The 10 Best Bargains in 2014 NFL Free Agency

Ranking 10 Best Bargains in 2014 NFL Free Agency Michael Gartman Feb 19, 2014All too often, front offices around the NFL try so hard to scoop up what they think are the missing pieces to their Super Bowl puzzle on the open market that they wind up bending over backwards for overpriced big-name free agents that fail to live up to expectations.  Unfortunately for these teams and their fans, dishing out loads of money in free agency rarely leads to championships.While there’s no one-size-fits-all way to build NFL teams, perhaps the smartest and most effective approach is to follow in the footsteps of the Super Bowl XLVIII Champion Seattle Seahawks by unearthing gems with bargain free agency deals, along with tumbling steals in the middle-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft10. Seattle Seahawks CB Walter ThurmondThe 5-11, 190-pound cornerback has started just eight games since getting picked up by the Seahawks in the fourth round (No. 111 overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Oregon. Thurmond is expected to receive a one-year contract on the open market, but it’s not due to his lack of starting experience; it’s because he’s just one positive drug test away from a one-year suspension.If not for the four-game substance-abuse suspension (marijuana) he received in late November, Thurmond, 26, would have entered Super Bowl XLVIII as a full-time member of the Legion of Boom. Instead, he was relegated to nickel corner behind Byron Maxwell. Someone is going to land a career backup on a one-year deal to be a potential stalwart cornerback.9. Tennessee Titans WR Kenny BrittThe former 2009 first round selection (No. 30 overall) out of Rutgers appeared to be developing into one of the league’s top receivers after hauling 42 receptions and over 700 yards in each of his first two seasons (and nine TDs in ’10) and kicking off his 2011 campaign with a bang with 17 receptions for 289 yards and three TDs before suffering a season-ending injury in the third week of the season.But Britt has looked like a shell of his former self since the 2011 ACL injury.  The 6-3, 223-pound wide out hauled in 45 catches for 589 yards and four scores in 2012 and made just 11 catches for 96 yards in 2013.His career has also been ravaged with off-the-field issues, though he has managed to stay out of trouble for well over a year.But he still has big-play potential.  Just ask him.  The Tennessean‘s Jim Wyatt did: “I am going to be a No. 1 receiver somewhere else if I am not here next year, and that is guaranteed. I am definitely going to be a receiver that makes plays on Sundays and makes something happen for a team.”We don’t expect him to him to have a huge 2014 campaign, but he definitely has the potential to step in for a cap-strapped team like the New York Giants that could lose Hakeem Nicks and provide similar production at a much cheaper rate. Perhaps a change of scenery could jump-start his career.8. San Francisco 49ers WR Mario ManninghamWhy would a (somewhat) injury-prone 27-year-old wide out that caught only nine passes for 85 yards in 2013 and has just five TDs in his last 30 games be a great bargain? Take into account that the former 2008 third round pick (No. 95 overall) out of Michigan has very reliable hands and a knack for extending plays.In 2012, only one receiver broke more tackles with fewer catches than Manningham, according to Pro Football Focus.  The 6-0, 185-pound wide out was placed on IR with a “bothersome” left knee injury on Dec. 27—likely stemming from the multi-knee ligament tear he suffered in 2012—but appears to be doing well now and “will definitely be ready for the offseason program,” per CSN Bay Area.It’s unlikely that Manningham will return to the Niners and may have to settle for a minimum-salary contract offer in 2014, but he’ll be an appealing option with sure-fire potential as a No. 3 receiver for teams not looking to take big risks in free agency.7. New England Patriots WR Julian EdelmanJulian Edelman came into his 2013 campaign with just 69 career receptions for 714 yards and four touchdowns through 48 games (13 starts) in his first four NFL seasons.  But with the departure of four of the team’s Top 5 receivers from 2012 (Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Woodhead) and the other top target (Rob Gronkowski) spending over half of the season on the bench, Edelman burst onto the scene in 2013, leading the team with 105 receptions for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. He also stayed healthy for the first time in his career.Danny Amendola was the only other player with at least 50 catches (54) and 500 receiving yards (633).ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss believes the Patriots will be unwilling to him Amendola money (five years, $28 million). “The Patriots could absorb it but I think they would ultimately decide not to,” Reiss writes.The former 2009 seventh round pick (No. 232 overall) out of Kent State said playing for the Patriots “was a dream” in a recent radio interview, but added there were several factors that could “sway” his decision.Tom Brady and OC Josh McDaniels both love Edelman, but with Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount also hitting the open market off strong seasons, New England will have to let someone walk.  The versatile 5-10, 198-pound wide out has already been linked to the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans.6. Miami Dolphins OG Richie IncognitoMany teams will inevitably steer clear of this headcase and he won’t be trusted on a long-term deal, but talent trumps everything else in the NFL, so don’t be surprised when Incognito receives at least a couple of offers on the open market.Despite the well-documented red flags that come with the 30-year-old free agent, it’s important to note that Incognito has been to the Pro Bowl, a team captain and above-average on the field the last couple of seasons, making him a great bargain with a warning label.5. New York Giants DT Linval JosephWidely regarded as one of the top three or four defensive tackles on the open market, Linval Joseph has been a consistent force on the Giants’ front with 167 tackles and 9.0 sacks over the last three seasons.  