Andrew Harnik/Connected Press
With the start of NFL practising camps mere weeks away, a number of high-profile free agents stay unsigned. Glide-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is the biggest name left on the market now that 9-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters has re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is powerful from the greatest tall-hitter available.
Tight discontinuance Jordan Reed is a form of doubtless free-agent dwelling runs. He’s somewhat of a threat, as injuries accept as true with shrimp him to appropriate 19 games all the plot in which thru the final three seasons—in conjunction with all of 2019. On the different hand, he was as soon as a Pro Bowler in 2016 and carries pretty loads of upside for a team taking a procedure to take care of shut a huge gamble.
Consistent with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, no longer no longer up to three groups are drawn to taking that probability:
Whereas Rapoport didn’t list any groups particularly, there are a pair that form ultimate sense. The Dallas Cowboys, for instance, want to procure a alternative for Jason Witten. The Carolina Panthers would possibly presumably utilize a alternative for Greg Olsen.
On the different hand, there is a sleeper team out there that would possibly presumably form even more sense for Reed: The San Francisco 49ers.
Sure, the 49ers accept as true with arguably the league’s simplest tight discontinuance in George Kittle. On the different hand, they seem drawn to adding a second pass-catching tight discontinuance to the offense. Consistent with NFL Community’s Michael Silver, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made a speed at “the TE he coached” in Austin Hooper earlier in free company.
Shanahan coached Hooper while offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. He moreover coached Reed for the length of his rookie season in 2013.
Whereas Shanahan and Reed didn’t exhaust a ton of time together, there would possibly be some familiarity there. That, alongside with San Francisco’s desire to accept as true with an elite tight discontinuance duo, will be sufficient to land Reed with the 49ers.
Prediction: Reed signs with San Francisco
Whereas a concussion label Reed his 2019 season, Minnesota Vikings defensive discontinuance Everson Griffen had a stellar campaign. He racked up 41 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 24 quarterback hits and was as soon as named to his fourth Pro Bowl.
Yet, Griffen hasn’t drummed up a ton of ardour to this level, which, as Yahoo Sports activities’ Charles Robinson lately identified (h/t Jeff Cavenaugh of 105.3 The Fan), is uncommon:
The Cleveland Browns made some sense for Griffen, as unique head coach Kevin Stefanski comes over from Minnesota. On the different hand, the Browns accept as true with never truly been drawn to him, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
“As a ways as Everson Griffen, , that would want to be a good buy-basement thing,” Cabot lately told 92.3 The Fan. “They’ve never been drawn to him. Despite the undeniable reality that Kevin Stefanski has a historical previous with him from Minnesota, they appropriate accept as true without a longer shown any ardour in signing him.”
Griffen lately spoke up on Twitter about the perceived lack of ardour. His post was as soon as in accordance to a tweet from Moshe Kravitz of WIP Radio suggesting that the defensive discontinuance would possibly presumably moreover peaceable be on the tip of the desire list for the Philadelphia Eagles and other groups:
Some would possibly presumably take care of shut this as Griffen looking to land in Philadelphia. On the different hand, it be more likely that Griffen merely believes that he would possibly presumably moreover peaceable garner more ask this leisurely in free company.
He would possibly presumably be a trusty match in Philadelphia, obvious, but a return to Minnesota would possibly presumably form even more sense. He perceived to be done with Minnesota for the length of early free company, but he moreover told NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero “never speak never” regarding a imaginable return.
Alongside with his window to land with a team sooner than camp winding down, a return to the Crimson and Gold would possibly be Griffen’s simplest wager to procure a dwelling and accept as true with one other stable season in 2020.
Prediction: Griffen re-signs with Minnesota.
Larry Warford
Guard Larry Warford is one other Pro Bowl player left sitting on the open market. He’s coming off succor-to-succor-to-succor appearances in the all-star exhibition and a 3-yr stint with the Modern Orleans Saints.
The Eagles would accept as true with been a ultimate touchdown region for Warford, as they wanted a alternative for injured guard Brandon Brooks. On the different hand, they re-signed Peters to succor accept as true with that void. Adding Peters and Warford would possibly presumably be overkill.
On the different hand, there would possibly be a team out there that would possibly presumably present an equally very most fascinating match: The Carolina Panthers. Carolina traded Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner to the Los Angeles Chargers for address Russell Okung. Warford can even be a colossal alternative for Turner, and his contract demands are no longer uncommon.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported succor in Could that Warford was as soon as shopping for something in the $7 million-per-yr differ. This would possibly possibly form for a tight match, but it completely would possibly presumably be doable, as the Panthers accept as true with appropriate over $11 million in cap region, per Spotrac.
The Panthers would moreover form sense, as offensive coordinator Joe Brady labored with Warford in Modern Orleans in 2017 and 2018.
Warford moreover spent the final two seasons working with unique Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Prediction: Warford signs with Carolina.
