Where I Think The Top Offensive Free Agents At Each Position Will End Up
This years free agency will be a big one.
Free agency is right around the corner, the best time of the year and this years free agent class is a stacked one. Here is where I think the top offensive players at each position will end up.
Quarterback: Jameis Winston to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This years quarterback class in free agency looks weak, but has some sneaky gems in it like Winston, Mariota, and Bridgewater. I think Winston is the best quarterback of the bunch and I am predicting that he’ll play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season.
Tampa lost Brady to retirement recently and their only viable option on the roster is Kyle Trask. Winston last played for the Bucs in 2019 where he passed for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. The Bucs have the offensive line and weapons to help Winston succeed and while there would be a drop off between Brady and Winston, I don’t think it’d be as big as people think.
Winston threw for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 3 picks in seven games this season before tearing his ACL. New Orleans will try to hang onto the Florida State alum, but playing with Mike Evans, possibly Chris Godwin and Gronk, and Scotty Miller will be too tough to pass up.
Running Back: Leonard Fournette to the Buffalo Bills
While the Bucs are going to try and bring Winston back, I think that their number one back will be heading north to Buffalo. Fournette in a Bills uniform just seems right. He’s gritty, runs hard, and is tough as nails and will be a great instrument in Buffalos offense with Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Cole Beasley.
Running back is kind of a shaky position for the Bills and Fournette would be the quick and efficient fix in Buffalo. If the Bills had a two headed monster in Fournette and Singletary in the backfield then I think they’d become the favorite to win the AFC.
Wide Reciever: Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, Chris Godwin to the New England Patriots
Two of the leagues top pass catchers are going to hit the market and I don’t think they’ll be resigning with their current franchises. For Davante Adams, it’s uncertain if Aaron Rodgers will be returning to Green Bay and the top landing spot for him will be back with his college quarterback Derek Carr.
The Raiders have around twenty million in cap space this offseason and could make a substantial offer to the Fresno State alum. He’d be a great weapon alongside Waller and Renfrow and would make the Raiders legit competitors for the AFC West.
Turning south we have Chris Godwin and with Tampa having only around six million dollars in cap, I don’t think he’ll be back in red and white. Instead, I think that Godwin is going to sign with the Patriots who have a little more cap space and will earn more when they dump contracts from players like Dont’a Hightower.
For Mac Jones to take the leap from a good rookie to an established sophomore, he’ll need a true number one. Godwin could be that number one receiver for Mac and will be a great get for the Patriots. He’ll fit into the offense as a big play pass catcher that can take the top off most corners and safeties in this league.
Tight End: Mike Gesicki to the Tennessee Titans
The Titans are in the red when it comes to cap space, but not by much. Anthony Firkser and Geoff Swaim are set to become free agents so if the Titans let those two walk, then they can bring in Gesicki as their number one tight end. The Penn State alum caught 73 passes this season with 780 yards and 2 scores. With him having a down year, the Titans don’t need to give Gesicki a massive contract do bring him in which benefits the organization.
Gesicki adds a good underneath target for Tannehill and has the ability to take a safety deep and make a big play. He’ll be the second or third option and create a sneaky good receiving group with himself, Julio Jones, and A.J. Brown.
Tackle: Terron Armstead to the Cincinnati Bengals
Coming off a trip to the Super Bowl where we saw the Bengals offensive line play like toddlers, it became very important that they need to protect Joe Burrow. Cincinnati has close to fifty million dollars in cap space and have the chance to sign one of the leagues top pass protectors in Armstead.
Armstead only allowed one sack last year, but was a bit banged up. He’d be an awesome addition to keep Burrow upright and would be a step in the right direction of beefing up their offensive line. From there, the Bengals could grab some cheaper free agent offensive linemen like Connor Williams, Will Hernandez, or Dennis Kelly. Big time signing to get back to the Super Bowl and protect your young quarterback.
Guard: Brandon Scherff to the Los Angeles Chargers
Scherff was franchise tagged last offseason by Washington and he clearly wants out. The Chargers have some vacancies along the front five and Scheff would be a great fit in their system to keep Herbert upright in the same way Armstead will in Cincinnati.
The Chargers have around fifty eight million in cap, second most in the league, and it looks like they could lose one of their starting guards in Michael Schofield in free agency. Scherff allowed no sacks this season in a division with solid pass rushers so he’d be the ideal player in front of the Chargers young gunslinger.
Center: Ryan Jensen to the New York Giants
Offensive line is going to be a focal point of the Giants this offseason as they go into rebuild mode. They have young offensive lineman, but no one that you can put a lot of faith in. Ryan Jensen would be a clear leader for on this offensive line and a great pass protector for Danny Dimes.
The Giants need to let Nate Solder and Austin Johnson walk to bring the thirty year old center in. He’s extremely physical and doesn’t play with a chip on his shoulder, he plays with the whole boulder on his shoulder. Last season he allowed only two sacks with five penalties.
Now if New York signs Jensen, they have more wiggle room to use there fifth and seventh overall picks. Bringing in Jensen means they could draft a player like Ikem Ekwonu at five and then can grab a corner like Stingley or a receiver like Jameson Williams. This pickup would be huge for their offseason.