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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/10/pfts-2015-all-unemployed-team/
PFT’s 2015 All-Unemployed Team
Posted by Mike Wilkening on April 10, 2015
AP
Below is PFT’s list of the best unsigned veteran players at each position. Each player’s age as of September 1, 2015 is in parentheses.
Rotoworld’s free agent rankings were a valuable resource in putting together the All-Unemployed Team, as was the NFL’s official list of free agents.
Only unrestricted free agents — players with expired contracts and street free agents — were considered in our rankings. Restricted free agents and unsigned franchise free agents were excluded.
Note that players unsigned at this stage of the offseason are as such for a variety of reasons, including age, durability/injury concerns and position value. The majority of free agents left, should they sign, would figure to be role players.
Our list will be updated as events warrant during the offseason.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Michael Vick (35), Jason Campbell (33), Tarvaris Jackson (32), Matt Flynn (30).
All four passers listed could be decent-enough fill-in starters. Perhaps the market picks up if clubs can’t find capable backups in the draft.
Running back: Pierre Thomas (30), Steven Jackson (32), Chris Johnson (29), Ahmad Bradshaw (29).
Thomas catches the ball well. Jackson could handle 6-to-8 carries in a rotation. Bradshaw’s injury history is his drawback. He also has an offseason arrest to sort out, as does Johnson. Moreover, Johnson was wounded in the shoulder in March.
Fullback: John Kuhn (32).
Kuhn has played the last eight seasons for Green Bay, getting a carry or catch here and there.
Wide receiver: Michael Crabtree (27), Hakeem Nicks (27), Greg Jennings (31), Jerrel Jernigan (26).
Crabtree’s market has been quiet. He has a history of significant leg injuries (foot, Achilles). However, he’s still young enough to perhaps find his best form one more time. The same could be said for Nicks, the ex-Giant who caught 38 passes for 405 yards and seven TDs a season ago for Indianapolis. Jennings comes off a solid-but-quiet two seasons with Minnesota. There’s no reason he couldn’t be among a club’s top three receivers. Jernigan missed most of 2014 with a foot injury, but he flashed potential at the end of the previous season, and his age works in his favor.
Tight end: Jermaine Gresham (27), James Casey (30), Zach Miller (29), Matthew Mulligan (30).
Gresham had surgery on a herniated disc in March. When healthy, he’s a serviceable starter. Casey generated considerable buzz before the start of free agency, but there has been less news lately. Miller has had some ankle issues. The well-traveled Mulligan is a solid blocker.
Offensive tackle: Joe Barksdale (26), Anthony Collins (29), Byron Bell (26), Ryan Harris(30).
It’s a little surprising that Barksdale, the Rams’ right tackle the last two seasons, remains on the market. He’s a young-but-experienced starter in his prime. Collins can play left tackle, which helps his value, but he’s been a third tackle most of his career, and he disappointed in his lone season with Tampa Bay. Bell had his hands full as the Panthers’ left tackle. Youth makes him a little interesting. Harris, an undersized right tackle, has made 54 NFL starts.
Former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long also merited consideration, but he’s coming off an ACL tear, and he comes with considerable durability concerns.
Offensive guard: Justin Blalock (31), Rob Sims (31), Mike McGlynn (30), Davin Joseph(31).
Every guard on this list started double-digit games a season ago, so teams have some options.
Center: Stefen Wisniewski (26), Chris Myers (33), Samson Satele (30), Lyle Sendelin (31).
Wisniewski is the victim of bad timing; offseason shoulder surgery surely has not helped the young center’s market. Myers, Satele, Sendelin, Scott Wells and Brian De La Puenteall have ample experience, adding to the glut of serviceable unsigned players at the position.
DEFENSE
Defensive end: DaQuan Bowers (25), Corey Wootton (28), Red Bryant (31), Osi Umenyiora (33).
There is not much left in the edge-rushing department, with Umenyiora one of the few notable options. Bowers, Wootton and Bryant offer some positional flexibility; all could kick inside if needed. Bowers has a history of knee issues.
Defensive tackle: C.J. Mosley (32), Kevin Williams (35), Alex Carrington (28), Mike Patterson (32).
Teams in need of veteran depth inside still have a few choices, with Patterson and Mosley among the most appealing candidates.
Inside linebacker: Brandon Spikes (27), Darryl Sharpton (27), Dane Fletcher (28).
The Jets’ expected signing of Joe Mays further thins the depth at this position. Spikes, the rugged run-stuffer, is the best unsigned option.
Outside linebacker: Ashlee Palmer (29), Quentin Groves (31), Dwight Freeney (35)Jacquian Williams (27).
Palmer and Williams are fits in 4-3 schemes, while Groves and Freeney could appeal to 3-4 clubs looking to add to their depth along the edges.
Cornerback: Jarrett Bush (31), Tarell Brown (30), Cassius Vaughn (27), Zack Bowman(30).
Bush is a special teams standout. Brown has starting experience with San Francisco and Oakland; a foot injury ended his 2014 season. Vaughn and Bowman are capable of competing for reserve roles.
Safety: Thomas DeCoud (30), Danny McCray (27), Stevie Brown (28), Danieal Manning(33).
DeCoud and Brown are a couple of years removed from top form. McCray and Manning can provide depth and contribute on special teams.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Jay Feely (37).
The confident and experienced Feely could be a solid short-term fill-in. He lacks leg strength, particularly on kickoffs.
Punter: Mat McBriar (36).
McBriar’s net average has really fallen off the last four seasons. However, special teams coaches love experienced punters, and he knows what to do.
Returner: Javier Arenas (28).
Has averaged 21.1 yards on 73 kickoffs and 9.8 yards on 106 punts. He can also contribute at cornerback.
