.
The nine-year NFL veteran signal-caller turns 31 years old in April and is coming off an injury-plagued 2019 campaign. Newton earned an 86.5 overall grade in his career-best season in 2015, but the 6-foot-5 phenom has earned a sub-77.0 overall grade in every other season of his career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
2. Edge JADEVEON CLOWNEY
Clowney put up an 88.0 overall grade in 2018 — the highest mark of his career — and he followed up with an 87.3 grade after a trade to the Seahawks despite seeing his sack total drop from nine to three. Clowney has the 11th-best overall grade among all edge defenders since 2017, including the third-best mark against the run (91.3), but his pass-rush grade of 83.9 ranks just 25th among that same group. Pass-rushers earn massive contracts for their ability to get after the quarterback, but Clowney has always been good, not great, in that department. The price tag may be too high for many teams, but Clowney brings top run defense and solid pass-rush to the table, though his game has never really lived up to his draft hype and he’s never matched the production of other dominant edge defenders.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
3. CB Logan Ryan
Ryan has had a solid career, and he hits free agency once again after three years in Tennessee. He’s a slot corner who has graded between 62.0 and 76.2 in coverage in all but one year of his seven-year career, and that level of consistency makes him an intriguing candidate for teams looking for help in the slot. Ryan has generally been an excellent tackler, though 20 of his 49 career misses came in 2019.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
4. DI Mike Daniels
Mike Daniels isn't particularly hitting free agency at the best time, given how the past couple of seasons have gone for him, but he isn’t far removed from being one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the entire NFL. Daniels now has to sell teams on looking past his recent injury history, a downtick in form and the fact that he is now the wrong side of 30. However, he can still generate pressure and play with excellent leverage against both run and pass — and he shouldn’t break the bank anymore.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
5. Prince Amukamara
Amukamara earned PFF coverage grades above 70.0 in each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 77.1 PFF coverage grade in 2018. In Chicago this past season, he allowed 36 receptions from 58 targets for 515 yards and two touchdowns en route to a 70.5 PFF coverage grade. He allowed more than 50 yards in coverage in five of the 15 games he played at least 20 defensive snaps in. He also logged just four passes defensed and zero interceptions in 2019. He’s recorded just three interceptions and 16 passes defensed in the last three years.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
© Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
6. LT Jason Peters
Somehow Jason Peters is still plying his trade at an extremely high level despite approaching 38 years of age. That age obviously makes Peters a short-term option for prospective teams, and Peters also comes with a significant injury history and the prospect that he might not last 16 games in any given season. But he is still an impressive figure when he is on the field, and he ended the 2019 season with an overall PFF grade of 82.8 after allowing 25 total pressures on the season. Peters won’t be receiving many multi-year offers, but he could provide a very useful short-term fix for a team struggling to find answers on the offensive line.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
7. Edge Everson Griffen
Griffen earned the two highest single-season PFF pass-rushing grades of his career in 2017 and 2019. This past season, he earned a 76.6 PFF pass-rushing grade and recorded a career-high 70 total pressures across 596 pass-rushing snaps. The 32-year-old veteran still has enough in the tank to offer value off the edge in the NFL.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
8. TE Delanie Walker
Walker has played only 232 snaps over the last two years, but he finished with a PFF grade of at least 74.0 in every season from 2014 to 2017. Walker has always been a solid run blocker, but he became one of the league's best receiving weapons at tight end in recent years. He's worth a look to see if he can re-capture a year or two of his prime.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
9. QB Joe Flacco
As the number of teams in need of a starting quarterback dwindles, Joe Flacco joins Andy Dalton, Cam Newton and Jameis Winston in the pool of available options with extensive starting experience following his release from the Denver Broncos. Flacco's career revival in Denver didn't quite go as planned, starting the first eight weeks before suffering a neck injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. In recent years, he has seen a sharp divide in his play from a clean pocket vs. under pressure, posting an 87.4 clean-pocket passing grade since 2017 compared to a grade of just 33.2 when under pressure. If he were to get back to full health, Flacco could serve as an above-average backup or a competent starter behind a good offensive line, but teams can't expect much more than that at this point in his career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
10. Edge Cameron Wake
Wake’s PFF pass-rushing grade has dropped in each of the past five seasons, falling from 93.3 in 2015 down to 77.8 in 2019. The 38-year-old veteran still brings high-floor pass-rush production to the table, but his days as an elite pass-rusher in the NFL may be behind him.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
11. CB Eli Apple
