2014 Edge Player Free Agent Breakdown
By: Matt Harmon
High-end starters
1) Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers. Age: 26 *franchised by Panthers*
2) Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins. Age: 28 *franchised by Redskins*
3) Lamarr Houston, Oakland Raiders. Age: 27 *signed with Bears*
4) DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 32 *signed with Broncos*
5) Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 28 *re-signed with Seahawks*
Good starters
1) Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals. Age: 27 *signed with the Buccaneers*
Solid Contributors
1) Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 26 *re-signed with Vikings*
2) Lamarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 29 *signed with Raiders*
2) Jason Worilds, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 26 *transition tagged by Steelers*
3) Justin Tuck, New York Giants. Age: 31 *signed with Raiders*
4) Corey Wooton, Chicago Bears. Age: 27 *signed with Vikings*
Role players
1) James Harrison, Cincinnati Bengals. Age: 35
2) Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears. Age: 34 *signed with Packers*
3) Chris Clemons, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 32 *signed with Jaguars*
4) Robert Ayers, Denver Broncos. Age: 28 *signed with Giants*
5) Willie Young, Detroit Lions. Age: 28 *signed with Bears*
6) Shaun Phillips, Denver Broncos. Age: 33 *signed with Titans*
7) Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 32 *signed with Bears*
8) Ropati Pitoitua, Tennessee Titans. Age: 29 *re-signed with Titans*
9) Parys Haralson, New Orleans Saints. Age: 30 *re-signed with Saints*
10) Jeremy Mincey, Denver Broncos. Age: 30 *signed with Cowboys*
11) O’Brien Schofield, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 27 *signed with Giants*
12) Will Smith, New Orleans Saints. Age: 32
Diamond in the Rough
1) Anthony Spencer, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 30
2) Rob Jackson, Washington Redskins. Age: 28
3) Marcus Bernard, Arizona Cardinals. Age: 29 *re-signed with Cardinals*
QB--RB--FB--WR--TE--OT--OG--C--Int. DL--Edge Plyr.--LB--CB--S--K/P
High-end starters
1) Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers. Age: 26 *franchised by Panthers*
- The man who calls himself “The Kraken” might just be the prize of this year’s free agent class. Greg Hardy has become one of the very best defensive ends in the league. Hardy has no weaknesses in his game, and can flat out take over on Sundays. It is very unlikely he leaves Carolina, and is probably destined for the franchise tag. He has earned every penny he is set to make.
2) Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins. Age: 28 *franchised by Redskins*
- Brian Orakpo returned from injury to have an outstanding 2013 season. Orakpo is crazy talented, and finally looks to have become a complete player. He can win with both speed and power. If the Redskins somehow let Orakpo slip away, teams will be knocking down his door to bring him aboard. He does have his flaws however--injuries and some past inconsistencies--so there is some "buyer beware".
3) Lamarr Houston, Oakland Raiders. Age: 27 *signed with Bears*
- Another guy who is unlikely to leave his current team, Lamarr Houston has immense value to the Raiders. He is a rock against the run, and can provide plenty of pass rush on the edge. It is scary to think what the Raiders, or another team, could do with Houston if better players surrounded him. He is too often left at the right end position, but he is capable of winning consistently as an inside rusher. If it cannot be the Raiders, please let someone free Lamarr Houston in 2014.
4) DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 32 *signed with Broncos*
- Jerry Jones, this is what happens when your stupidly mismanage your salary cap. The Cowboys were forced to let go of one of their best home grown talents, and iconic players in DeMarcus Ware. Last season, despite playing in an unfamiliar defensive position, Ware still showed he has a ton left in the tank. He was dominant for stretches, though he did deal with several nagging injuries. Ware can play in any defense, and should be highly sought after.
5) Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 28 *re-signed with Seahawks*
- Let’s just say, Michael Bennett will not be had for another cheap, one-year contract this offseason. The Seahawks stole him in free agency last year, and he greatly rewarded them. He saw the field the least out of these high-end starters, but that is more due to a deep front line in Seattle than Bennett’s abilities. A versatile rusher, Bennett can be a true building block for any NFL team. With Seattle likely to allocate resources to other areas, Michael Bennett might see the market for the second year in a row.
Good starters
1) Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals. Age: 27 *signed with the Buccaneers*
- Michael Johnson’s sack numbers fell off a bit this season, but do not let that soil his image. Johnson grew into a more complete player in 2013. He still logged plenty of quarterback hurries, and set the edge with proficiency. The Bengals have locked up other members of the defensive line, so Johnson will likely get to test free agency. If the lack of sacks pushes his price down in, some team is going to get very lucky.
Solid Contributors
1) Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 26 *re-signed with Vikings*
- The former third round pick has been a rotational player only during his Vikings tenure. Given how well he has performed in that role, Everson Griffen might be ready for more. He is still very young, and can certainly rush the passer. Those types of players tend to do very well on the open market.
2) Lamarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 29 *signed with Raiders*
- His release was deemed necessary when Jason Worilds rushed to sign his transition tag, but Lamarr Woodley's play also forced the Steelers' hand. Woodley hasn't rushed the passer well the past few years, and there have been plenty of questions about his conditioning. Perhaps getting released will kickstart his career. Then again, he might just not be the player we once thought he was.
2) Jason Worilds, Pittsburgh Steelers. Age: 26 *transition tagged by Steelers*
- Jason Worilds was very quiet prior to this year, but has finally netted a starting job in Pittsburgh. He managed to keep first rounder, Jarvis Jones on the bench for most of the season. Worilds had himself a fine year, but its fair to wonder if he will sustain that going forward. His youth and physical upside will probably cause teams to give the benefit of the doubt. It is hard to blame them.
