Free Agent Signings Who Will Thrive in 2017
By Loot, NFL Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Free agency can be strange in the NFL, perhaps more than any other sport. Sure, in other sports, free agency is sometimes problematic, as players just aren't their prior selves when put into a new list of conditions. In the NFL, we see that all the time. It's just not always easy when you try to add an individual to a team concept and some big-name signings just never materialize the way you would think. Every season, we find ourselves projecting players to thrive on new teams, only to see them fall flat.
In this article, we try to hone in on some players who are on new teams that we feel will thrive, or at the very least make a nice contribution to their new teams. Again, in new systems with new leadership, this can be tricky to pinpoint. In addition, a lot of players who are free agents are on the back-nine of their careers and could hit a wall. But we feel these players are pretty safe bets to make big contributions to their new squads. Take a peek!
Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles: Just 27, Jeffery has a lot more football in him. An injury and suspension has forced him to miss time the last two seasons. But if he can steer out of trouble, he has shown he is a true number-one receiver. And he showed that on some Chicago teams where there wasn't a lot of stuff around him helping him shine, including little support from fellow ball-catchers and sometimes-rough play at the quarterback position. In Philly, he is working with an up-and-coming quarterback on a team where you couldn't help but wonder last season how things would look different with some legit receivers. With Jeffery, they have that now and it could lead to big things for the 6th-year wide receiver.
Adrian Peterson, Running Back, New Orleans Saints: In the interests of full-disclosure, we have noticed over the years how seldom it works out for running backs over 30 when they leave a team where they were dominant for years. It just never registers the way you would project. And with Peterson, he's been out of action a lot lately, playing one full season since 2013. But in that season, he was rushing champion and might have a lot of juice in those legs. And with a good Saints team and the way they relied on good backs during their glory period, Peterson could get a new lease on life in New Orleans.
Martellus Bennett, Tight End, Green Bay Packers: It's been hard to not notice how much Aaron Rodgers likes big-body receivers based on his work with guys like Richard Rodgers and others. Now with a true-blue pass-catching tight end of the highest order, look for Rodgers and Bennett to make meaningful contributions over the season. He has never surpassed 759 yards in a season and this will be his tenth season in the league, but we think this offense and how Rodgers operates will allow Bennett to shine in this role, as he will likely become a go-to red zone threat for the Packers this season.
Robert Woods, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams: First of all, he's just 25, despite 4 full seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He didn't always shine, but not many Buffalo receivers have shined recently, with a struggling aerial game and inconsistent QB play. Granted, Woods isn't stepping into a great offense here and the QB play could again be shaky. But he should get more play from Jared Goff on an offense that is starved for firepower. And for an LA kid like Woods who starred at USC, leaving Buffalo and coming back home should give way to a good feeling that leads to some better numbers with the Rams. Unable to crack 700 yards receiving in four seasons with Buffalo, we see a borderline 1000-yard season from Woods this season.
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Latavius Murray, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings: It's easier to project success when a player comes in to occupy an obvious void. And in a running back's case, it's also good to see that a team beefed up their front, as the Vikings did in the offseason. In three seasons with the Raiders, Murray had his ups and downs, but showed enough talent to make him a guy worth watching, especially if he got in a better situation. With a lot of talent on offense in Oakland, he wasn't always allowed to shine. On a Vikings team that lacks offensive firepower and has longed for a run-game since Adrian Peterson's injury/suspension issues and eventual departure, Murray could be put in spot to showcase his wares more. And we should see the hard-rushing, pass-catching back realize his potential more this season and beyond. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today by signing up at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 50% sign-up bonus!
