I PICK ONE PERFECT FREE AGENCY SIGNING FOR EACH NFL TEAM

Every NFL team could benefit from an excellent free agency move this offseason. I laid out the perfect signing for every team.

The race for the Super Bowl title is still on for a few teams, but most NFL franchises have already focused their attention on the offseason. Preparing for the draft is a big part of that process, but teams still have the ability to change their fortunes quickly with the right free agency signings.

This year’s class is full of talent at a wide variety of positions. Specifically, a lot of impact edge rushers could hit the open market. Teams that want to improve their pass rush can solve those problems this offseason if they are willing to oven up their wallets.

The only place this free agency class appears to be weak is along the offensive line. Most teams will have to solve those problems through the draft. There are a few guys who could help teams with the right scheme, but it’s not a bumper crop of tackles and guards.

In this piece, we’re going to walk you through the perfect free agency signing for every team in the league. Note, we’re working under the assumption that any team in the NFL can create cap space if they are properly motivated. We are also trying to make informed decisions about how things might actually shake out.

For example, not every team in the NFL can ink Jadeveon Clowney. I might mock him to a few teams, but he won’t be prescribed for every team in need of an edge rusher. Let’s get started with the AFC North and the team that I cover the Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH STEELERS – ANTHONY BARR

The Steelers roster is still missing a linebacker capable of filling the void left when Ryan Shazier suffered his horrific injury. Several guys tried to take steps forward in 2018, but no one really has the physical gifts required to run with tight ends and slot receivers in pass coverage.

Barr isn’t really that kind of player either, but he’s a step in the right direction. His arrival in the Steel City would help slot the rest of the linebackers back in their proper spot in the team’s hierarchy. Most importantly, he’d allow Mike Tomlin to put Vince Williams back onto the bench.

Despite the team’s struggles this year, there’s still enough talent on the roster to make a serious run at one more Super Bowl for Ben Roethlisberger. This defense isn’t going to suddenly become the new version of the Steel Curtain, but it needs to be respectable. Barr is the right sort of veteran to help transform the entire group into an effective unit.

Steelers fans will want to see a sexier signing in free agency, but adding a good, solid linebacker like Barr could really boost Tomlin’s team. Pittsburgh might be linked with guys with more upside, but Barr’s high floor should be attractive to the Steelers front office.

ARIZONA CARDINALS – ADAM HUMPHRIES

If the Cardinals are going to get on the right track, they need to do everything within their power to make Josh Rosen a success. A big part of that equation needs to be surrounding him with quality talent at wide receiver. Larry Fitzgerald isn’t going to play forever.

Humphries isn’t a like for like replacement for the sure-fire Hall of Famer, but he’s a young wideout who can grow up with Rosen in this offense. The former Clemson stand out had a big year with Tampa Bay in 2018. He finished the campaign with 76 catches for 817 yards and five touchdowns.

It’s easy to envision Humphries developing into a safety blanket for Rosen in the near future. He is a precise route runner with really good hands. Christian Kirk is the guy who can take the top off of defenses for the Cardinals, but they still need a guy who can produce solid gains via underneath routes. That happens to be Humphries’ specialty.

Cardinals fans need to understand that Humphries won’t come cheap. This is not a deep free agent class at the wide receiver position. He’s a player that will draw a lot of attention from teams looking to add a reliable pass catcher. Humphries would be a costly acquisition for Arizona, but he’d be a huge boost for Rosen.

ATLANTA FALCONS – RAMON FOSTER

The Falcons aren’t going to return to the playoffs if they can’t protect Matt Ryan. It’s particularly important for Atlanta to keep inside pressure away from their franchise signal caller. It’s hard to do that without quality play at the guard position.

The team might choose to bring Andy Levitre back, but even if they do, adding another steady veteran like Foster could pay big dividends. The current Steelers starter can really help kick-start the Falcons run game. The team shouldn’t pay a 33-year-old guard big bucks on the open market, but a reasonable, short-term deal for Foster would be a quality move for the Falcons.

BALTIMORE RAVENS – LE’VEON BELL

Adding a diva like Bell may not fit the usual operating procedure for the Ravens, but it may be time to really change things up in Baltimore. Building an offense around Lamar Jackson at quarterback is going to require some unconventional thinking. Putting a dynamic player like Bell behind him in the backfield would give opposing defenses a lot to think about.

