21. MLB London Fletcher (Washington)
A future Hall of Famer, Fletcher continues to prove doubters wrong. A former undrafted free agent, no one thought he could be a starter in this league. Now that he’s getting older, everyone assumes that he’ll start to decline. He hasn’t yet. 37 in May, Fletcher is no sure thing going forward, but he’s surpassed 125 tackles in every season since 2010, a feat almost as impressive as his 1782 career tackles, unofficially 5th all-time.
22. WR Steve Johnson (Buffalo)- Resigned for 5 years 36.25 million with 19.5 million guaranteed
He might be a little over the top and struggle with drops, but Steve Johnson has emerged as a legitimate #1 option over the last 2 years, putting up 82/1073/10 and 76/1004/7. He and Ryan Fitzpatrick have great chemistry and wide receivers are almost always better off staying than going when they hit free agency. Good news for him, it looks like he’ll be resigned to a long term deal. 26 in July, Johnson has a bright future ahead of him.
23. CB Brandon Carr (Kansas City)- Signed in Dallas for 5 years 50.1 million
Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr are one of the best cornerback duos in the league, or at least they were. The Chiefs signed Stanford Routt, a cap casualty from Oakland, ahead of free agency as a cheaper option than Carr to start opposite Flowers so it looks like Carr will not be back in Kansas City unless he takes a major hometown discount. Carr allowed a mere 49.4% completion percentage last year with 6.5 YPA and 3 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. 26 in May, the only concern I have with Carr is how he’ll do without Brandon Flowers opposite him. Just because Johnathan Joseph successfully did the #2 to #1 cornerback transition last offseason doesn’t mean Carr will. He’s best off going to a team to be the #2 guy and should be paid as such (though he’s one of the top #2 guys in the league). Dallas is an obvious possible destination for him.
24. S Tyvon Branch (Oakland)- Franchise tagged
The Raiders aren’t in the best cap situation, but they still want to at least franchise Branch, one of the leading tacklers for a defensive back with 337 tackles in the last 3 years. He’s average in coverage, but above average against the run and one of the best young safeties in the game. In fact, he doesn’t turn 26 until December. The Raiders would be well served resigning him, assuming they don’t overpay. Franchising him is another smart option.
25. RLB/DE Ahmad Brooks (San Francisco)- Resigned 6 years 44.5 million with 19 million guaranteed
Ahmad Brooks had a career year last year with 7 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures after two decent seasons as a situational player in 2009 and 2010. Brooks is an above average pass rusher who the 49ers want to resign, but they shouldn’t go crazy and overpay him, especially since they already have Aldon Smith. Brooks turns 28 in March.
26. CB Brent Grimes (Atlanta)- Franchise tagged
Brent Grimes would be rated higher if I didn’t have character concerns about him. ProFootballFocus rated Grimes as the 2nd best cornerback in the league last season and with good reason. Grimes allowed just a 44.9% completion percentage and 4.6 YPA with 2 touchdowns to 1 interception last year and he is only 28 (29 in July). However, there’s rumors that Grimes might have been able to play in Atlanta’s playoff loss through a knee injury, but chose not to because he didn’t want to risk further injury before free agency. Add in that he could possibly hold out if he’s franchised tagged, as is rumored, and he’s a risky player to give a the 5-6 year deal he wants as he heads into his 30s. He wants a deal in the neighborhood of the 6 year 57 million dollar deal Atlanta gave Dunta Robinson in 2009. Grimes has outplayed Robinson over the last 2 seasons.
27. RLB/OLB Kamerion Wimbley (Oakland)- Signed with Tennessee for 5 years 35 million 13.5 million guaranteed
Wimbley is definitely a talented pass rusher, but the major question is his position. Wimbley seems like a natural fit for a 3-4 scheme as a rush linebacker, but he spent 4 nondescript years in Cleveland as a rush linebacker, only surpassing 6.5 sacks as a rookie in 2006. There’s a reason the Browns only got a 3rd rounder for him when they traded him to Oakland.
However, in Oakland he thrived in a 4-3, which wouldn’t seem like an obvious fit for him, but the Raiders used him creatively in that Brian Orakpo/Von Miller Joker role, using him at linebacker on running downs and then moving him to defensive end on passing downs. As a result, Wimbley was ProFootballFocus’ 3rd rated 4-3 outside linebacker in 2011 and 1st rated in 2010.
In 2010, he had 11 sacks and 21 pressures and in 2011 he had 6 sacks and 40 pressures, all while ranking above average (4th and 12th respectively at his position) against the run. That role is probably his best fit going forward, but not all teams have a spot for a player like that. Meanwhile, 3-4 teams will probably overpay for him. 3-4 teams need to remember his Cleveland days.
28. QB Alex Smith (San Francisco)- Resigned 3 years 24 million with 9 million guaranteed
Who would have thought Alex Smith would led the 49ers to a 13-3 record and within 2 special teams fumbles of the Super Bowl? He certainly had a lot of help, but Smith turned in what was definitely an above average season for the 49ers last year and showed clutch ability in their playoff win over the Saints. Is he perfect? No. Should he be the 49ers guy going forward? Absolutely. Expect him to get a deal in the neighborhood of what Kevin Kolb, Matt Cassel, and Ryan Fitzpatrick have gotten in recent years (5-6 years 10-12 million per). Believe it or not, Smith doesn’t turn 28 until May.
29. DE/RLB Cliff Avril (Detroit)- Franchise tagged
He’s not much use against the run, but his 37 quarterback pressures were 8th in 2011 and his 11 sacks were 10th. The Lions want to reach a long term deal with Avril, who turns 26 in April, and Avril has suggested he could hold out if he’s franchised. If he doesn’t resign with the Lions, who use a wide 9 scheme, he’d probably be best off in a 3-4 as a rush linebacker because of his lack of size and his great quickness.
30. WR DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia)- Resigned 5 years 51 million with 15 million guaranteed
A year ago, DeSean Jackson likely would have surpassed the 5 years 43 million that Sidney Rice got from Seattle last offseason. He was coming off a season in which he caught 62 passes for 1156 yards and 9 touchdowns and he was arguably the best deep threat in the NFL. However, the Eagles didn’t give Jackson an extension, opting to sign guys like Nnamdi Asomugha and Cullen Jenkins, in order to build the dream team. Jackson wasn’t too happy about this and the notoriously moody receiver was a malcontent all season. He was benched and suspended for violating team rules and gave 75% effort on the field. He still put up 62 catches for 912 yards and 2 touchdowns, a testament to his ability, but he likely cost himself about 10 million with his disappointing season. The Eagles have franchised him, but I don’t think they have any intention of keeping him. They just don’t want him to leave for nothing. A 2nd rounder and a long term contract can you potentially a steal on someone who could become one of the best deep threats in the league once again. He’s not 26 until December.
Football Fan Spot 