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15 NFL Free Agent Signings That Make Way Too Much Sense

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15 NFL Free Agent Signings That Make Most Sense

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With NFL free agency beginning on March 10 and quickly approaching, it's time to take a look at the top 15 free agents in the 2015 class. In the end, players often chase the biggest payday and need to agree to terms with a team, but in this slideshow we've paired up the top players with teams based on the best fit. Here are the top 15 NFL free agent signings that make way too much sense.

Dez Bryant -- New England Patriots

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Dez Bryant -- New England Patriots

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

I know New England currently doesn’t have the cap space to sign Bryant, but if Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick could figure out a way to get the top free agent of the 2015 class in a Patriots uniform, you know they’d find a way to get it done. The Patriots have a need at wideout and the combination of Bryant running the deep routes, Rob Gronkowski dominating the middle, and Julian Edelman underneath would be unstoppable for the defending champs.

Ndamukong Suh -- Chicago Bears

Ndamukong Suh Detroit Lions
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Ndamukong Suh -- Chicago Bears

Ndamukong Suh Detroit Lions
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New head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio need to completely overhaul the defense after the Bears surrendered the second-most points in the league last season. After consistent humiliation on that side of the ball a year ago, what better way to build a defense than from the inside out with a dominant force like Suh.

Demarco Murray -- Indianapolis Colts

demarco murray free agency
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Demarco Murray -- Indianapolis Colts

demarco murray free agency
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Finally, it’s looking like the Colts are finished with the Trent Richardson experiment. Indianapolis leans too heavily on Andrew Luck and it should be a priority to lessen the pressure on the young quarterback to win every game with his arm. The backfield duo of Murray and Luck would strike fear into every defense around the NFL.

Darrelle Revis -- New York Jets

Darrelle Revis New England Patriots
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Darrelle Revis -- New York Jets

Darrelle Revis New England Patriots
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His time in New York didn’t end well, but it’s looking like a real possibility the Super Bowl champion could find himself back with the Jets in 2015. The team has plenty of cap space, a serious need in the secondary, and the stud cornerback already has strong ties within the organization. Revis becomes a free agent if the Patriots decline his $20 million option for 2015, as most expect the Super Bowl champs to do.

Justin Houston -- Atlanta Falcons

Justin Houston
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Justin Houston -- Atlanta Falcons

Justin Houston
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In 2014, the Falcons defense allowed the most yards per game to opponents, while the offense averaged the eight-most yards per game. Pretty clear where the team needs to improve, right? Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks in 2014, the same number as the entire Falcons team combined.

Demaryius Thomas -- St. Louis Rams

Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos
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Demaryius Thomas -- St. Louis Rams

Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos
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Thomas would be the top wide receiver in almost any free agent class any other year. Unfortunately for the young Bronco, Dez Bryant happens to be a free agent this year as well. Sure he benefitted from playing with Peyton Manning, but there's no doubt he's a great receiver. The Rams badly need a No. 1 target for Sam Bradford, or whoever plays quarterback this year in St. Louis, so don’t be surprised if they break the bank for Thomas.

Julius Thomas -- Oakland Raiders

Julius Thomas Denver Broncos
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Julius Thomas -- Oakland Raiders

Julius Thomas Denver Broncos
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The other Thomas in Denver, Julius, is in line to cash in big time once free agency hits. He’s already let the Broncos know he insists on being paid like an elite tight end and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to resign both of their high-priced free agents. Thomas was a “big time Raiders fan” growing up and Oakland has plenty of cap space to sign the top tight end in the class.

Devin McCourty -- Jacksonville Jaguars

Devin McCourty New England Patriots
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Devin McCourty -- Jacksonville Jaguars

Devin McCourty New England Patriots
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The Jaguars are in need of serious help all over the football field. McCourty is a big part of the Patriots’ defensive foundation and could end up getting the franchise tag. The free safety is a proven winner and his leadership is a trait desperately needed by a young team like the Jaguars.

Mike Iupati -- Buffalo Bills

Mike Iupati San Francisco 49ers
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Iupati -- Buffalo Bills

Mike Iupati San Francisco 49ers
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers don’t have much cap space, and the elite road-grader is expected to fall out of their price range. San Francisco’s offensive coordinator for the last four years, Greg Roman, has teamed up in Buffalo with new Bills head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan’s said he “plans to build a bully,” and Mike Iupati would be a great start.

Jason Pierre-Paul -- New Orleans Saints

Jason Pierre-Paul New York Giants
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Jason Pierre-Paul -- New Orleans Saints

Jason Pierre-Paul New York Giants
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The Saints attempted to revamp their defense in the 2014 offseason, but the results weren’t much different. New Orleans allowed the second-most yards per game to opponents and even with an explosive offense, Sean Payton and the Saints can’t expect to contend in the NFC until the defense is fixed. Pierre-Paul just turned 26 and would be a great addition for a team that needs a proven pass rusher.

Greg Hardy -- Dallas Cowboys

Greg Hardy Carolina Panthers
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Greg Hardy -- Dallas Cowboys

Greg Hardy Carolina Panthers
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Hardy might be a toxic asset, considering his possible suspension and the off-the-field problems, but quality pass rushers will always find work in the NFL. The Cowboys came close in 2014, and a pass rusher like Hardy would significantly improve the Dallas defense and make the Cowboys one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50. This possibility becomes far more likely if the Cowboys are unable to re-sign Murray or Bryant.

Randall Cobb -- Seattle Seahawks

Randall Cobb Green Bay Packers
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Randall Cobb -- Seattle Seahawks

Randall Cobb Green Bay Packers
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Percy Harvin failed miserably in Seattle, and the lack of a go-to receiving threat really hurt the Seahawks in their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. It’s unrealistic to expect Chris Matthews to consistently perform like he did in the Super Bowl and the Seahawks badly need a wide receiver to take pressure off of Russell Wilson and the running game. Who better to get than the guy who is practically a Harvin clone, Randall Cobb?

Byron Maxwell -- Washington Redskins

Byron Maxwell Seattle Seahawks
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Byron Maxwell -- Washington Redskins

Byron Maxwell Seattle Seahawks
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It’s an understatement to say the Redskins secondary struggled in 2014. On average, quarterbacks posted a rating of 108.3 when facing Washington, by far the highest rate in the league. Maxwell was overshadowed by Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom in Seattle, but the big cornerback would get his chance to shine in Washington by instantly giving the Redskins a shutdown corner.

Jeremy Maclin -- Carolina Panthers

Jeremy Maclin Philadelphia Eagles
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Jeremy Maclin -- Carolina Panthers

Jeremy Maclin Philadelphia Eagles
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It’s a good thing Kelvin Benjamin panned out for the Panthers because, outside of him and Greg Olsen, Cam Newton had no one to pass to. The speedy Maclin is the perfect compliment to the big-bodied Benjamin and he stretches the field as well as any player in the league. Signing Maclin would quickly turn Carolina’s wide receiver position from a weakness to a strength.

Torrey Smith -- San Francisco 49ers

Torrey Smith Baltimore Ravens
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Torrey Smith -- San Francisco 49ers

Torrey Smith Baltimore Ravens
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The 49ers have been looking for a deep threat for years. Anquan Boldin is an aging possession receiver and Michael Crabtree isn’t expected back in San Francisco, and he wasn’t a deep threat anyway. Torrey Smith has been the recipient of Joe Flacco's deep passes for years and it’s time for the 49ers to get the strong-armed Kaepernick a weapon to take the top off of defenses.

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