Eli Apple has never quite lived up to expectations – his highest PFF coverage grade in his four-year career sits at just 64.2. He has vast experience playing press-man coverage, though, and wasn't bad in that role this past season. Apple's 0.87 yards allowed per coverage snap in press at outside corner ranked 13th in the NFL in 2019. The 2016 top 10 pick is a reclamation project, but still one man-heavy teams should consider like the Dolphins.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
12. DI Damon Harrison
After earning 90.0-plus PFF run-defense grades in four consecutive seasons (2015-18), Harrison crashed back down to earth in 2019. The big man earned just a 63.2 overall grade and a 66.7 PFF run-defense grade with the Lions this past season. At just 31 years old, Harrison still can provide production that falls between his 2019 season and the high-end play he had in the four years prior.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
13. CB Brandon Carr
Carr (34) has earned a single-season PFF coverage grade above 70.0 just once over the nine years. He, however, still can provide a durable, veteran presence with high-floor production in the NFL. He’s earned single-season PFF coverage grades below 60.0 just two times after his rookie campaign and has played 750-plus defensive snaps every year of his 12-year NFL career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
14. S Tavon Wilson
Box safeties aren’t one of the more valuable positions on the field, but Tavon Wilson was pretty good in that role in 2019 as he ranked 25th in PFF grade at that alignment. He played well over half of his snaps at that alignment, but he was actually better when playing deep safety. Not only was his overall grade higher there, but he also was 17th in coverage grade. Going back to the entirety of his time with Detroit, Wilson has always been better when playing deep. Placing Wilson in a two-high scheme and signing him for cheap is not a bad idea.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
15. S Eric Reid
Reid unquestionably had a down year in 2019, but history tells us he’ll bounce back to average-to-above-average form in 2020. The now 28-year-old safety earned just a 36.1 PFF coverage grade a year ago, but he earned 65.0-plus PFF coverage grades in three of the four years prior to this past season.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
16. CB Tramon Williams
It’s pretty crazy that 36-year-old Tramon Williams was the 11th highest-graded cornerback in coverage this past season and the eighth-most valuable cornerback in the NFL. He gave a handful of 40-yard plays that he wishes he had back, but in his 18 games played he allowed under 45 yards in coverage in 13 and allowed one catch or fewer in eight. He turns 37 this week which will scare a lot of teams away, but he’s worth pursuing to fill a short-term need.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
17. CB Johnathan Joseph
While he was far from elite and clearly lost a step, it was pretty remarkable to see Johnathan Joseph still force 11 pass breakups. All-in-all, Joseph allowed 627 yards in coverage on his 427 coverage snaps which led to him posting a 65.0 receiving grade – his second-lowest since 2009. Though in the year prior, Joseph was among the 10 highest graded cornerbacks in the league. He’s on a quest for a ring, and any team that has a chance at one in 2020-21 in need of outside help should consider Joseph on a one-year deal.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
18. OT Demar Dotson
Considering he came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Demar Dotson has had an incredibly successful career. He’s been consistently average to slightly above average starting at right tackle for the Buccaneers and has been among the 15 most valuable tackles in the league since his 2012 season when he was named the starter. The last two years though, Dotson’s age has started to show as he has posted two of his lowest-graded seasons since 2013. He’ll turn 35 next season, so he fits more of a short-term need for perhaps a contending team.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
19. OT Cordy Glenn
In the first five seasons of his NFL career from 2012 to 2016, Cordy Glenn was one of the top tackles in the league. In fact, he was actually the 14th most valuable tackle in PFF WAR in that span. He posted 80.0-plus pass-block grades from 2013 to 2016 and was a solid run-blocker too. Though he’s experienced a handful of injuries the last few seasons and hasn’t been the same player. He posted a career-low overall grade of 67.4 in 2017, was traded to the Bengals and went on to post two of his worst seasons in the Queen City. At 30-years-old and with the injury baggage, Glenn is a bit of a risk.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
20. LB Nigel Bradham
Bradham (30) has earned single-season PFF coverage grades above 73.0 in three of the past four NFL seasons. He’s inconsistent in run defense but athletic enough to fly sideline to sideline and limit opposing backs and tight ends in coverage in the right role.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
21. S Javien Elliott
After playing minimal snaps his first two seasons of the NFL (just 314 snaps), Javien Elliot was given more opportunities to showcase he is capable of being a key player in the NFL the last two years with the Buccaneers and Panthers but has been relatively average. Elliott didn’t give up many explosive plays, but he did surrender a catch rate over 80% in his slot role and made only three plays on the ball.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
22. S Tony Jefferson