Remember, a big part of Bell’s success with the Steelers came about due to his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Jackson could benefit massively from having a guy he can dump the ball off to who can turn short throws into long touchdowns.

If you don’t think the Ravens need to add offensive talent this offseason, you need to go back and look at their struggles to move the ball with any consistency against the Chargers. Bell probably doesn’t win that game for Baltimore, but there’s no debate he changes its complexion significantly.

The only question here is how much cash the Ravens would need to shell out to make this dream a reality. A big money deal is fine, but it shouldn’t be a long-term contract. Adding Bell to the mix for two or three seasons would really give Baltimore a chance to find out what they have at quarterback.

BUFFALO BILLS – MATT PARADIS

Our apologies to Bills fans who were hoping to see a sexy, offensive weapon for Josh Allen here. Buffalo could certainly use a wide receiver with a big catch radius to aid Allen’s development, but that guy isn’t available free agency. That’s why signing a quality offensive lineman would be a solid move for the franchise.

Inking a center like Paradis isn’t going to revolutionize the Bills’ offense, but it will help keep Allen upright more often. The quarterback’s propensity to take off and flee the pocket should be a big concern for the franchise. In fairness to Allen, the putrid play of his offensive line made that the right read for him a lot of the time.

Paradis’ season with the Broncos ended early courtesy of a broken fibula, but numerous reports claim the injury won’t bother him in 2019. As such, he should expect a pretty robust free agency market. Pro Bowl caliber lineman that hit free agency at 29 doesn’t come around all that often.

Even if Paradis proves to be really expensive, the Bills should consider it a worthwhile investment to stabilize their team’s biggest weakness. They may need to add as many as three starters this offseason. Checking one of those boxes with a borderline Pro Bowler is no-brainer for the Bills if they can coax Paradis to make the move.

CAROLINA PANTHERS – DONOVAN SMITH

It’s past time for Marty Hurney and company to pull the plug on Matt Kalil at left guard. He missed a lot of time in 2018 and he wasn’t good when he was on the field. Protecting Cam Newton’s blind side must be a huge priority for the Panthers this offseason.

It’s very possible the Buccaneers will elect to franchise Smith, but if they let him go, Carolina needs to pounce. He isn’t a Pro Bowl caliber tackle, but he’s a solid starter that Ron Rivera can trust out there every week. The Panthers haven’t had that sort of comfort at the left tackle spot since Jordan Gross retired.

Smith is also an ideal fit for a team that’s trying to win right now. The Panthers could easily choose to address the tackle position via the draft, but any rookie plugged into that spot is going to face some struggles early on. One missed block could end Newton’s prime. Minimizing that risk by adding a veteran should be very attractive for the Panthers.

If Smith isn’t available, the Panthers could easily turn their free agency attention to any number of edge rushers. They aren’t likely to be players for Clowney or DeMarcus Lawrence, but someone like Frank Clark or even Trey Flowers could be an interesting fit. Carolina has to fix one of their big issues in the trenches via free agency.

CHICAGO BEARS – TEDDY BRIDGEWATER

We understand this is a bit of a controversial selection. Mitchell Trubisky has a lot of fans amongst the Bears’ passionate fan base. We aren’t necessarily suggesting that Matt Nagy bench him in favor of Bridgewater, but a little competition at the quarterback position could really benefit this team.

The obvious challenge here is that Bridgewater is going to look for a team that’s willing to project him as their starter in 2019. We’re a little unsure of whether or not that sort of market is really going to materialize. If it doesn’t, the Bears would be a really interesting fit for a player with Bridgewater’s skill set.

Nagy’s offense requires a quarterback to utilize mobility and make accurate short and intermediate throws. Bridgewater doesn’t throw deep balls with outstanding velocity, but he’s really good closer to the line of scrimmage. He’s just the sort of quarterback who can get guys like Tarik Cohen, Jordan Howard and Trey Burton the ball in space.

We’ll understand it if the Bears elect to double down on their belief in Trubisky, but it’s not the only reasonable route for the franchise to take. Acquiring a quality backup quarterback would really eliminate a lot of risk for Chicago moving forward.

