Stretching the Field: NFC Free Agency Impact
by Luke Paul Chandler
With free agency 11 days away, Luke Chandler looks at which players can impact their team’s free agency plans in the NFC.
As free agency nears, teams will start to identify their needs and who can fill those needs. Teams will need to first look at their own players before seeking outside help. This week, each NFC team’s needs will be looked, and the players that can alter their free agency plans identified.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Jamar Williams OLB - With free agent Lance Briggs a lock to depart in free agency, Williams likely gets the first shot at Briggs’ weak-side position. Bears insiders and staffers love the speedy third-year man, but does he have the instincts that made Briggs a superstar?
Josh Beekman OG - With the interior of the offensive line aging quickly, Beekman may be asked to step into a starting role in 2008. Beekman’s slide into the second day of the draft was shocking, but his talent is real. If the Bears want to continue with a power ground attack, a mauler like Beekman is needed.
Detroit Lions
T.J. Duckett RB - With the firing of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator, the team will look to utilize a more traditional ground game. Starting running back Kevin Jones has had his career derailed by injuries again, and the rock may be put on Duckett’s shoulders to carry early in the season. Some critics have said Duckett lacks the vision to be a starting back, and this will be his biggest chance to prove them wrong.
Ramzee Robinson CB - Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Robinson has a chance to crack a beleagured secondary. The incumbent in front of him, Fernando Bryant, has been spotty at best. Robinson has good quickness, but he will need to make better decisions if he wants to make an impact in 2008.
Green Bay Packers
Brandon Jackson RB - Drafted as the man who would eventually take over the starting job in Green Bay, Jackson was a disappointment this past season. Jackson lacked physicality and a feel for Mike McCarthy’s version of the West Coast offense. Starter Ryan Grant has a physical running style, and is just one hit away from the IR. If Jackson can show better vision and understanding of the Packers running scheme, he could be a valuable asset.
Will Blackmon CB - With a superstar duo of Al Harris and Charles Woodson entrenched as the starters ahead of him, Blackmon needs to translate his eye-popping athleticism and quickness into a more prominent role on punt returns, where he should be shining.
Minnesota Vikings
Brian Robison DE - The recent announcement of the Vikings that starter Kenechi Udeze is battling leukemia means the team’s second wave of defensive ends need to stand up. Robison has the highest upside and was a solid wave rusher this past season. He is not as strong at the point of attack against power ground games, so it will be interesting how the Vikings front office handles this situation.
Aundrae Allison WR - In an offense that lacks any dynamic weapons in the passing game, Allison’s deep speed could be a factor. The Vikings have the worst set of wide receivers in the league, but there is promise between Allison and Sidney Rice.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Jimmy Williams FS - As the new Falcons regime makes wholesale changes to an organization in need of a fresh look, integrating Jimmy Williams as the starter at free safety has to be looked at. Williams could be a natural at free safety because of his comfort playing in zone coverage, and this would allow Chris Crocker to move to his more natural strong safety position.
Montavious Stanley DT - New head coach Mike Smith has made an emphasis on replacing the team’s one-gap tackles with more stout and physical tackles. Stanley holds up well against the run, and gives the Falcons a bit of girth in the middle.
Carolina Panthers
Justin Hartwig C/OG - The cash-strapped Panthers will likely be moving Hartwig, a flop free agent signing from 2006, to left guard this season to make room for Ryan Kalil at center. Hartwig is a better fit at guard under offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson’s zone blocking attack.
Charles Johnson DE - The troubles at defensive end for the Panthers are huge. Julius Peppers is falling apart, and is a free agent after the 2008 season. Former starter Mike Rucker will likely be allowed to move on in free agency. Johnson is mostly a speed rusher who played sparingly as a rookie, but has the body and skill set to become a starter at right end.
New Orleans Saints
Usama Young CB - The Jason David experiment flopped, as he struggled to grasp the concepts of playing press man coverage after playing in zone for most of his pro career. David likely will face competition from the speedy young, who’s very raw in his technique. Young has the speed and build to jam receivers at the line a way David just couldn’t.
Andy Alleman OG - Jamar Nesbit has been a steady force in the Big Easy, but he is a free agent and unlikely to be back. Alleman is not the mauler that Nesbit is, but he’s much more athletic and could end up being an elite pass protector. It’s unlikely the team goes outside the organization to fill this need.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Lehr C/OG - As the Bucs look to replenish the offensive line, look for Lehr to be a key piece. Lehr has the ability to step in for starting center John Wade, who is going to depart in free agency. Lehr is also a solid technician.