Jefferson has always been a strong run-defender when down in the box. Prior to his 2019 season that was cut short due to injury, Jefferson owned a run-defense grade above 73.0 in every season. In coverage though, he was a bit of a liability and prone to giving up big plays. He only had one season in his career in which he produced a coverage grade above 70.0 and has allowed a whopping 18 touchdowns while forcing only 17 pass breakups. The one year he did grade above 70.0 in coverage, it was in 2018. It’s hard telling whether or not he can replicate that in 2020 coming off injury, so Jefferson still carries some risk given his prior performance.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
23. S Reshad Jones
Jones (34) has earned single-season PFF grades above 72.0 in five of the last six NFL seasons. He, however, played just 189 defensive snaps with Miami in 2019 due to injury. He allowed six receptions from eight targets for 71 yards and two touchdowns in limited action this past season.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
24. RB Devonta Freeman
Devonta Freeman produced the worst PFF grade among running backs in 2019 while on the fifth-largest contract. Freeman was just 29th in WAR this past year while playing the 10th most snaps among running backs. In simplest terms, he got more opportunities to produce a higher amount and failed to match.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
25. WR Taylor Gabriel
A complementary receiver in the good system, Gabriel has had two extremely productive seasons, first in 2016 with the Falcons and then in 2018 with the Bears. Despite his 5-foot-8 frame, Gabriel has worked mostly on the outside and he was more of a downfield target with the Bears. We saw Gabriel average 7.8 yards after the catch per reception with the Falcons in 2016 and he averaged 6.6 in 2017, so his best role may be as an after-the-catch threat as a third or fourth option in the passing attack.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
26. CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick (30) earned a 61.7 PFF grade across 334 defensive snaps before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 of the 2019 season. He played 255 of his 334 defensive snaps at outside cornerback and allowed 19 receptions from 29 targets for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the process. The former first-round pick has earned single-season coverage grades above 70.0 just twice in his eight-year career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
27. CB Tramaine Brock
The 31-year-old is actually coming off the second-best season of his career in 2019 by posting a 73.9 coverage grade with both the Cardinals and Titans. Brock was primarily a slot corner with Arizona from Weeks 1 through 13 and was below-average in that role by ranking 24th of 33 qualifying slot corners in PFF coverage grade. After Week 13, he was cut to give more playing time to younger corners and Tennessee swooped him up to play outside corner where he had his best work in Arizona (25th of 97 in PFF coverage grade when outside with the Cardinals). From Week 14 through conference championship play, Brock went on to own the third-highest coverage grade on the outside. He’s not one you want long-term, but Brock isn’t a terrible option for a team with limited cap space who is desperate for help at outside corner.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
28. OL Ron Leary
Leary’s grade has dropped in each of the four past NFL seasons, falling from 78.3 in 2016 to 58.4 in 2019. The 30-year-old NFL veteran did, however, earn a 74.7 PFF pass-blocking grade alongside a 52.6 PFF run-blocking grade in 2019. He’s a quality depth piece that should come at depth-player pricing on the open market.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
29. CB Aqib Talib
Aqib Talib has had a great, long career in the NFL. He produced above-average coverage grades routinely, posting a grade above 70.0 in eight of his 11 seasons prior to 2019. We only saw him play in five games in 2019 before missing the rest of the year due to injury, but it was beginning to look like his age was taking a toll on him. Talib owned a career-low 55.8 coverage grade on his 205 coverage snaps and surrendered three touchdowns.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
30. Edge Markus Golden
Golden (29) played a career-high 916 defensive snaps with the Giants in 2019 and earned just a 60.3 PFF grade in the process. He totaled just 64 pressures across his 509 pass-rushing snaps and earned only a 63.0 PFF pass-rushing grade.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
31. OL Josh Kline
In Kline’s lone season with Minnesota (2019), he earned a 65.1 overall grade that ranked outside the top-50 qualifying interior offensive linemen in the NFL. The 30-year-old veteran is a high-floor producer in pass protection, but he’s a stop-gap solution with little upside in the run game at best.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
32. Edge Pernell McPhee
Pernell McPhee has had a brutal injury history, leading to a limited role over the last few years. Prior to the injury pile-up, McPhee was beginning to look like one of the top edge defenders in the NFL. In 2014 with Baltimore and 2015 with Chicago, McPhee produced PFF grades in the mid-80s leading to ranks that were among the five best at his position each season. McPhee isn't a liability when on the field, but the injuries and age are a massive concern.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
33. OL Mike Person
Person (31) is an older interior offensive lineman that played over 1,000 offensive snaps for the 49ers in 2018 and 2019. Among the 98 guards with at least 400 offensive snaps played in 2019, Person ranked tied for 77th in overall grade (61.8) and 104th in PFF pass-blocking grade (60.3).
