3 still unsigned in Shutdown Corner’s top 25 NFL free agents
Here’s our list of the top 25 free agents overall, with updates on their destinations:
AGREED WITH GIANTS: He’s good against the run, has 25.5 sacks the last three years and is just 25. He’s a big-time impact free agent. Vernon’s transition tag was removed Wednesday, which allowed him to head to the Giants, where he got a five-year, $85 million deal, according to an NFL Network report.
AGREED WITH JAGUARS: Jackson is a big, interior presence who can destroy a run game by himself. And he can also rush the quarterback. Jackson reportedly got a six-year, $90 million with Jacksonville.
AGREED WITH GIANTS: Harrison isn’t just a space-filler; he has averaged almost 65 tackles a year the last three seasons. At 350 pounds, he instantly upgrades any run defense. Landed a five-year, $46 million deal with the Giants, according to NFL.com.
AGREED WITH RAIDERS: Big, tough and athletic, Osemele looks like a special lineman, a key reason why he reportedly has a five-year, $60 million deal with Oakland.
AGREED WITH GIANTS: Jenkins is a top-flight cornerback and only 27 years old, so he’ll be worth premium money for New York. The Rams took his teammate, Trumaine Johnson, off the market by giving him the franchise tag. That helped Jenkins too, making him the best cornerback on the market.
AGREED TO RE-SIGN: The production can’t be argued. He had 1,402 rushing yards, a 4.9-yard average and is capable in the passing game as well. The Bucs are keeping him in the fold with a five-year, $35 million deal, according to ESPN.
AGREED WITH RAVENS: A do-it-all safety who is excellent in coverage and has been really good against the run through the years. Age (31) is a factor, but he can still play. The Ravens gave him a four-year, $26 million deal, according to an ESPN report.
AGREED WITH CHARGERS: Hayward is a smart, athletic playmaking cornerback. He’s versatile too, and his ability to cover the slot is a plus. San Diego signed him to a three-year, $15.3 million deal.
AGREED WITH JAGUARS: Ranking him high is a leap of faith that he can stay healthy. All the physical tools are there. If he can avoid injuries he could be a top NFL corner. Got a one-year deal with Jacksonville.
Injuries have been an issue. But when healthy he is a gifted left tackle, and players like Okung are always in demand.
And here is the rest of the top 25:
11. Seattle Seahawks OLB Bruce Irvin (AGREED WITH RAIDERS): A wild card, because he’s likely to be signed to rush the quarterback, but he didn’t rush much in Seattle. But he’s incredibly athletic and could take off with the Raiders, who have a four-year, $37 million deal with him, according to USA Today.
12. Kansas City Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali (RE-SIGNED): Hali is 32. But he’s consistent and durable, and has 86 career sacks. He might not be a long-term answer, for the Chiefs, but is rock solid in the short term, getting a three-year deal.
13. Kansas City Chiefs CB Sean Smith (AGREED WITH RAIDERS): A big, consistent cornerback who will be just 29 next season can be an asset to the Oakland Raiders, who gave him a four-year, $40 million deal.
14. Miami Dolphins RB Lamar Miller (AGREED WITH TEXANS): Miller has a 4.6-yard average but was underused. He had one game of more than 20 carries in four years. Can he be as productive with more work? The Texans will find out, according to an NFL.com report. Miller got a reported deal for four years and $26 million.
15. Denver Broncos QB Brock Osweiler (AGREED WITH TEXANS): Osweiler isn’t simply a flash in the pan. He’s a former second-round pick who hadn’t played because he was behind a future Hall of Famer. There’s a good reason to see untapped potential here in Houston, according to several media reports. He was the most attractive quarterback on the market after Sam Bradford re-signed with Philadelphia.
16. Buffalo Bills DE Mario Williams (AGREED WITH DOLPHINS): Williams’ production fell off last year, and he’s 31 now. Perhaps the Miami Dolphins talked themselves into that poor showing being a result of a bad fit in a new scheme. He had double-digit sacks in each of the three previous seasons. Williams got a reported two-year deal.
17. San Francisco 49ers DT Ian Williams (RE-SIGNED): Maybe a little high, but he had a strong season in the middle of the 49ers defense in 2015. He seems to be on the rise, a reason why the Niners kept him on a five-year extension valued at $5 million to $6 million per season, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee.
18. Kansas City Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson (RE-SIGNED): If you want a long-term solution, 33-year-old Johnson isn’t your guy. But he showed last year he’s as good as ever and can still contribute at a high level. The Chiefs are keeping him on a three-year, $21 million deal, according to an ESPN report.
19. Cincinnati Bengals OT Andre Smith: Smith is a former top-10 pick, and he’s still just 29 with seven years of experience.
20. Denver Broncos LB Danny Trevathan (AGREED WITH BEARS): Trevathan is a tackling machine who is also capable in coverage. He was great find for the Denver Broncos and a big part of their No. 1 ranked defense. He’ll take his talents to John Fox and Chicago.
21. Indianapolis Colts LB Jerrell Freeman (AGREED WITH BEARS): You can pencil Freeman in for 100 tackles every season. He’s a good, rock-solid three-down linebacker. Signed with the Bears for three years and $12 million.
22. Cincinnati Bengals S George Iloka (RE-SIGNED): Iloka is a good, young, versatile safety who has improved during his time with the Bengals. He’ll be just 26 next season, so Cincinnati gets him in his prime years after extending him to a five-year, $30 million deal, according to an ESPN report.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers OT Kelvin Beachum: Beachum is coming off a knee injury, but linemen often return at full strength from ACL surgery. He’s a solid, young left tackle, and he’ll get a nice deal.
24. Indianapolis Colts TE Coby Fleener (AGREED WITH SAINTS): Fleener hasn’t turned into a superstar. But he’s still a top athlete and has played well in spurts before. He can be a good piece for the Saints, who signed him to a five-year deal.
25. San Francisco 49ers G Alex Boone (AGREED WITH VIKINGS): Boone has started at guard for the 49ers each of the last four years. He’ll help the Minnesota Vikings with his pass or run blocking, getting a four-year, $26.8 million deal, according to a Minneapolis Star-Tribune report.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
