After the season is over, I’ll be rolling out some of my thoughts about what the Broncos’ offseason plan should be, but I figured I’d do a preview of sorts by looking at potential street free agents during the 2016 offseason.
This list of players is by no means a list of players the Broncos should consider signing, but is simply a reference point of players whose contracts do not expire after the 2015 NFl season, but could potentially be released.
Always remember that there are tow key differences between an unrestricted free agent and a street free agent. First, a UFA is a player whose deal with his team has expired while an SFA is a player who was cut before his deal expired. Second, teams may sign SFAs without losing out on potential compensatory draft picks, while signing UFAs could impact what comp picks they get.
Unlike the unrestricted free agent lists that are out there, this list is not final and we won’t know who will be available until teams actually start cutting players. Furthermore, not every player on the list is one for the Broncos to immediately consider. But there may be a couple of players who the Broncos could consider should they become available and they are willing to take a low-cost deal.
We’ll review them by team, in order of division.
Buffalo: Mario Williams, DE
Miami: Brent Grimes, CB; Jordan Cameron, TE
New England: Brandon LaFell, WR (note: ILB Jerod Mayo is on a contract option for 2016 and would be considered a UFA if the Patriots decline the option)
New York Jets: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT (note: QB Geno Smith could be gone, but he would go through waivers and could get claimed by another team given that his salary would be just $675,000)
Baltimore: Chris Canty, DE; Justin Forsett, RB
Cincinnati: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (the Bengals exercised the fifth-year option of his rookie deal but he failed to impress and they might let him go before the money becomes fully guaranteed)
Cleveland: Donte Whitner, S; Desmond Bryant, DE
Pittsburgh: Lawrence Timmons, ILB
Houston: Arian Foster, RB (might require an injury settlement depending on his health); Rahim Moore, S
Indianapolis: Andre Johnson, WR (he is due $2.5M in fully guaranteed money but the Colts may just consider that sunk costs); Trent Cole, OLB; D’Qwell Jackson, ILB
Jacksonville: Chris Clemons, DE; Toby Gerhart, RB
Tennessee: Michael Griffin, S
Denver: Ryan Clady, OT; Britton Colquitt, P
Kansas City: Jamaal Charles, RB (depends on his health and if the Chiefs are comfortable with Charcandrick West)
Oakland: Curtis Lofton, ILB
San Diego: Donald Brown, RB
Dallas: Brandon Carr, CB
New York Giants: Jon Beason, ILB
Philadelphia: DeMeco Ryans, ILB
Washington: Robert Griffin III, QB (they will certainly let him go before his 2016 salary becomes fully guaranteed); Pierre Garcon, WR
Chicago: No likely cuts.
Detroit: Stephen Tulloch, ILB; Joique Bell, RB
Green Bay: Julius Peppers, OLB
Minnesota: Mike Wallace, WR
Atlanta: Jonathan Babineaux, DE
Carolina: Charles Johnson, DE
New Orleans: Brandon Browner, CB (he’s due $2.75M in fully guaranteed money but the Saints may just consider that sunk costs); Marques Colston, WR
Tampa Bay: Logan Mankins, OG
Arizona: Cory Redding, DE
Los Angeles: Chris Long, DE (barring a possible extension); Jared Cook, TE
San Francisco: Ahmad Brooks, OLB
Seattle: Marshawn Lynch, RB; Jimmy Graham, TE
Many of these players that could be let go are aging, but a few either weren’t good fits for the team’s system or simply underperformed. Again, there’s no guarantee any of these players will be cut (although some are likely), but this gives you a rough idea about the potential street free agent class for 2016.