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
34. WR Rashard Higgins
Rashard Higgins struggled mightily in his first two years in the league back in 2016 and 2017. He saw only 58 targets and produced a 58.5 receiving grade, the second-worst among wide receivers in that span. Higgins then came back in 2018, struggled once again to start out the year then things started to come around for a change in the post-Hue Jackson portion of the 2018 season as he owned a 71.4 receiving grade which ranked 35th in that stretch. Injuries then limited his 2019 campaign to only 10 targets, leaving him still as an unproven wide receiver.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
35. LB Wesley Woodyard
Woodyard played just 416 defensive snaps and earned one of the lowest single-season PFF grades (54.0) of his career in 2019. The 33-year-old veteran earned an impressive 89.9 overall grade with the Titans in 2015, but those days seem long gone. His PFF run-defense grade has dropped from 87.7 in 2015 to 62.7 in 2020.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
36. Edge Jabaal Sheard
In his third season with the Colts in 2019, Jabaal Sheard had a year he probably wants to forget. He finished the season with the lowest PFF grade in his nine-year career by far and with his run-defense and tackling being his downfall. Shear posted a 47.7 run-defense grade ranking 101st of 106 qualifying edge and missed tackles at one of the highest rates with missing 25% of his attempts. His pass-rushing was below-average too, owning a grade in that facet that didn’t crack the 50th percentile.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
37. Edge Vinny Curry
Thirty-one-year-old Vinny Curry had a career year in 2019 as a pass-rusher, posting an 81.7 pass-rush grade ranking 12th at his position and pressure rate that tied for fourth with J.J. Watt at 16.9%. Curry spent one season away from Philadelphia before returning in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he posted the worst grade of his career both overall and as a pass-rusher. He’s generated a consistent amount of pressure in his time with Philadelphia outside of 2019 (top 20 in pressure rate in 2016 and 2017) and would be great added depth.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
38. S Clayton Geathers
In the box, Clayton Geathers has been a stout run defender. He has produced an above-average run-defense grade in each of the last four seasons with multiple seasons ranking 11th or higher. He’s not going to make a lot of impact plays in coverage, but as of late he has shown to not make too many mistakes. After surrendering 311 yards on 534 coverage snaps in 2018, Geathers gave up just 70 on 311 coverage snaps in 2019. He only made three combined pass breakups and interceptions in those years combined but never gave up for than 50 yards in a single game.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
39. Edge Ezekiel Ansah
In his one season away from Detroit with Seattle in 2019, Ezekiel Ansah had the worst season of his career. He had never recorded an overall grade lower than 65.0 in his six seasons with the Lions and owned a 56.0 overall grade with the Seahawks, generating a career-low pressure rate under 9%. It should be mentioned that Ansah had an injury-riddled year in Seattle, battling three different injuries all throughout the year. He produced above-average grades in each season from 2014 to 2018 with multiple seasons in the top 20. Ansah wouldn’t be a bad pick up for low cost.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
40. Edge Clay Matthews
The Rams signed Matthews to a two-year, $9.25 million deal last offseason to start opposite Dante Fowler Jr. at edge, and that is what he did. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the result was the worst season in Matthews' career. He earned just a 54.2 overall grade on the year, struggling in run defense and missing 12 tackles in 44 tackling opportunities. The pass-rushing numbers don't look bad at first glance — 40 pressures in 280 pass-rushing snaps — but he benefitted from attention placed on his teammates, namely Aaron Donald. 24 of those 40 pressures for Matthews were designated as cleanup or unblocked opportunities. All of that led to Matthews being expendable. The Rams will look to fill his snaps with someone else in 2020.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
41. Edge Terrell Suggs
Suggs (37) is on the wrong side of 35 years old and is starting to drop from a production standpoint. He earned just a 62.3 overall grade across 789 defensive snaps in 2019. He has earned an 80.0-plus single-season PFF grade just once in the past eight NFL seasons.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
42. RB Carlos Hyde