CINCINNATI BENGALS – ANTHONY BARR

It’s time for the Bengals to turn the page on a number of players they’ve invested serious trust in. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is clearly a guy the franchise cannot afford to rely on. The trouble is that he’s the most talented linebacker on the Cincinnati roster at the moment.

Prying Barr away from the Vikings would change that in an instant. He’s not a perfect linebacker due to his struggles to rush the passer, but he does almost everything else well. He’d give the Bengals a really solid player to build their defense around for years to come.

Based on ability, you’d expect Minnesota to make a strong bid to re-sign him. Remember, the Kirk Cousins mega contract puts the Vikings in a really tough financial spot. They’re going to need to let some quality players leave to keep their payroll under control. Barr looks like a likely casualty.

He’ll have lot of suitors on the open market, but the Bengals are one of a handful of teams that can make him the unquestioned leader of their linebacking corps. That’s something that will appeal to Barr’s personality and physical gifts. He’s a perfect match for the Bengals current roster.

CLEVELAND BROWNS – GRADY JARRETT

There are strong indications that the Falcons want to lock up Jarrett with a long-term extension, but until that happens, he remains one of the most interesting defensive tackle targets in free agency. He’s just the sort of dual-threat inside defender the Browns need to add in the offseason.

Cleveland has some quality pieces on defense, but this group ranked 28th against the run in 2018. A big part of their struggles came via their inability to stop inside zone plays. Trevon Coley really struggles to hold up against physical guards at the point of attack.

That’s not something that Jarrett struggles with. He’s one of the rare defensive tackles in the NFL who shows the ability to stand up against the run and help rush the passer. Adding an inside defender who can stay on the field during all three downs would be a really impactful move for the Browns.

There aren’t a ton of quality defensive tackles that even have a chance to hit the open market this offseason. If Jarrett makes the list, he’s going to attract a lot of interest. The Browns will need to make a big offer to bring him to Northeast Ohio, but he’s a perfect fit for a team that’s ready to move into the playoffs.

DALLAS COWBOYS – LAMARCUS JOYNER

The addition of Leighton Vander Esch stabilizes the Cowboys’ linebacking corps for the foreseeable future. The midseason trade for Amari Cooper did the same for the Dallas receiving corps. There’s still work to be done in the Dallas secondary.

Our final decision came down to Joyner and Tyrann Mathieu. In the end, we see Joyner as a slightly better fit for what Dallas likes to do on defense. We won’t argue with the Cowboys signing either safety, but Joyner gets the slight nod.

At the very least, he’d be a solid upgrade over Jeff Heath at the strong safety position. Put him at the back of this defense alongside Xavier Woods and the potential to produce a lot of turnovers really increases. The team’s offense is never going to be electric with Dak Prescott at the helm, but efficiency is his strong suit. Winning the turnover battle consistently could really push the Cowboys up the standings.

It’s possible the Rams will attempt to re-sign Joyner, but Marcus Peters will likely be a higher priority for Sean McVay and company. Dallas should swoop in and take advantage of the lack of cap space in Los Angeles.

DENVER BRONCOS – LANDON COLLINS

The Broncos have some high-end talent, but there are needs all over the roster. There’s an obvious need to upgrade the offense, but that’s going to happen via the draft. Free agency gives John Elway a chance to make this defense dominant once again.

Vonn Miller and Bradley Chubb give Denver two excellent pass rushers to build around. Unfortunately, the secondary didn’t hold up their end of the bargain in 2018. In particular, the Broncos struggled to get any type of playmaking out of the safety position.

Adding Collins to the mix could immediately correct that problem. He’s been a consistent stand out for the Giants since they selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft. It’s very possible New York will franchise him this offseason, but he’s definitely going to want a long-term contract somewhere.

Denver is a perfect fit for a safety who wants to take chances to make plays in the final third. Collins could gobble up a lot of errant passes from quarterbacks who are being harassed by the Broncos pass rush. Safety is a big need for Denver this offseason and Collins is the best fit for this team’s timeline for contention.

