Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT
Free agency is a time of excitement and optimism for NFL teams and fans. Signing a big-ticket free agent to get the team over the edge creates newfound hope for many teams.
Due to franchise tags or just the price tags necessary to sign a player, most high-profile players are out of reach for teams in need. Teams can, however, still rectify roster holes by finding value through cheaper alternatives. This article explores three potentially pricey free agents (if they reach free agency), with alternatives for teams that cannot sign them.
Ndamukong Suh
Suh is the marquee player in this free agent class with a best chance of reaching free agency. He would bring a high cap number to the Lions if they opt to franchise tag him due to already having the highest cap number of any player in 2014 at over $22 million. In the open market, Suh has a realistic chance of surpassing J. J. Watt as the league’s highest paid defensive player. With a price tag that high, alternative options exist in the form of Stephen Paea and Jared Odrick. Both players are around the same age as Suh and would cost significantly less. Of course, this is for a reason. Paea is coming off his best season as a pro (despite the rest of the disgraceful Bears defense) while Odrick has looked more comfortable year after year in Miami, particularly in a 4-3. Both players are contributors on passing plays, but they can be liabilities against the run and have been inconsistent overall in their careers. These could be value signings if signed with teams that have run specialists at nose tackle and linebacker.
Justin Houston
Justin Houston is unlikely to hit the open market. That said, teams that need a rush linebacker could still have solutions available via free agency. Derrick Morgan has quietly become a good player during his time in Tennessee. He does not have the high sack numbers of some of his counterparts, but sacks are very misleading at times. Morgan gets consistent pressure off the edge while having the versatility to play in any defensive scheme teams use today. His run defense is not great, but he can hold his own in coverage compared to most of his peers. Morgan could be a real steal for a team this offseason.
If Brandon Graham had the same playing time as most star players in the league, he would probably be one of the most sought after players on the market because when he has played, he has been phenomenal. The Eagles have greatly underutilized him for some reason, but Graham is as efficient a pass rusher as there is in the NFL. He will not be cheap, but he is an excellent alternative for teams looking for a player like Justin Houston.
Jason Pierre-Paul
Pierre-Paul is a good candidate to have the franchise tag used on him by the New York Giants. He sets the edge against the run as well as any defensive end in the league. He probably does not have a good fit in a 3-4, but in a 4-3, he can be used in a similar manner to Michael Bennett of the Seahawks by moving to the interior on obvious passing downs. Because he likely will not be available as a free agent, teams that covet that skill set can look elsewhere.
Pernell McPhee has moved around the defensive line in the Ravens hybrid defense and played at a very high level wherever he has lined up. Though not as stout a run defender as Pierre-Paul, McPhee compensates by being a superior pass rusher who can fit well in any defense. The past couple of years, he has given the Ravens an interior presence on passing downs to complement Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil off the edges. Because of McPhee’s versatility and the importance of pass rush, almost any team with the cap space should give him a strong look.
McPhee may be the only potential free agent who could be a good alternative to Jason Pierre-Paul. In truth, not many players who can play all across the line at a high level reach the open market. This could drive up McPhee’s price tag, but the price tag could also be driven down by his relatively light workload and having teammates around him to take some stress off.