Carlos Hyde had the best season as a ball-carrier yet in 2019, producing the 11th best rushing grade at his position at 77.2. Though the most important trait for a running back to carry relies in the receiving game and Hyde has been largely ineffective in that area all throughout his career. In every single one his six seasons, Hyde has never produced a receiving grade higher than 60.0 and is coming off three straight seasons below 50.0. He’s also dropped 15 passes on 179 targets and never averaged more than six yards after the catch per reception in a season – a remarkably low figure for a running back.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
43. OL Jordan Mills
Mills has been a low-end starting right tackle for the majority of his career, peaking with pass block grades above 65.0 in both 2017 and 2018 with the Buffalo Bills. From a run blocking perspective, he’s had a steady decline in grades from his top year, a 73.1 grade in 2014 with the Chicago Bears. Mills struggled through just 81 snaps a year ago, at this point in his career, he remains a low-end starting option who provides depth for any offensive line.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
44. CB Ross Cockrell
Cockrell has three solid, low-70s grades under his belt, all coming from 2015 to 2017. He took a step back in 2019, but Cockrell has a track record of strong play that stands out above some of his peers in the late wave of free agency. Cockrell has allowed a passer rating of just 83.1 during his career while breaking up 31 passes in his four-plus years of action.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
45. LB Darron Lee
We’ve seen one strong season in Lee’s four-year career as his 2018 campaign showed the playmaking ability the Jets were hoping for when he was drafted in the first round in 2016. Any team that signs Lee will be chasing that 2018 season in which he had three pass breakups and three interceptions on his way to an 84.8 coverage grade. On the other hand, Lee has never graded above 42.6 in coverage outside of that season and his grades against the run have resided in the 50s in every year of his career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
46. CB Daryl Worley
Worley is coming off the highest coverage grade of his career, but it was just a 64.5 mark that exemplifies his role as a No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback on a depth chart. Worley has allowed a passer rating of 99.8 into his coverage during his four-year career including 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He adds a size option on the outside, but Worley projects best as a depth option in the secondary.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
47. CB Nevin Lawson
Another depth piece at cornerback, Lawson has slot corner size, but he did his best work on the outside back in 2016 when he finished with a career-high 69.6 overall grade. Other than that season, Lawson hasn’t finished above 60.8 overall in PFF grading while allowing a passer rating of 104.4 into his coverage during his six-year career.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
48. QB Blake Bortles
Quarterback value is important and Bortles is still likely a top-40 signal-caller in the world. He brings value as a backup with starting ability, as he has four seasons grading above 64.0 overall, including a career-high 69.4 mark in 2017. That was a good season for Bortles who took better care of the ball and the Jaguars took advantage with a trip to the AFC Championship. He has the ability to step in and win a few games if needed, a valuable trait for any backup quarterback.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
49. S Antoine Bethea
Solid veteran secondary mercenary for hire, Antoine Bethea has reached the rolling short-stop stage of his career. Since he left the Colts, he has had stops in San Francisco, Arizona and New York with the Giants, and in each location has had at least a solid year to begin before things started to decline. The Giants didn’t let him get to year two to see that downturn in fortunes, but Bethea has shown he can – at the very least – still be a solid starting presence. His first year with every team in his NFL career has seen him earn an overall PFF grade of at least 69.4, and in three of the four stops that grade was north of 84. He’s worth a short-term gamble for a team that has a problem spot at safety, but don’t expect it to be a long-term fix.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
50. WR Ted Ginn Jr.
For his entire career Ted Ginn has been one of the league’s best deep threats. How devastating he can be often depended on whether he could stave off the drops that were always a nagging feature of his play. On deep attempts alone he has dropped 25 of 65 catchable deep targets since he came into the league, but the passes he has caught have gone for an average of 38 yards and featured 21 touchdowns. At 34, Ginn probably doesn’t have the juice he once did, but he can still run and has the kind of speed that will still take the top off a defense. If you have a receiving corps with a complete dearth of speed, Ginn could still be a valuable member of the depth chart.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