DETROIT LIONS – JADEVEON CLOWNEY

The Lions finished the season with Romeo Okwara and Kerry Hyder as their starters at defensive end. No disrespect to either guy, but neither player is going to help you change that game when rushing the passer. That’s why the Lions need to address the weakness via free agency.

In a perfect world, Ezekiel Ansah would have been dominant for Detroit this season playing under the franchise tag. Instead, he struggled to get on the field at all for the Lions. It’s all but a certainty that he’ll depart via free agency.

The obvious question with Clowney is whether or not the Texans will slap the franchise tag on him. That’s highly likely. If they don’t, almost every team in the NFL will place a call to his representatives in an attempt to gauge his market.

Detroit could really benefit from a player like Clowney who specializes in disrupting opposing offenses in their own backfield. Matt Patricia is a defensive coach who could really get the most out of his versatility as well. This signing may be a relative long shot, but it’s the dream Lions fans should have.

GREEN BAY PACKERS – SHELDON RICHARDSON

Richardson made a big bet on himself last offseason by signing a one-year contract with the Vikings. His outstanding campaign in Minnesota means he’s set to cash in with a long-term contract from someone this offseason. The Vikings may choose to make a big offer to keep him in the fold, but that’s going to be tough with all of their other financial commitments.

That should give Packers fans hope that Richardson can come in and transform their defensive front. If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy it’s clear this team is going to score points. What’s not as obvious is how the Green Bay defense can prevent games from devolving into shootouts.

The front office has spent a lot of draft capital on the secondary in recent drafts, but that’s going to be a fruitless investment unless this team improves up front. Matt Lafleur was hired to cater to Rodgers, but he also needs to spend considerable time getting this defense up to par.

Richardson may not be a perfect defensive lineman to play in a 3-4 setup, but talent is more important than fit in this situation. If the Packers have an opportunity to ink an impact player like Richardson they should adjust their scheme accordingly. He’s just the sort of high quality defensive lineman that can help the rest of this defense come together.

HOUSTON TEXANS – DONOVAN SMITH

It’s no secret that the Texans need to do a much better job protecting Deshaun Watson in the future. Some of that can be helped by an adjustment to the team’s offensive scheme, but a lot of it comes down to personnel. This is a franchise that is in desperate need of help along the offensive line.

Our final choices here came down to Paradis and Smith. Both players have been mentioned previously, which shows you just how thin the offensive line options are in free agency. If Smith hits the open market he’s going to get a lot of big money offers.

He may not be the answer to Bill O’Brien’s prayers on the blind side, but he’s a massive improvement over both Julie’n Davenport and Martinas Rankin. Smith’s insertion into the Texans’ starting lineup might actually allow Watson to throw the ball from a fully formed pocket on occasion.

The Texans face a ton of pressure this offseason to retain Clowney, but improving their options along the offensive line should be just as much of a priority. It’s the only way this team is going to take a step forward in 2019. Expect much of Houston’s offseason efforts to be focused on fortifying their glaring weakness up front.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – TREY FLOWERS

Andrew Luck’s dramatic, and perhaps improbable, return to enjoy a completely healthy 2018 campaign piloted the Colts to a terrific playoff run. The offense could definitely use more weapons, but there aren’t a ton of great options available in free agency. That’s why defense will be where the Indianapolis front office does their shopping.

The decision to draft Darius Leonard in the second round last April couldn’t have worked out any better for the Colts. He gives them a linebacker capable of gobbling up tackles at a prodigious clip. One thing he can’t do is consistently rush the passer.

The Colts actually didn’t have a single player reach the 10 sack plateau in 2018. That’s why finding a premier edge rusher should be a big priority this offseason. There’s certainly some logic to putting a guy like Jadeveon Clowney or DeMarcus Lawrence in this spot.

However, neither player really seems like a fit for Frank Reich’s idea of how a player should perform. Flowers, in sharp contrast, feels like just the sort of versatile star who could thrive on the Colts front line. The Patriots should try to keep him, but Bill Belichick can be very cheap when it comes to edge rushers. If the Colts want to make Flowers a strong offer they should be in position to land him.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – TYROD TAYLOR

The Jaguars were arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL this season. Blake Bortles’ inability to adequately man the quarterback position was a big reason why Jacksonville struggled so much. It’s hard to imagine Bortles starting next season at the controls of Doug Marrone’s offense.