The former 2010 second round pick (No. 46 overall) out of East Carolina started all but two games during that stretch.  Without Linval clogging the middle, the G-Men would have been in much more trouble against the run.“You don’t miss a guy like Linval until he’s not in there because he’s steady,” Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell told Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.  ”He doesn’t get a lot of press, he doesn’t get a lot of attention, but he’s always there. He’s solid each week…He’s one of those guys that’s kind of underappreciated, that you don’t talk a whole lot about, but if he’s not there, there’s that big void.”Joseph, 25, wants to return “home” to the Giants in 2014, but he’s not going to be cheap.  It’s becoming “more and more evident” that he’s “determined to hit the open market,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.  Joseph is coming off an outstanding contract season and could command $6 million per year on a new contract with another team.If the two sides don’t agree to a new deal, the Giants would be left with just Cullen Jenkins, Johnathan Hankins and Markus Kuhn at the position as Mike Patterson is also set to hit free agency on March 11.4. New Orleans Saints C Brian De La PuenteBrian De La Puenta has emerged from a journeyman undrafted free agent into one of the top centers over the last three years. ESPN’s Mike Triplett believes there’s a “strong chance” that the 6-3, 306-pound California product will walk in free agency.It’s not because De La Puente will command a big contract; it’s because the cap-strapped Saints already have $14 million committed to starting guards Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs in 2014.  We wouldn’t be surprised if De La Puente—who graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 center in 2012—gets replaced by in-house 2013 UDFA Tom Lelito, who flashed some promise in two rookie-year starts at guard.3. New England Patriots RB LeGarrette BlountThe highly-touted product out of Oregon went undrafted in 2010 because of character concerns and made his way to New England last year via trade from Tampa Bay for Jeff Demps and a seventh round draft pick for the same reason.Blount didn’t exactly hit his stride with the Pats right out of the gate.  The 6-0, 250-pound bulldozer rushed for 15 yards or less in five of his first 11 games with the team and had decent gains of 65, 64, 51, 49, 47 and 46 in the other six contests.But Blount really flourished down the stretch with arguably the two best games of his career in Week 17 (189 yards and two TDs on 24 carries) against the Bills and the divisional round of the postseason in the 43-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts when he became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a playoff game.The Patriots aren’t expected to offer “much more” than $2 million over two years, according to the Boston Herald, which makes sense considering the 27-year-old offers next to nothing in the passing game as a pure early-down bruiser and the team also has a couple of other options out of the backfield in Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden.Blount wants to stay with the Patriots, but the money has to be right.  He should be able to land a pretty decent deal if he decides to take his talents elsewhere considering his production on the ground (772 yards and a career-high seven TDs on 153 carries at a 5.0 YPC rate) and in the return game (494 yards on 17 kickoffs at 29.1 YPR—the first year in his NFL career that he’s returned kickoffs) last season, in addition to being a relatively dangerous weapon with extremely low mileage for his age, making him worthy of a long-term investment at a low price range.2. Green Bay Packers CB Sam ShieldsLike several other players on this list, there are a handful of players on the open market at Sam Shields‘ position that are coming off better seasons (namely Brent Grimes, Vontae Davis, Alterraun Verner, Aqib Talib and arguably Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), but the former 2010 undrafted free agent is still in his prime at the age of 26, has decent starting experience (35 career starts and 14 starts in 2013) and prevented the back-end of the Packers’ defense from being an utter disaster.The Packers want to re-sign Shields as a talented bookend to Tramon Williams, but he’s expected to go to the highest bidder, and position coach Joe Whitt Jr. didn’t do the team any favors when it comes to leverage by referring to the 5-11, 184-pound product out of Miami (FL) as a Top 10 NFL cornerback.  Shields’ return is considered “50-50,” according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.1. Chicago Bears QB Josh McCownComing off the best season of his 11-year NFL career, Josh McCown won’t be landing a massive contract on the open market. He’s too old for that stuff. But the 34-year-old held his own when Jay Cutler went down in Week 7, completing 149 of 224 passes (66.5 percent) for 1,829 yards with 13 TDs and one INT in eight games (five starts). McCown also had the highest quarterback rating (85.1) of any quarterback in the league in 2013.CSN Bay Area considers the Oakland Raiders a possible landing spot for McCown. He’s the type of pocket passer that offensive coordinator Greg Olsen is looking for and could be brought in as a veteran stopgap.  While McCown has expressed interest in re-signing with the Bears, he would likely have to accept a hometown discount.McCown would be an ideal fit for a handful of teams around the NFL that will be looking for a veteran quarterback as a bridge while allowing a young quarterback to develop this offseason. http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/ranking_10_best_bargains_in_2014_nfl_free_agency/15807158?linksrc ="story_sport_nfl_module_image_15807158"