free agency?

RANKING THE 10 BEST WIDE RECEIVERS ABOUT TO HIT FREE AGENCY

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-the-best-wide-receivers-about-to-hit-free-agency/

Here we run down the list of the top wide receivers set to hit the open market in 2017.

1. Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears (77.6 overall grade in 2016)
Grading at an elite level in an injury-depleted 2015, Jeffery had high expectations under the franchise tag in 2016 that he didn’t live up to. Injured again for four games this past season, Jeffery recorded a career-high drop rate of 8.77 and his lowest catch rate since his rookie year, at 56.5 percent. Also recording a career-low in touchdowns, Chicago quarterbacks threw seven interceptions when targeting the former South Carolina Gamecock. Jeffery just turned 27 years old, and when healthy, he can be a dominant wide receiver. Staying healthy, though, is key, and his injury history will dampen the market for him, but his ability and size will still land him a sizable contract this offseason.

2. Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns (78.6)
Terrelle Pryor was grading as a top-10 WR before the Browns’ bye week and Robert Griffin III took over starting duties. Pryor and RG3 never landed on the same page, and the wide receiver’s production and grade took a hit, but the former Ohio State Buckeye still made the transition from failed pro QB to WR extremely well. Whether he stays in Cleveland or signs elsewhere, Pryor has shown to be a dominant force outside, and the sky is the limit for him if he has a stable quarterback situation. With remarkably natural hands, Pryor dropped just six passes (two in a game in which he tore ligaments in his thumb) and averaged 1.9 yards per route run over the first 12 weeks of the season.

3. DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins (77.0)
DeSean Jackson continues to be a big-play threat player in the NFL, as he has averaged over 17 yards per reception each of the past three seasons, with his 17.9 mark ranking third in the league in 2016. His ability to take the top off a defense is still one of the best in the NFL, and presents a danger any time he is on the field. Jackson has never developed a complete WR skill-set, likely because he didn’t need to early on in his career. Jackson will enter the 2017 season at the age of 30, so his production could decline, and his age will dampen his market. Regardless, Jackson still possesses game-changing speed and deep-receiving ability, and teams needing that extra element to their offense will come calling.

4. Pierre Garçon, Washington Redskins (85.8)
Pierre Garçon has been a quietly-good WR the past five seasons, despite gaining over 1,000 yards just twice in that span. Cracking a 70 percent catch rate in 2016 and averaging over 13 yards per reception for the first time since 2012, Garçon turned in the best season of his career. While the former Mount Union Raider will be 31 in 2016, his consistently good play will increase his market. Garçon is a complete wideout and is able to win in a variety of ways. With sure hands and consistent production for five straight seasons, any team looking to add an immediate, short-term starter would be hard-pressed to find a better player than Garçon.

5. Kenny Britt, Los Angeles Rams (76.5)
With Jared Goff and Case Keenum throwing passes to him, Kenny Britt gained over 1,000 receiving yards this past season. Britt has produced consistently-solid play in his career, but has never been a heavily-targeted receiver until 2016, when he topped 100 targets for the first time (109). Britt will turn 29 shortly after the 2017 season begins, but considering that his usage has been low throughout his career, his longevity might extend further than most. If Britt can produce at a solid level with the mess he dealt with in 2016, teams should see upside in the former first-round pick from Rutgers.

6. Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans (74.6)
Wright has been a forgotten player for Tennessee the past two years, as he and QB Marcus Mariota haven’t fully connected. Injuries have set him back in that time, as well, but if healthy, Wright is one of the best in the league in breaking tackles and gaining yards after the catch. A change of scenery might revive Wright’s career, even if he never does live up to his first-round draft status.

7. Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys (74.7)
A solid No. 2/3 WR for Dallas the past four seasons, Terrance Williams likely won’t see the same type of market Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu entered last offseason, but his strong play this past season will get him suitors. Catching 71.6 percent of his targets with just two drops, Williams did see his yards per reception drop to a career low 13.8, due largely to rookie QB Dak Prescott’s 31st-ranked deep-attempt percentage. In fact, Williams saw the fewest number of deep targets in his career in 2016. That said, he showed another element to his game this past season with the ability to catch more passes at the short and intermediate levels.

8. Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins (74.5)
With Drew Brees throwing Stills passes in 2014, the former Oklahoma Sooner excelled in his second pro season, as he was just 69 yards shy of 1,000 on just 63 catches. In a shocking offseason move, the Saints traded Stills to Miami, and his production took a hit in his first season with Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback. He bounced back in 2016, however, as he averaged 17.2 yards per reception and hauled in nine TDs. Stills has elite speed and has shown that, when utilized correctly, he can be a dangerous weapon.

9. Brandon LaFell, Cincinnati Bengals (75.7)
LaFell has had a pretty average career outside of a surprisingly bad 2015 with the Patriots. The former LSU Tiger found a bit of a resurgence with Andy Dalton under center this past season, as he dropped just two passes and yielded a passer rating of 106.1 when targeted. The concern for LaFell is that in the previous three seasons, he dropped 25 passes, so don’t expect him to suddenly show an excellent pair of hands moving forward. LaFell is a solid, cheap option for teams looking to get value opposite of an already-established WR.

10. Kamar Aiken, Baltimore Ravens (58.6)
Aiken’s 2016 season overall grade of 58.6 is more reflective of a “10 worst” article, but he was badly underused this past year, and earns this spot on the list because of his play in 2015. Injuries within Baltimore’s receivng corps that year forced the former UCF Knight to No. 1 WR status, and he thrived in the role, grading as a top-10 in 2015, showing a good ability to break tackles. Aiken will likely command a very cheap contract this offseason, and has breakout potential if on the right team.

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TOP 10 NFL CORNERBACKS SET TO HIT FREE AGENCY

Which 2017 UFA cornerbacks should should teams target this offseason? Nathan Jahnke runs down the list.

1. Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo Bills (73.2 overall grade in 2016 season)
Among this year’s cornerback class, Gilmore is the closest thing there is to a sure thing. As a rookie, he was the Bills’ starting right cornerback in Week 1. Since then, he has either been their right cornerback or tracked opposing No. 1 wide receivers. He has 48 combined interceptions and pass breakups since entering the league in 2012, tied for ninth-most. He allows a few too many big plays to be an elite cornerback, but the good plays he makes against the competition he faces far outweigh the bad. While he earned a lower grade in the 2016 season than most other CBs on this list, his larger body of work elevates him to the top of the ranking.

2. A.J. Bouye, Houston Texans (90.9)
Coming into the 2016 season, Bouye had logged less than 900 snaps of NFL experience on defense, and was fourth on the Texans’ depth chart. Thanks to injuries, he got his shot, and played like one of the top cornerbacks in league. Bouye was the only cornerback with 10 or more pass breakups and less than 10 yards per catch allowed in 2016. With just two missed tackles, he was one of the surest tacklers at the position. The biggest concern is that Bouye has only shown this ability over one season. He’s going to earn a pay day, but it’s very possible that he will never reach this level of play again. If he is able to reach it, though, some team might get a steal.

3. Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams (81.0)
Early in his career, Johnson’s play was average overall for a starter. Recently, however, he has developed into a solid starting cornerback for the Rams. Since entering the league in 2012, he has recorded 16 interceptions, tied for fifth-most; whoever signs him is bound to get some big plays. However, Johnson has also recorded 50 missed tackles since entering the league, fifth-most at the position. If a team can live with his missed tackles, Johnson can be a solid cornerback to leave on one side of the field.