The best plan for the Jaguars moving forward would be to use the draft to select their signal caller of the future. That doesn’t mean they should rush him right into action when the 2019 season begins. Instead, acquiring a guy who can bridge the gap between winning now and installing a rookie would be ideal.

Bridgewater should be a consideration for Jacksonville, but Taylor is a better fit for how their offense needs to function in the short-term. This is a team that needs to go back to their roots of relying on defense to win games. Taylor, if nothing else, can protect the football and make an occasional play with his legs.

Jacksonville doesn’t need to pay Taylor a lot of money, but a reasonable one or two-year deal with some quality incentives should be enough to get a deal done. He isn’t the guy who will lead them to postseason glory, but he might be the guy who can get them back into the playoffs.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – TYRANN MATHIEU

Andy Reid’s team has no shortage of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. The Chiefs defense, however, is an entirely different manner. There’s some talent on the unit, but they could really use another playmaker in the back-end. There’s no more intriguing playmaker in free agency this season than Mathieu.

The Texans should do everything they can to keep The Honey Badger, but he also has the ability to go out and look for a team with better odds of winning a Super Bowl next season. Playing on a team with a high-scoring offense would be a welcome change for Mathieu.

Some Chiefs fans might be wondering exactly how Mathieu can fit into a secondary that has Eric Berry and Ron Parker as their starting safeties at the moment. The simple truth is that Kansas City should add Mathieu now and figure out the details later. Berry has struggled to stay on the field and Parker isn’t more talented than Mathieu. The former LSU star would find a way to play serious snaps for this defense.

The Kansas City coaching staff would love to face the “problem” of how to get all three guys on the field at once. It’s very possible Mathieu could go back to playing some slot corner with the Chiefs. No matter how you look at it, he’s a playmaker this team desperately needs on defense.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – KWON ALEXANDER

A rash of injuries at the linebacker position has forced Gus Bradley to move multiple safeties into the position for the stretch run. Bradley deserves credit for keeping his defense afloat despite the lack of healthy linebackers, but it’s not something the franchise should bank on moving forward.

That makes Kwon Alexander a terrific free agency target for the Chargers. The Buccaneers clearly want to keep their starting inside linebacker, but the two sides are still disagreeing over exactly how much Alexander is worth. That could give the Chargers an opening they can capitalize on.

His size makes him a really good fit for Bradley’s scheme. Alexander isn’t great when he’s asked to play in space, but that’s not what the Chargers want from their linebackers. They want guys who can fill the box against the run and that’s Alexander’s specialty.

Expect the Chargers to examine a number of different defensive targets in free agency. Someone like Barr, or even a high impact safety could easily draw big time interest from Los Angeles. Adding a big, physical linebacker like Alexander should be the team’s top priority in the offseason. The apt question is whether the better value is present in free agency or the draft.

LOS ANGELES RAMS – FRANK CLARK

The Rams tried to solve their need for an edge rusher by adding Dante Fowler, Jr. during the season, but he didn’t solve the team’s issues. That, coupled with the likely departure of Ndamukong Suh means Los Angeles will be shopping for defensive line help in free agency.

It’s tempting to slot a defensive tackle like Sheldon Richardson into this spot, but there are simply too many edge rushers available to ignore. The Rams could easily go for a bigger name like Clowney or Lawrence, but Clark is the better fit for the team’s scheme and timeline.

Remember, the current Seahawks star is still just 26-year-old. He’s just hitting the prime of his career. The Rams could easily sign him to a five-year contract for big money and feel like they’re going to get the most productive seasons of Clark’s time in the NFL. He may not ever lead the NFL in sacks, but he’s a good bet to finish most years with double-digits with all the talent Los Angeles’ defense possesses.

Clark is used to playing alongside quality defensive lineman, but lining him up next to Aaron Donald on a regular basis would be an entirely new experience for him. The Rams are a good bet to snag a quality defensive end in free agency, and no one should be surprised if it turns out to be Clark.