PFT’s 2015 All-Unemployed Team
Posted by Mike Wilkening on April 10, 2015
Below is PFT’s list of the best unsigned veteran players at each position. Each player’s age as of September 1, 2015 is in parentheses.
Rotoworld’s free agent rankings were a valuable resource in putting together the All-Unemployed Team, as was the NFL’s official list of free agents.
Only unrestricted free agents — players with expired contracts and street free agents — were considered in our rankings. Restricted free agents and unsigned franchise free agents were excluded.
Note that players unsigned at this stage of the offseason are as such for a variety of reasons, including age, durability/injury concerns and position value. The majority of free agents left, should they sign, would figure to be role players.
Our list will be updated as events warrant during the offseason.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Michael Vick (35), Jason Campbell (33), Tarvaris Jackson (32), Matt Flynn (30).
All four passers listed could be decent-enough fill-in starters. Perhaps the market picks up if clubs can’t find capable backups in the draft.
Running back: Pierre Thomas (30), Steven Jackson (32), Chris Johnson (29), Ahmad Bradshaw (29).
Thomas catches the ball well. Jackson could handle 6-to-8 carries in a rotation. Bradshaw’s injury history is his drawback. He also has an offseason arrest to sort out, as does Johnson. Moreover, Johnson was wounded in the shoulder in March.
Fullback: John Kuhn (32).
Kuhn has played the last eight seasons for Green Bay, getting a carry or catch here and there.
Wide receiver: Michael Crabtree (27), Hakeem Nicks (27), Greg Jennings (31), Jerrel Jernigan (26).
Crabtree’s market has been quiet. He has a history of significant leg injuries (foot, Achilles). However, he’s still young enough to perhaps find his best form one more time. The same could be said for Nicks, the ex-Giant who caught 38 passes for 405 yards and seven TDs a season ago for Indianapolis. Jennings comes off a solid-but-quiet two seasons with Minnesota. There’s no reason he couldn’t be among a club’s top three receivers. Jernigan missed most of 2014 with a foot injury, but he flashed potential at the end of the previous season, and his age works in his favor.
Tight end: Jermaine Gresham (27), James Casey (30), Zach Miller (29), Matthew Mulligan (30).
Gresham had surgery on a herniated disc in March. When healthy, he’s a serviceable starter. Casey generated considerable buzz before the start of free agency, but there has been less news lately. Miller has had some ankle issues. The well-traveled Mulligan is a solid blocker.
Offensive tackle: Joe Barksdale (26), Anthony Collins (29), Byron Bell (26), Ryan Harris(30).
It’s a little surprising that Barksdale, the Rams’ right tackle the last two seasons, remains on the market. He’s a young-but-experienced starter in his prime. Collins can play left tackle, which helps his value, but he’s been a third tackle most of his career, and he disappointed in his lone season with Tampa Bay. Bell had his hands full as the Panthers’ left tackle. Youth makes him a little interesting. Harris, an undersized right tackle, has made 54 NFL starts.
Former No. 1 overall pick Jake Long also merited consideration, but he’s coming off an ACL tear, and he comes with considerable durability concerns.
Offensive guard: Justin Blalock (31), Rob Sims (31), Mike McGlynn (30), Davin Joseph(31).
Every guard on this list started double-digit games a season ago, so teams have some options.
Center: Stefen Wisniewski (26), Chris Myers (33), Samson Satele (30), Lyle Sendelin (31).
Wisniewski is the victim of bad timing; offseason shoulder surgery surely has not helped the young center’s market. Myers, Satele, Sendelin, Scott Wells and Brian De La Puenteall have ample experience, adding to the glut of serviceable unsigned players at the position.
DEFENSE
Defensive end: DaQuan Bowers (25), Corey Wootton (28), Red Bryant (31), Osi Umenyiora (33).
There is not much left in the edge-rushing department, with Umenyiora one of the few notable options. Bowers, Wootton and Bryant offer some positional flexibility; all could kick inside if needed. Bowers has a history of knee issues.
Defensive tackle: C.J. Mosley (32), Kevin Williams (35), Alex Carrington (28), Mike Patterson (32).
Teams in need of veteran depth inside still have a few choices, with Patterson and Mosley among the most appealing candidates.
Inside linebacker: Brandon Spikes (27), Darryl Sharpton (27), Dane Fletcher (28).
The Jets’ expected signing of Joe Mays further thins the depth at this position. Spikes, the rugged run-stuffer, is the best unsigned option.
Outside linebacker: Ashlee Palmer (29), Quentin Groves (31), Dwight Freeney (35)Jacquian Williams (27).
Palmer and Williams are fits in 4-3 schemes, while Groves and Freeney could appeal to 3-4 clubs looking to add to their depth along the edges.
Cornerback: Jarrett Bush (31), Tarell Brown (30), Cassius Vaughn (27), Zack Bowman(30).
Bush is a special teams standout. Brown has starting experience with San Francisco and Oakland; a foot injury ended his 2014 season. Vaughn and Bowman are capable of competing for reserve roles.
Safety: Thomas DeCoud (30), Danny McCray (27), Stevie Brown (28), Danieal Manning(33).
DeCoud and Brown are a couple of years removed from top form. McCray and Manning can provide depth and contribute on special teams.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Jay Feely (37).
The confident and experienced Feely could be a solid short-term fill-in. He lacks leg strength, particularly on kickoffs.
Punter: Mat McBriar (36).
McBriar’s net average has really fallen off the last four seasons. However, special teams coaches love experienced punters, and he knows what to do.
Returner: Javier Arenas (28).
Has averaged 21.1 yards on 73 kickoffs and 9.8 yards on 106 punts. He can also contribute at cornerback.