51. WR Paul Richardson Jr.
A poster-child for the folly of chasing receivers whose main calling card is ‘contested catch guy’, Paul Richardson is on the street two years after signing a five-year, $40 million contract with the Washington Redskins. When Richardson made those contested catches, they were spectacular, but his strike rate was never very good in those situations, and the fact that’s how he made his hay represented a fundamental issue in gaining separation. For his career, 43% of his targets have been contested at the catch point, and of those 43% he has brought in only 31.6%, almost half the percentage of the league leaders over that span. Richardson’s penchant for spectacular catches might see him catch on somewhere, but his time in Washington exposed his limitations.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
52. OT Kelvin Beachum
Back in 2014 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kelvin Beachum had an overall PFF grade of 82.6 as a starting tackle with a pass-blocking grade above 90. He relied on some significant help to achieve that mark, but it nonetheless represented a significant upside as a starting-caliber tackle. He has never hit those heights again, but for his career has seven-straight years with solid pass-blocking grades. His run blocking has fallen off a cliff from the moment he left Pittsburgh, failing to better 56.6 in terms of PFF grade since, but teams could do a lot worse than Beachum as a starter at tackle when it comes to pass blocking. On the Jets, Beachum suffered because the entire starting five was poor, but if he is your weakest link, your line is in reasonable shape.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
53. S Jahleel Addae
Addae is coming off back to back underwhelming seasons in coverage, first for the Chargers and then for the Texans. Though those seasons account for three of his four career interceptions, he had PFF coverage grades of 58.3 and 63.0 respectively. In the last two seasons combined he also had fewer defensive stops than he did in the 2017 season alone. Addae has extensive playing time under his belt, but at this point would represent an admission that a starting safety spot had not been adequately addressed up until this point or an emergency option due to injuries striking before the season begins.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
54. CB Vernon Hargreaves III
One of the more disappointing draft picks in recent memory, Vernon Hargreaves looked for all the world like a future superstar coming out of Florida, but will now be searching for his third team in two years. Hargreaves has yet to earn an overall PFF grade north of 65 in any season of his career and has looked rough in multiple defensive systems now. For his career, he has allowed a passer rating above 105, and anybody looking to bring him in needs to figure out what he can do well and position him to succeed at only those things. At under 25, Hargreaves still has upside, but he is currently on a trajectory to be out of the league before long unless he can show some glimpses of what he did in college.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
55. CB Trumaine Johnson
There was a period where Trumaine Johnson looked like he could emerge as a high-end starting corner in the NFL, but his time with the New York Jets did not go well and he is coming off the lowest PFF grade of his career (53.0), albeit on just 314 snaps. Johnson has prototype size and speed for today’s NFL, but has never been able to iron out the inconsistency in his game and has now hit 30 years of age. Given how badly his most recent stop went, he may become a much cheaper option for teams and at that point is a gamble much more worth taking, but his days as a guaranteed starter may be over.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
56. WR Josh Gordon
Obviously any signing of Josh Gordon is one involving far more than just his ability to play football. Even with the new CBA relaxing the rules on marijuana use, Gordon would appear to have plenty of personal demons that need to be navigated. For a time, the talent that Gordon possesses was enough for teams to keep rolling that dice and trying to help him navigate those issues, but it seems like more and more that teams don’t think that chance is worth taking anymore. At his best, Gordon is a game-changing No. 1 receiver which can’t be said about anybody else remaining, but at this point, teams understand it’s a high-risk proposition.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
57. OG John Miller
Still young and with a lot of starting experience, John Miller has started at guard for two different teams now but has yet to top 70 for a single season in terms of overall PFF grade. His best season was the one that saw him amass the biggest workload, his sophomore year back in 2016, where he finished the season with solid grades in both run blocking and pass protection. At this point, he is best suited to a backup role somewhere, but given the state of second-team offensive lines throughout the NFL, he would provide one of the better options off the bench.
For projected contract, PFF grade and WAR, click here.
58. DI Marcell Dareus
59. DI Sheldon Day
60. LB Mark Barron
61. OL James Hurst
62. DI Margus Hunt
63. S Morgan Burnett
64. WR Jaron Brown
65. WR Chester Rogers
66. RB Chris Thompson
67. TE David Morgan
68. OT Jason Spriggs
69. RB Lamar Miller
70. RB LeSean McCoy
71. EDGE Anthony Chickillo
72. WR Johnny Holton
73. CB B.W. Webb
74. TE Luke Stocker
75. S Tedric Thompson
76. LB Alec Ogletree
77. DI Corey Liuget
78. Edge Kareem Martin
79. OL Cam Erving
80. LB Jake Ryan
81. CB Morris Claiborne
82. Edge Kamalei Correa
83. DI Adam Gotsis
84. CB Cyrus Jones
85. S Johnson Bademosi
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