MIAMI DOLPHINS – DEVIN FUNCHESS

The biggest long term question in Miami is who will take over for Ryan Tannehill at the quarterback position. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, there isn’t a superior option available via free agency. No matter who throws the passes in South Florida moving forward, they’re going to need better options at the wide receiver position.

Funchess represents a terrific buy low option for a franchise that can really use a big-bodied receiver. He’s clearly worn out his welcome with the Panthers. Despite being given numerous opportunities to establish himself as Cam Newton’s No. 1 wide receiver, Funchess has never really ascended to that role. That’s not something the Dolphins will ask of him.

Instead, they should target Funchess to be a quality cog in their offensive machine. They shouldn’t ask him to stretch defenses with his speed. Instead, they should feel content to let Funchess use his big body to work over the middle. He’s really more of a jumbo tight end than a top-flight wide receiver.

The good news for the Dolphins is that Funchess could come to Miami on the cheap. If the Dolphins want to try to strengthen their team with a serious reclamation project, Funchess could be the perfect player to sign in free agency.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS – ANDY LEVITRE

The Vikings are another team that seemed to crumble under the weight of massive preseason expectations. Similar to the Jaguars, they fell well short of their Super Bowl aspirations. Much of Minnesota’s struggles can be traced back to struggles along the offensive line.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of quality guards and right tackles available on the open market this offseason. Andy Levitre is a decent starter, but you’d be hard-pressed to describe him as anything more than that. Fortunately for the Vikings, that description would be a significant upgrade for their group.

It’s very possible the Vikings will choose to sit out the free agency market until very late in the game. If they choose that route, Levitre might be gone before they jump into the fray. That would force Minnesota to lean even heavier on the draft process to protect their high-priced quarterback.

The franchise can’t afford to only try to use rookies to start along the offensive line. Striking the right mix between veterans and rookies will be essential. Signing a stable presence like Levitre could really help the young guys come along at the right pace.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – ADAM HUMPHRIES

Everyone in New England is wondering what the Patriots are going to do after Tom Brady calls it quits. That isn’t something the franchise can address via free agency this offseason. Making sure Brady’s Super Bowl window stays open as long as possible is definitely something the front office can accomplish.

Humphries is another repeat option on our list. He seems like a guy who is destined to play for Bill Belichick. He isn’t a great big play threat, but he is an exceptional route runner. Give him an opportunity to build some rapport with Brady and the results could be pretty spectacular.

Think of Humphries as a souped up version of Danny Amendola. The Patriots let him leave via free agency and never found someone who could fill his void in the offense. Belichick may not like to pay big bucks to wide receivers, but Humphries might be too good of a fit to pass up.

The obvious alternative here would be to give the Patriots a pass rusher, but Belichick is even less likely to pay a premium for an edge rusher. Trying to predict New England’s moves is a challenge, but they’d be wise to sound out Humphries when free agency begins.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – NDAMUKONG SUH

Sean Payton and the Saints never shy away from adding controversial talent to the Saints roster. Adding Suh to the team’s front line is a risky move, but it’s one that could pay off handsomely for New Orleans.

Remember, the Saints head into the draft without a first or third-round selection at their disposal. They lost both in the trade for Marcus Davenport. Some people still don’t like that deal, but the jury is still out on just how disruptive Davenport can be.

Even if he blossoms in his second season, the Saints could still use some additional push from the interior of their defensive line. Sheldon Richardson will get strong consideration, but the Saints are unlikely to hand him the long-term contract he desires. Suh, in sharp contrast, might be willing to ink a one-year deal with a team ready to make a Super Bowl push.

Suh frustrates coaches with his propensity to freelance against the run, but the Saints’ explosive offense allows them to play from front a ton of the time. That forces the opponent to pass. Suh’s lack of discipline is less of a concern when he’s turned loose to rush the passer. The big defensive tackle would be a big hit in the Big Easy.

NEW YORK GIANTS – MATT PARADIS

The Giants are another franchise whose offseason will largely be defined on what they do at the quarterback position. Finding an heir for Eli Manning should be Dave Gettleman’s top priority by a wide margin. That doesn’t mean he can ignore protecting the player charged to throw passes for New York next season.

Gettleman has a long history of investing heavily in his offensive line. That’s why signing Paradis will be such an attractive target for him. He’s precisely the sort of road-grader that can stabilize the middle of New York’s offensive line. That could help Saquon Barkley avoid any type of sophomore slump.

