NFL free agency is set to enter its third wave, as players on the open market will be finding a team sooner rather than later. Starting at 4 p.m. Monday, any free agent signed will not count towards the 2021 compensatory draft pick formula (teams will not forfeit a draft pick for signing a free agent).
This is an excellent sign for Jadeveon Clowney and Jameis Winston, who are still on the market. It's important to note Winston is close to signing with the New Orleans Saints, and they're likely waiting for deal to be finalized after the deadline.
There are still valuable free agents that haven't agreed to terms with a new team, including a top-10 player on Pete Prisco's Top 100 free agents list. The list below does not include Cam Newton, who was released by the Panthers, or any other late releases who weren't on Prisco's original top 100.
These are the top six free agents post-draft, and the best fits for each of them going forward:
1. Jadeveon Clowney
Teams are in desperate need for pass rushers and Clowney is still available. The price tag for Clowney will be high, but it's reportedly come down as he remains on the market.
Clowney hasn't fully lived up to the hype of being the No. 1 overall pick, but he's been productive. He has 32 sacks in six NFL seasons with 80 quarterback hits, 252 pressures and three Pro Bowl appearances. He has also graded out exceptionally well via Pro Football Focus, specifically over the past two seasons. Clowney finished with 31 tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles, 13 quarterback hits and 47 pressures in 13 games in 2019.
Best landing spots: Seahawks, Titans, Browns
2. Jameis Winston
Winston's free agent campaign is close to ending, as a deal with the Saints is close to being finalized. Winston was one of the top signal callers on the market, as he'll be competing with Taysom Hill for the No. 2 quarterback job in New Orleans.
Winston completed 60.7% of his passes for a league-leading 5,109 yards with 33 touchdowns and a league-high 30 interceptions. He became the first quarterback to throw for 450-plus yards in consecutive games and was the first quarterback in league history to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season. His seven interceptions returned for touchdowns is a NFL record.
Best landing spots: *Winston is close to signing with the Saints
3. Logan Ryan
Ryan would be an excellent value signing for any team that wants to add him to their secondary. He finished with 113 tackles, 18 passes defensed, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in all 16 games.
Opposing quarterbacks threw for five touchdowns and had an 88.7 passer rating targeting Ryan. Sure Ryan is coming off a down year, but he is just 29 and a reliable starter for any team that needs a cornerback.
Teams that couldn't get Darius Slay should take a look at Ryan. Or perhaps the team that did acquire Darius Slay...
Best landing spots: Falcons, Bears, Eagles
4. Jason Peters
Another aging left tackle that still good enough to start in the NFL. The Eagles decided to move on from Peters after 11 seasons, allowing him to seek a starting opportunity elsewhere. Injuries have limited Peters the past three seasons, which may hurt his market.
Peters had 10 penalties last season. He's played over 85% of the offensive snaps just once since 2014. Oh and he's 38 as well.
Best landing spots: Chargers, Redskins, Eagles
5. Markus Golden
Golden finished with 10 sacks and 72 tackles playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense last season, so why can't he find work? Production and age are working in Golden's favor, which is driving his price up. Doesn't help Clowney hasn't signed with a team yet, holding up the pass rusher market.
Inconsistency has plagued Golden, who recorded two double-digit sack seasons in five years, but has just 6.5 combined sacks in the other three campaigns (30 games). Signing Golden is a "boom or bust" move, especially if you're giving him multiple years and over $10 million a season.
Best landing spots: Giants, Ravens, Texans
6. Darqueze Dennard
It appeared Dennard was heading to the Jaguars, but the agreement to a three-year contract fell apart in the eleventh hour. The 28-year-old corner has spent his entire career with the Bengals, and is a former first-round pick.
Dennard started the 2019 season on the PUP list, but did return to play in nine games (five starts) for Cincy and totaled 37 tackles and five passes defended. According to Pro Football Focus, Dennard was the 22nd highest-graded corner in the league in 2019.
