With the NFL Free Agency period set to begin in less than 24 hours, let’s take a look at the list of teams in the NFL and their current cap numbers.
Oakland Raiders – $64,302,920
Jacksonville Jaguars – $59,338,623 (before the Red Bryant deal)
Cleveland Browns – $49,918,501
Indianapolis Colts – $41,014,750
Miami Dolphins – $35,181,273
Minnesota Vikings – $33,163,489
Green Bay Packers – $33,122,928 (before the Sam Shield deal)
Cincinnati Bengals – $27,554,957
Buffalo Bills – $25,634,541
Baltimore Ravens – $24,929,100
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $24,100,000
Philadelphia Eagles – $24,010,804
New York Jets – $23,328,558
Atlanta Falcons – $18,649,379
Arizona Cardinals – $17,800,087
Seattle Seahawks – $17,734,558
San Francisco 49ers – $14,999,984
New York Giants – $14,717,183
Denver Broncos – $13,701,763
New England Patriots – $12,946,420
Detroit Lions – $12,175,130
Tennessee Titans – $10,601,952
Kansas City Chiefs – $9,626,444
Washington Redskins – $9,585,235
Chicago Bears – $8,949,726
Houston Texans – $8,628,210
St. Louis Rams ($6,942,232) A few restructured deals are needed.
San Diego Chargers – ($5,633,735)
New Orleans Saints (-528,992) Before release of WR Lance Moore.
Dallas Cowboys (-650,690)
Pittsburgh Steelers (-672,066)
Carolina Panthers (-5,470,036)
Earlier we took a look at the offensive lineman and defensive lineman who are predicted to stay put and shift to a new team. Next on the list is quarterbacks and running backs.
RB – Chris Johnson – The Titans are going to try to trade him but with that being unlikely, Tennessee will ultimately release Chris Johnson. He’ll hit the market and I see two teams as the favorites and that’s the Raiders and Jets. In the end though I think the Raiders put a lot of money in him as their premier back.
RB – Maurice Jones-Drew – MJD is finally on the market and will need to find a good situation where there’s another back in the system or the plan to bring in one with him. The best spot I see fit for MJD is the Jets if they don’t land Chris Johnson. MJD won’t be offered the most amount of money but I think he could get a deal similar to Reggie Bush from last year.
RB – Darren Sproles – It’s expected that the Saints will cut him and once he hits the market, I think the Rams will make an attempt to get him at a cheap price. If not, then the Titans could very well replace Johnson with Sproles. For now I’ll say the Rams look to Sproles to back up Zac Stacy.
RB – Ben Tate – I can’t see Tate as a number one running back but two teams will and that’s because they don’t have a choice. The Cleveland Browns or the Jacksonville Jaguars. Who will it be? My vote is the Browns.
RB – Darren McFadden – Injuires have really hurt McFadden because he has the potential to be on the top of this list. In the end though the Cardinals won’t have to pay too much for McFadden but will hope to get at least some quality starts from him.
RB – Knowshown Moreno – The best year of his career with the Broncos came at the right time for Moreno. He’s going to find the right team and in my opinion it won’t be the Broncos. The Miami Dolphins still have a lot of money to spend and even if they spend it on two offensive lineman and two defensive players, they’ll still have plenty left for Moreno. You can expect a three or four-year deal.
RB – LeGarrette Blount – Blount is a powerful back that seemingly comes to work everyday. I don’t see the Patriots letting him go and I don’t see his value being high on the market.
RB – Rashad Jennings – Without question he’s a backup running back but he’ll still get paid a decent amount of money to serve in that role. My prediction is that he’ll come back to the Raiders.
RB – Toby Gerhart – It would be hard to believe that the Vikings let him go. They could benefit with another back behind Peterson but they have the money to spend on a guy who’s been there in that role.
With the running backs cleared, it’s now the linebackers’ turn…
LB – LaMarr Woodley – I think without question that Woodley is the best linebacker on the market and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team like the Philadelphia Eagles try to make a play for him. They could use him in their 3-4 defense right away.
LB – Brandon Spikes – Spikes is a great run stopper who’s looking for a fresh start. He’ll find it with a team in Minnesota who’s looking for some help at linebacker.
LB – Karlos Dansby – Dansby is nearing the end of his career but he’ll find a veteran contract somewhere to end his time in the NFL. Look for Tennessee to be his final landing spot on a two-year deal.
LB – Perry Riley – Reports are indicating that he will re-sign with the Redskins but if he doesn’t I think the market for him will be huge. The two teams I see as favorites are the Vikings and the Lions. For now though I’ll say the Skins get him back.
LB – Jon Beason – Another veteran option for a lot of teams. He’ll hit the market with some value after a good year with the Giants. Right now I think Beason will sign with a team like the Bills.
LB – Wesley Woodyard – He’a been great in coverage for the Broncos over the course of his career but I think his time there is coming to an end. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens try to make a run at him.
LB – Anthony Spencer – He’s your hybrid defensive end and linebacker off the edge who will be on the market. At the age of 30 years old, he won’t be getting top dollar but for now I think he’ll find a home in Atlanta.
LB – Shaun Phillips – Another hybrid defensive end and linebacker off the edge who hits the market after a good year with the Broncos. They’ll need him back and I think they will get him back.
LB – Daryl Smith – Last year was an excellent season for Smith with the Ravens and he’s emerged as the leader for this defense. No way they can afford to lose him.