It will also help keep the young player who should take over for Eli Manning at some point next season stay upright. This team can’t afford to let a young quarterback get his confidence destroyed by running for his life on a weekly basis. Keeping interior lineman out of the quarterback’s face is also a strength of Paradis.

One additional note here is that signing a safety in free agency might be required if Landon Collins chooses to play elsewhere next season. If he leaves, guys like Mathieu, Joyner and even Earl Thomas could come into play here.

NEW YORK JETS – JADEVEON CLOWNEY

There’s an obvious need in New York to give Sam Darnold the weapons on offense he needs to succeed. Unless you want the Jets to go after Le’Veon Bell, that sort of player isn’t available on the free agency market. Instead, New York should work to fill those sorts of needs through the draft.

This free agent class is deep with edge rushers. Clowney might be the best of the group. He’s certainly the best edge guy available who already knows he can thrive in a 3-4 setup on first and second down.

Adding Clowney to the Jets defense would give them the best overall group they’ve had since Rex Ryan patrolled the sidelines. That may not be an era of fond memories for Jets fans, but they did have some quality defenses during his tenure. For the current roster, Clowney is the sort of pass rusher who can help maximize the ball hawking ability of the New York secondary.

Clowney is also young enough to still be in his price when Darnold and the Jets offense finally comes of age. It might be a year or two earlier than the team’s front office want to spend big in free agency, but adding a talent like Clowney is worthy of accelerating their timeline.

OAKLAND RAIDERS – FRANK CLARK

Much of what the Raiders will try to accomplish in free agency must be informed by what Jon Gruden and company want to prioritize in the draft. One way or the other, Oakland has to find a way to replace some of the production they lost when Khalil Mack left town.

Clark isn’t close to Mack’s level as an edge rusher, but he’s a significant upgrade over what’s currently on Gruden’s roster. The Raiders finished the year with Frostee Rucker starting at defensive end. We’re not sure he’s ever been a good pro, but if he was, it was absolutely several seasons ago.

At 26, Clark is young enough to still be in his prime when the plethora of Gruden’s draft picks start to come of age. It’s important for the Raiders to have an adult in the locker room while all of those young players are learning what it means to be an NFL player. Clark is a great example of the type of young veteran that should be attractive to Oakland’s front office.

Trying to figure out what Gruden and new GM Mike Mayock are going to do is a really difficult job at the moment. Adding a potential starter at defensive end has to happen this offseason. The depth of talent on the edge at free agency should interest the Raiders new brain trust.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – DEMARCUS LAWRENCE

The Eagles are probably going to lose Brandon Graham in free agency which leaves them at least one pass rusher short of where they’d like to be heading into 2019. Fortunately, there are a number of intriguing free agent options who will be interested in playing for a team with Super Bowl caliber talent all over the roster.

There’s no reason the Eagles shouldn’t pursue guys at the top of the free agency food chain. Lawrence definitely qualifies. He’s just entering the real prime of his career at 27 years of age. Adding a Pro Bowl sack artist like Lawrence could go a long way towards covering up the weaknesses in the Philadelphia secondary.

Obviously, Lawrence heading to Philly is the stuff of nightmares for Cowboys fans. That only makes it a more enticing option for the Eagles. Strengthening your own roster is really good, but doing so at the expense of your division rivals is even better.

At the very least, the Eagles brass should make their interest in Lawrence widely known to make sure the Cowboys are forced to pay top dollar if they want to keep him in Dallas. Philadelphia should be heavily involved with every premier edge rusher available this offseason.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – JADEVEON CLOWNEY

DeForest Buckner is a terrific edge rusher, but he’s the only guy who can consistently generate pressure on the passer for the 49ers. That has to change for San Francisco this offseason. Look for Kyle Shanahan to make a sales pitch for every quality edge rusher available.

Clowney’s versatility makes him the most attractive target for Robert Saleh’s defense. The team’s decision to move Buckner inside to get the best four defensive lineman on the field at one time is indicative of how the organization tries to operate.