Greg Peterson DT - 2007 was a breakout year for Jovan Haye, who stepped up as the three-technique tackle. Haye is a restricted free agent, though, and the team may be forced to turn the position over to Peterson. Peterson is quick off the snap and uses his hands well.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Hatcher DE - Rumors persist that the Cowboys are shopping starter Marcus Spears after two lackluster years in a row. The monstrous Hatcher could be the first in line at the job, but his technique needs a great deal of work. He has mostly been used as a pass-rush specialist, but could blossom into much more.
Sam Hurd WR - With Terry Glenn not likely to be back in Dallas and the elevation of Patrick Crayton to the starting lineup, Hurd needs to show he can be relied upon as the slot receiver. With a team that has an aggressive passing attack like the Cowboys, having as many options at receiver as possible is necessary.
New York Giants
Michael Johnson S - Johnson’s rookie season in 2007 was promising. He played well in nickel and dime packages, and showed good man coverage skills and good physical play. If Gibril Wilson leaves in free agency, the Giants would likely hand the starting job over to Johnson.
Gerris Wilkinson OLB - Wilkinson, who’s been featured in this column before, could step into Kawika Mitchell’s weak-side linebacker job should he leave in free agency. Wilkinson is an aggressive defender who can handle the blitz responsibilities needed for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Philadelphia Eagles
Reno Mahe RS - The Eagles have had some of the worst kick return numbers in the league over the past few seasons, yet they keep coming back to Mahe as the answer. He improved slightly this year and showed better vision, but
Pat McCoy OT - With an aging Jon Runyan in front of him at right tackle, the relatively unknown McCoy may be in a position to inherit a starting job soon. McCoy is a mauler in the mold of Runyan.
Washington Redskins
Rock Cartwright RS - The Redskins front office is actively shopping punt return specialist Antwaan Randle El, which increases the likeliness that Cartwright will need to handle dual return roles if Randle El is traded. He has grown into a reliable kick return specialist, but does he have the first step quickness needed to return punts?
Jason Campbell QB - While it seems unlikely to list a franchise cornerstone here, Campbell’s presence is a plus for new head coach Jim Zorn. Zorn runs a West Coast offense similar to what Campbell thrived in his senior year at Auburn under Al Borges. If Campbell can assimilate back into the West Coast offense quickly, the team has very little need to make a move for a quarterback.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Daryl Blackstock OLB - The Cardinals hybrid 3-4 defense keeps constant pressure on the quarterback, but it may lose one of its best pass rushers, Calvin Pace, in free agency. Blackstock has been a disappointment in Arizona, but he’s finally playing in a defense that suits his skills. Blackstock has all the tools physically, but mentally he struggles.
Jerheme Urban WR - The Cardinals expect to lose their current third receiver, Bryant Johnson, in free agency. When Urban had to step into the starting lineup due to injuries, he performed well. Urban has a knack for finding soft spots in zones and as a yards-after-catch specialist. He also gives the team roster flexibility with his strong special teams play.
San Francisco 49ers
Jason Hill WR - New offensive coordinator Mike Martz will open up the 49ers’ passing attack this year, giving the rarely used Hill a chance to shine. Hill has good speed and is a technical route runner, musts for Martz’s timing based system. The 49ers will likely show more four-wide looks this year, so Hill has to shine.
Adam Snyder OG - The 49ers’ offensive line is again in flux with the retirement of guard Larry Allen. Snyder has played both tackle spots in the past two seasons, but he may get first crack at the open left guard position. Martz favors athletic pass blockers on his line, a job that fits Snyder’s skill set.
Seattle Seahawks
Ray Willis OT - The entire Seahawk line is in flux; with starter right tackle Sean Locklear an unrestricted free agent. If the Seahawks go outside the organization to fill this need, they will spend a good deal of money in free agency on portion of the roster. Promoting Willis would give head coach Mike Holmgren a more physical presence then Locklear, but they would lose pass blocking.
Mansfield Wrotto OG - The overhaul of the Seahawks guards started with last week’s signing of Mike Wahle, who likely moves into the starting lineup at left guard. At right guard, though, the Seahawks will need to make decision between the aging Chris Gray and Wrotto. Wrotto has quick feet and athleticism, and would be an upgrade over the physically broken down Gray. Another option may be Rob Sims, who played on the left side last year. At the very worst, Wrotto will be promoted to top backup.
St. Louis Rams
Clifton Ryan DT - The athletic Ryan was a playmaker in a limited role in 2007, and the Rams will look to capitalize on that. Ryan backed up both the under and nose tackle position in 2008, but the team may look to groom him to replace La’Roi Glover in 2008. Ryan has good off-the-snap quickness and hand use.
Todd Johnson S - With Corey Chavous not getting any younger at strong safety, Johnson may need to be evaluated deeply. Johnson has been a spot starter for the Bears in the past, and is a solid run stuffer and initimdator in the middle. His lack of recovery speed has been an issue for him in the past, and may be the reason he has never been elevated to full time starter.
Contact Luke at luke@newerascouting.com.