4. Logan Ryan, New England Patriots (83.5)
Ryan is one of the biggest names among this free-agent cornerback group, thanks to being a starter for New England and his ability to go on hot stretches. Over the last two seasons, Ryan has been the third-most-targeted cornerback in the league, and by most metrics, he’s fallen between average to above-average. One thing that plays into his favor is that he has just two missed tackles in coverage over the last two regular seasons. Everyone above him on the list has very little slot cornerback experience, but Ryan saw the 12th-most coverage snaps in the slot for cornerbacks last year. He has stretches of play where he can get exposed, but some team will take advantage of his ability to line up at multiple positions.

5. Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys (84.7)
After being selected as the sixth-overall pick in the 2012 draft, Claiborne has largely been a disappointment. Over his career, he’s allowed a passer rating of 97.7, ninth-highest among cornerbacks with at least 1,500 coverage snaps since 2012. The reason he’s this high on the list is because in 2016, it seemed like Claiborne started to turn things around. Over the first half of the season (before missing the second half), he allowed a 51.9 percent catch rate and 8.9 yards per catch, both career lows. He has also performed well when lining up in press coverage. Claiborne allowed just nine of 25 passes thrown his way to be caught, and a passer rating of 29.4 when targeted after lining up in press. For teams that like lining up a cornerback in press coverage and are willing to take a risk, Claiborne could be the right guy.

6. Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville Jaguars (76.6)
Amukamara spent years with the Giants, consistently grading out just above average. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Jaguars, in which he proved he is still a slightly above-average cornerback. He has never been one to record many interceptions, but that hasn’t stopped him from preventing catches at a better rate than plenty of other cornerbacks. The players above him on this list may have a higher ceiling, but with Amukamara, you’re likely getting exactly what you expect. He will be an alright option as a No. 2 cornerback, but ideally, a team can use him as an outside cornerback just for nickel sets.

7. Dre Kirkpatrick, Cincinnati Bengals (74.7)
Kirkpatrick is the third 2012 first-round pick on this list. It wasn’t until his fourth year in the league that he became a starter. Over these last two regular seasons, he has 23 penalties, which is tied for the most among cornerbacks, and 30 missed tackles, also tied for the most. When he’s not missing tackles or having yellow flags thrown because of him, he has been able to prevent catches. His 58.6 percent career catch rate allowed and 11.5 yards per catch allowed are both below the league average, and he has stayed close to those two marks each of the last two seasons. If Kirkpatrick can tone down the missed tackles and penalties, then he could start to turn his career around. Without that improvement, though, teams may be better off without him.

8. Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota Vikings (75.5)
Since Munnerlyn joined the league in 2009, no cornerback has played more coverage snaps in the slot. His play from one season to the next has been sporadic, but for his career as a whole, he’s been an above-average slot cornerback. This past season was a particular down one for him, as he allowed a 76.5 percent catch rate, and is among the older cornerbacks on this list, which works against him. What works in his favor, though, is that every year, slot cornerbacks are used more and more, and there is not a high supply of slot CBs in this free-agent class. If there are even just a few teams wanting to pay for a slot cornerback, that could really drive up Munnerlyn’s price.

9. Terence Newman, Minnesota Vikings (86.4)
We have made it clear that Newman had an unprecedented year for a cornerback of his age (38) in 2016. The main thing holding him back on this list, however, is that age. Most cornerbacks in this top-10 ranking can be a solid starter for multiple years to come, and can possibly play even better, but Newman doesn’t have that kind of time. Over the last six games of the 2016 season, he played 65 percent or more of the Vikings’ defensive snaps just twice. If he can recreate the same level of performance in 2017 as he did this past season, though—even if he only plays 50 percent of a defense’s snaps—that adds value to a team.

10. Sterling Moore, New Orleans Saints (72.3)
While most cornerbacks on this list are high draft picks who have only played for one team in their career, Sterling Moore was an undrafted rookie who has made many stops along the way. He has seen plenty of time out wide and in the slot, and he’s consistently graded at or above average. He’s a cornerback unlikely to break the bank, and unlikely to ever become a star. However, when you have someone with versatility to where they can line up and you know you can get starting-caliber play from them, you have a good role player.