With that being said, Solomon Thomas isn’t holding up his end of the bargain. He looks like a potential Pro Bowl defensive lineman, but when the lights come on he just doesn’t get it done. Sliding him back into a reserve role might allow him to be a an edge rushing specialist for San Francisco.

Putting Clowney next to Buckner and Arik Armstead could shift the balance of power in the NFC West. If the 49ers want to take down the Rams and Seahawks, they’ll need to knock their quarterbacks off their spots. Clowney will be expensive, but he’d be money well spent for Shanahan.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – LANDON COLLINS

The chances of Earl Thomas returning to Seattle next year are pretty remote. That means Pete Carroll needs to find a replacement in free agency. Adding Collins to the mix could potentially upgrade the Seahawks defense.

His ability to cover ground in the deep third would be a welcome change for Ken Norton Jr’s defense. Thomas has great ball skills, but he’s starting to lose at least one step when it comes to coverage down the field. That’s a big strength for Collins.

The one reservation about Collins is whether or not he really has the physicality required to thrive for the new version of the “Legion of Boom.” He likes to throw his weight around, but he’s nowhere near the run defender that Thomas can be near the line of scrimmage.

That shouldn’t be too much of a concern for Carroll and the Seattle brain trust. They simply can’t afford to lose any talent in the secondary. Losing Thomas will be an emotional blow for the fan base, but adding Collins can replace him on the field. He’s just the sort of safety Seattle needs to stay near the top of the NFC West.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – LAMARCUS JOYNER

The Buccaneers offense absolutely lit up the scoreboard in 2018. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay still wasn’t a legitimate playoff contender. That makes it pretty obvious the defense needs some work over the offseason.

Frankly, Tampa Bay has needs all over the place on that side of the ball. The team could absolutely stand to add another talented edge rusher to help generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That shouldn’t be the team’s top priority though.

Dirk Koetter’s team ended the year with Jordan Whitehead and Andrew Adams as their starting safeties. Not only is neither guy a big name in the NFL, both guys struggle mightily to play at anything approximating a league average defensive back.

The good news for the Buccaneers is that several high quality safeties are available on the free agency market. Tampa Bay could go with Mathieu or Thomas, but Joyner is the best fit. To win in the NFC South, you have to be able to stop big time wide receivers. Joyner is the right guy to patrol center field for the Bucs.

TENNESSEE TITANS – JADEVEON CLOWNEY

The Titans are another team that will enter free agency in need of help rushing the passer. Drafting Harold Landry was a solid step in the right direction for Matt Vrabel’s team, but they need to double down on help off the edge this offseason.

Again, Clowney is the guy who should emerge as the top target here. Vrabel values defenders who have the ability to rush the quarterback and drop in coverage. Clowney makes the headlines for his sacks, but he’s an underrated player in space.

This is the right time for the Titans to go for it in free agency. They narrowly missed out on a postseason berth in 2018. Adding a dynamic defender like Clowney could be just what this team needs to push into the playoffs in 2019.

The biggest question here is whether or not Vrabel is willing to sanction a big money move for an edge rusher. As we mentioned before, that’s something that his mentor, Belichick, wouldn’t be comfortable with. In this case, we recommend that Vrabel goes off script. His old boss is really good, but he’s not infallible.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS – ANTHONY BARR

The injury to Alex Smith has the Redskins in the front office in a really difficult spot heading into the offseason. They need to add a new franchise quarterback, but that’s only going to be available via the draft. Trying to attract quality offensive free agents on offense is going to be really difficult without knowing the identity of the trigger man.

That makes it prudent for the front office to focus on the defensive side of the football during free agency. When you look at the Redskins’ options on that side of the ball the lack of talent at the linebacker position jumps off the page. Ryan Kerrigan is still playing at a high level, but he could really use some help.

Again, Barr is the ideal cure for what ails Washington. He’s not going to come in and revolutionize the way they play, but he can help stabilize the entire unit. Barr is the right kind of veteran to help this group play well even if the offense doesn’t function at a high level.

The only reason Barr may not be perfect for Washington is in the event they choose to enter into a legitimate rebuild. There are no indications emanating from Washington claiming that will be the case. Redskins fans may want a sexy offensive signing, but a solid defensive move is the right type of transaction for their offseason.