Taylor was only a starter in 2006. He could get starter's money in 2010.
On Wednesday, I listed my top five NFL free agents on defense.
The defensive crop of free agents are a bit younger (sans Darren Sharper) than the group of players available on offense. NFL Network analyst Mike Lombardi jokingly called this group “the senior tour.”
However, there are some valuable young legs that teams might throw lots of money at. Also, there are no shortages at running back. If a team doesn’t get option number one, two, or three, option number four might still be a good signing.
Anyway, onto my top five free agent players on offense.
Sure, he’s not flashy, but Pennington is a good solution for teams in need for a bridge solution or a solid back-up quarterback.
At age 33, he is coming off of a season he spent on injured reserve with an injured right throwing shoulder. That’s the same shoulder he had surgery on in both 2004 and 2005.
However, as The Redzone Report’s own Kevin Roberts put it, Pennington is the best option at quarterback currently on the market. A team like the Buffalo Bills, who are uncertain at the position, might be interested in obtaining Pennington’s services.
Bryant has a ton of talent as far as wide receivers go. He’s got good size, good hands, and great speed to stretch the field. So why isn’t someone with his talent higher on this list?
There are some questions regarding his character. In fact, it’s safe to say that Bryant is a straight up head case. Also, he’s coming off a season where he battled knee problems.
Still, he should find a home. Remember, two seasons ago, Bryant caught 83 balls for 1,248 yards and 7 touchdowns. Those numbers are probably still fresh on many executives’ minds.
Shortly after cutting LaDainian Tomlinson, the San Diego Chargers chose not to tender or re-sign Sproles. That doesn’t mean he won’t return to southern California, but he should get some offers from plenty of other teams.
Sproles stands at only 5’6″ and 185 pounds and is dual threat out of the backfield as a speedster and receiver. Teams can also use him as a return man because of his effective speed and shiftiness.
However, should a running back who might not be able to carry the full load get $7.5 million plus annually? Well, a lot of teams desire someone like Sproles to team with another back. And sometimes, teams break the bank when they’re desperate.
(BREAKING NEWS: THE CHARGERS PLACE TENDER ON SPORLES, MAKING HIM A RESTRICTED FREE AGENT)
2. Thomas Jones
Don’t be fooled. There is a market for Jones, who will be 32 when next season starts. His ability to stay in tip-top shape helped him get a career-high 1,402 yards on the ground last season.
The New York Jets are expected to cut Jones Friday because he’s due a $3 million roster bonus and a $2.8 million base salary in 2010. They aren’t looking to hand out that cash due to the emergence of Shonn Greene last season.
There might be a lot of tread on on Jones’ tires. But he can carry most of the load for a team with a small window. A team like the Philadelphia Eagles, who cut Brian Westbrook, have only one viable option in LeSean McCoy and could use someone like Jones in the backfield.
Wait, how can a career back-up with only one year as a starting running back in 2006 be number one?
Taylor is a guy who is going to get a whole lot of money to either carry the load or be a highly used part-time running back. Why? Because he possesses the much desired ability to run and catch the ball out of the backfield.
Also, the tread on the tires are extremely low for someone who is 30 years old. Taylor’s only major season was when he started 15 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. That season, he had over 1,200 yards rushing, on 303 attempts and six touchdowns.