3) Justin Tuck, New York Giants. Age: 31 *signed with Raiders*
- A guy who should be a two time Super Bowl MVP, Justin Tuck has had an impressive NFL career. However, there have been more down moments the past two years. To his credit, Tuck did have some very good games in 2013. He looked more like his old self than the 2012 version. Tuck would be wise to accept a lesser role, where he can be better deployed. The Giants have not had the depth lately to exploit his incredible versatility they way they once did.
4) Corey Wooton, Chicago Bears. Age: 27 *signed with Vikings*
- Call this ranking a hunch. Corey Wooton had a nice 2012 season. Like many Bears defenders, he fell off the map in 2013. He might have a very good excuse, however. In order to compensate for an inordinate amount of injuries, Wooton was asked to play a lot of defensive tackle this season. That is not really his game. If he returns to the role of an oversized defensive end, he will certainly improve. It would be nice to see Wooton go to a team with a creative defensive mind.
Role players
1) James Harrison, Cincinnati Bengals. Age: 35
- The former Steelers star was pretty good in a limited role for the Bengals. James Harrison played strong side linebacker in a 4-3, and showed he can still come downhill against the run. It's possible a moving back to a 3-4, as a limited role player, would be beneficial for him.
2) Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears. Age: 34 *signed with Packers*
- His contract was too much to handle, and a down year saw Julius Peppers get released. He might still be able to rush the passer in a reserve limited snap role. Peppers isn't much of a threat against the run anymore, and he is certainly on the decline.
3) Chris Clemons, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 32 *signed with Jaguars*
- The aging pass rusher had his share of struggles, as he tried to return from a late season torn ACL he suffered in 2012. It remains to be seen whether he can rebound as he becomes further removed from his injury. Either way, he is a designated pass rusher at this point in his career, and if Clemons can't do that effectively anymore, he might already be at the end.
4) Robert Ayers, Denver Broncos. Age: 28 *signed with Giants*
- Take away the prejudice that follows a failed first round pick. Robert Ayers has carved out a really nice role in the NFL. He can rush the passer from the outside, and interior of the defensive line. As long as you do not want him to be your starter, you will not be disappointed with what Ayers brings.
5) Willie Young, Detroit Lions. Age: 28 *signed with Bears*
- His 2013 season says he should be higher, but Willie Young is probably best suited for a certain role. He can crash the pocket at times, but is still a bit streaky. He might get more than he is worth on the open market.
6) Shaun Phillips, Denver Broncos. Age: 33 *signed with Titans*
- Shaun Phillips was another Broncos defender who excelled in his role. He actually ended up contributing more than what they probably expected. Going forward, Phillips would be most effective if asked to play limited snaps. He can still win with savvy and power.
7) Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings. Age: 32 *signed with Bears*
- He was bandied about around the trade deadline, but no team bit on Jared Allen. Wise move. His play really fell off this season, and he looks to be near the end of the road. Allen did log over 1,000 snaps for the Vikings (per Pro Football Focus) and that was a big problem. He could look much better next season if he came in and out of games with more frequency.
8) Ropati Pitoitua, Tennessee Titans. Age: 29 *re-signed with Titans*
- A quiet and steady contributor, Ropati Pitoitua was a versatile piece for the Titans. His immense size indicates he should be used as an interior player, but his tape shows he can do more. Pitoitua will be a good, but unheralded addition for someone.
9) Parys Haralson, New Orleans Saints. Age: 30 *re-signed with Saints*
- Parys Haralson is no longer an every down player, but he still has a place in the NFL. He can provide a veteran presence, and a bit of a pass rush. Teams looking for a stopgap rush linebacker should consider this veteran.
10) Jeremy Mincey, Denver Broncos. Age: 30 *signed with Cowboys*
- Jeremy Mincey managed to slink his way out of Jacksonville and actually flashed a bit with Denver. He can still play the run well, and will occasionally put heat on the quarterback. A role player only going forward.
11) O’Brien Schofield, Seattle Seahawks. Age: 27 *signed with Giants*
- In very limited looks, O’Brien Schofield always manages to flash some nice ability. He was probably the third or fourth option at the Leo position in Seattle this year. Schofield is strictly a role player, but there might be a lot to offer here.
12) Will Smith, New Orleans Saints. Age: 32
- A classic case of a team not knowing when to let go. An iconic player from their Super Bowl run, Will Smith ran out of gas awhile ago, but the Saints never showed him the door. They even tried to miscast him into 3-4 linebacker role, but Smith was injured early on in the process. Smith might very well be done, but you might see a team bring him on in a very small role next season.
Diamond in the Rough
1) Anthony Spencer, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 30
- What will become of Anthony Spencer? He was franchised twice in a row, but suffered a major injury early this season. Even if he is healthy, he probably comes very cheap this offseason. Spencer was at his best as a standup rush linebacker. He played the run well and was adequate in coverage. Teams should not forget that when considering him this offseason.
2) Rob Jackson, Washington Redskins. Age: 28
- Rob Jackson filled in nicely for Brian Orakpo a season ago, but fell victim to his own injury in 2013. He is still relatively green and might be able to bring some pass rush to a rotation. At the very least, he is worth a look. Jackson might be more than a flash in the pan.
3) Marcus Bernard, Arizona Cardinals. Age: 29 *re-signed with Cardinals*
- He looked ready to take off years ago in Cleveland, but Marcus Bernard has not been able to stick since. He has been plagued by injuries, and an uncertain role. Perhaps a creative mine can find a nice use for him. Bernard can rush the passer, and will come dirt-cheap.
QB--RB--FB--WR--TE--OT--OG--C--Int. DL--Edge Plyr.--LB--CB--S--K/P
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